Jackson Township supervisors were the first to openly call for more information regarding Harmony Fire District's request for a higher fire tax, and the preliminary budget for 2021 does not include such a hike.

In the proposed budget, approved for advertisement Nov. 16, the township's fire rate remains at 1.5 mills, comprising roughly one-fifth of the 8.25-mill rate Jackson imposes on land owners in the township. Jackson would then remit the $97,500 raised by the tax to the Harmony Fire District.

Harmony and Zelienople boroughs similarly advertised proposed budgets that do not include a hike in the fire tax, which was requested by the department earlier this year to help fund a proposed $7.8 million new station on Route 19.

Jackson supervisors in October questioned the wisdom of selecting that site, which is in the township and just north of Zelienople, due to concerns over the cost of wetland mitigation that would be required for the parcel to hold the station.

The township's budget proposal for 2021 adds up to more than $7.7 million, including the taking on of roughly $1.5 million in long-term debt it plans on using for capital improvements, including a traffic light on Route 19 at the Northgate Plaza, and parking, trail and playground improvements at Sippel Reservoir Park.

It also plans to waive its controversial business privilege tax again next year after doing so in 2020 due to concerns over the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic and related state mandates.