JACKSON TWP — Township supervisors will advertise a draft of the 2017 budget.

“In 2016, the township has continued to leverage increased revenue streams and building activity within the township to complete both overdue and anticipated roadway safety and maintenance concerns,” township manager Chris Rearick said in the budget.

The budget projects about $4.167 million in total revenues and about $4.45 million in total expenditures. This year’s budget has about $4.15 million in revenues and $4.02 million in expenditures. The township will have more than $937,000 in the general fund which it can use to plug the budget gap.

One change in the budget is the dedication of 1.5 mills of the total 8.25 mills of real estate tax imposed for the Harmony Fire District, an increase of three eighths of a mill from the current 1.125 mills.

The fire district, a consolidation of the former Zelienople and Harmony volunteer fire departments, asked all four municipalities in its service area last year to have their respective fire taxes at 1.5 mills. The municipalities include Jackson and Lancaster townships, Zelienople and Harmony.

Jackson supervisors decided not to approve the tax during last year’s budget discussions because the fire district did not have its budget finalized.

Projected revenues for the fire district are at $76,249.

The budget also addresses increases in transfer taxes, wage tax and local service tax.

“Each has seen substantial and sustainable increases due to recent and ongoing development in Jackson Township,” Rearick said in the budget.

Earned income tax has also increased with construction of new homes averaging 60 or more per year. The budget predicts between 60 and 80 homes built per year for the next five years.

“Based on the sales price of houses, assumed average household incomes of $120,000 would result in $42,000 additional earned income tax revenue for 70 homes per year for each year,” the budget states.

Local service tax and real estate taxes have also increased with new businesses. “For example, the FedEx site on Tomlinson Drive is currently assessed at a rate yielding nearly $23,000 in real estate taxes and another $20,000 of local service tax assuming 400 employees,” the budget states.

The budget also addresses the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan, which has assisted in requiring developers to dedicate land for recreational use or otherwise pay a fee to fund recreational projects.

“The township has begun and plans to continue donating to the Zelienople Park Board, viewing Zelienople Community Park as a regional park,” Rearick said in the budget.

The township will donate $25,000 to the Zelienople Community Park and appropriate $110,000 to acquire property for a proposed trail project connecting the township with Zelienople if the budget is approved.

Also $8,000 will be donated to the Zelienople Community Library.

The three aforementioned costs will come from the township’s capital reserve expenditures.

The township also makes note of road improvements performed this year and those planned for next year.

Roads scheduled to be improved include Gudekunst, Lutz, High Acres, Russell and Schar roads and Oak Hill Drive.

Total expenditures for improvements are projected to be about $188,000.

“The township will continue to seek funding through the Butler County Conservation District for repairs to its remaining dirt and gravel roads, namely the remainder of Textor School Road and Ridge Road from Jo Deener Drive to State Route 528,” Rearick said in the budget.

The budget will be voted on at next month’s supervisors meeting.