CENTER TWP — In 2019, residents of Center Township will pay the same millage rates as preceding years to support a $1.9 million budget.

The township's millage rate for 2019, as was approved by supervisors Wednesday, remains at 7.05 mills. That rate is composed of 2.75 mills for the general fund, 2.5 mills for debt servicing and 1.8 mills for fire protection services.

“It remains as exactly the same as 2018,” said Ron Flatt, board chairman.

A mill generates $1 in revenue for each $1,000 of a property's assessed value.

Flatt said a mill in the township brings about $80,000 in revenues to the township.

Anthony Amendolea, township secretary and treasurer, balances the budget's revenues and expenditures to the exact same amount, as opposed to generating an ending fund balance by only spending a certain percentage of revenues.

Instead, the township budgets its savings into a reserve fund, which currently holds about $771,000. Amendolea said the reserve fund should be at about $800,000 by the end of the year, or roughly 42 percent of the township's budgeted revenues.

Storm response

Nathan Wulff, Unionville Volunteer Fire Company chief, reported to the board that November had been the busiest month in the department's history due to the ice storm that landed in the middle of the month.

“It kept us busy for about three days non-stop,” Wulff said.

Ed Latuska, board member, praised the township's road crews and fire fighters before voicing disdain for residents who were impatient, rude and foul-mouthed to emergency responders after the storm.

Those who cursed at road crews “should be ashamed,” he said.

Drainage issues

The board briefly discussed ongoing drainage issues with the Veterans Affairs building on North Duffy Road. David Heath, an engineer who works for the township, said he would reach out again to the company which developed the building, Cambridge Healthcare Solutions, for information about its plans.

Flatt said the board would need to push again for action if the company has not provided anything by January.

The township still holds a $679,000 bond on the project, and board members have indicated they won't release it until drainage issues are resolved.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection also has ordered the company to revise its drainage methods on the site.