Jefferson Township estimates that its expenses will exceed its revenues in 2024, but this loss should be easily covered by funds that the township has leftover at the end of this year.

The township’s draft budget for fiscal year 2024, approved for advertisement earlier this month, estimates that total revenue in 2024 will amount to $1,616,443, while total expenditures total $2,984,919.

As of November 2023, the township currently estimates that it will end the year with a balance of $2,951,808, which would cover the $1,368,476 gap and allow supervisors to roll more than $1.5 million into the next year.

If a grant comes through, expenses would decline by another $550,000.

The township currently estimates spending $560,600 for culture & recreation, which is largely dedicated to the renovation project of the SEBCO Pool at Laura J. Doerr Park, according to township treasurer Lois Fennell.

The township has received a $550,000 grant to aid in that renovation and is currently seeking additional grant money, Fennell said.

“We’re budgeting for that in case we don’t get the grant, since we have to have the money available through the end of this year,” Fennell said. “Hopefully, we don’t have to spend that much.

The one grant the township has received so far is a one-to-one matching grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. It requires that the township has an equal amount of money on hand to the grant amount.

The biggest expense for Jefferson Township in 2024 is public works, which is estimated at $1,159,514. According to Fennell, public works consists mostly of “small tools, supplies, cleaning, snow and ice removal, salt, street signs, traffic lights, equipment maintenance, equipment purchases, road maintenance, road construction, gas and oil.”

Also included in public works is a possible future land acquisition valued at $5,000.

Last year, Jefferson Township estimated that it would end 2023 with a fund balance of $2,062,141, indicating the township was able to find ways to save nearly $890,000 throughout the year.

Despite the projected difference between revenues and expenses, Jefferson Township does not plan to increase its current property tax rate of one mill.

The township is expect to finalize the draft budget at its next regular meeting on Monday, Dec. 11.