BUTLER TWP — The township's preliminary 2020 general fund budget of $8.02 million will pay for stormwater projects, computers and technology, new public works equipment, license plate readers and two new patrol vehicles for the police department.

Township commissioners on Thursday heard budget requests from department heads and discussed the overall budget for the upcoming year.

The balanced general fund budget is $98 less than this year's budget, earned income tax and business privilege tax revenues are expected to increase by 1.5 percent to 3 percent, the township won't seek a tax anticipation loan, and the real estate tax collection rate is 97.8 percent, said Tom Knights, township manager.

One mill generates $162,632 in revenue, he said. The budget would allocate 7.64 mills of tax revenue to the general fund, 2 mills to the fire department and 1.61 mills to debt service.

“Generally I would say a very healthy outlook for next year,” Knights said.

Despite the healthy outlook, township commissioners wouldn't say if a tax increase would be implemented.

The commissioners will vote on the preliminary budget at their Nov. 18 meeting.

Police Chief John Hays outlined the proposed police department budget that includes $80,972 to buy and outfit two new Ford police interceptor utility vehicles to replace 2016 and 2017 vehicles. One of the current vehicles will be transferred to the zoning office.

He also requested $11,787 for license plate reader cameras for four intersections, $2,000 for the license fee, $2,400 for internet service and a one-time $800 per-camera fee.

The total police budget would increase by $142,270 to $2.4 million.

Public works director Dave Meeder reviewed his request of $1.19 million, which is $80,460 less than this year's budget.

The request includes $134,770 for a new dump truck, $68,116 for a small excavator and $2,200 for a walk-behind concrete saw. Meeder said the truck cost is $5,000 less than a dump truck purchased last year.

Buying a small excavator resulted in reducing the equipment rental line item by $1,500 to $3,500. Commissioner Joseph Wiest, who oversees the road department, said $32,000 was spent on renting excavators this year.

An excavator will be needed next year for several planned stormwater projects, Wiest said.

The proposed storm sewer line item would increase by $236,000 to $456,000, but result in a decrease in road resurfacing by $396,000 to $395,000, Meeder said.

Wiest said seal coating will be applied to more roads next year.

The proposed building and grounds budget includes money for new garage doors for the maintenance building and improvements for the recreation building, Meeder said.

The road salt request increased by $53,230 to $254,232.

In the zoning office, new cloud-based software for planning, maps, development plans, printing permits and tracking business fire code inspections would cost $6,000 and increase by $1,000 a year, said zoning officer Jesse Hines.

He said the current system costs $5,000 a year, but relies on a server in the municipal building and is antiquated, Hines said.

The proposed administration budget increases the engineering line item by $5,000 to $65,000. Knight said the township went $10,000 over budget this year due to the planning and design of a project taking place next year.

Cloud-based computer software will cost $15,000, which is a $4,000 increase over the current software cost, he said.

Knights said the township will contribute $300,000 to the volunteer fire department, but the total fire department budget will decrease by $37,128 to $467,700.