CENTER TWP — Center Township supervisors put a sizable surplus to use at Wednesday’s monthly meeting at the Unionville Fire Department fire hall.

Center Township had about $100,000 in surplus money left over from 2016. The supervisors unanimously passed a motion to use $70,000 of it for its capital projects fund, which is used for services such as motor vehicles, machinery, and bridge construction.

Township supervisor Ron Flatt noted the origin of the 2016 surplus.

“Most of that surplus of that year came from a larger earned income tax than we had originally anticipated,” he said.

Another motion was made to take $70,000 from the township’s general reserve fund to help pay back a loan to NexTier Bank. The money will bring the debt to just under $800,000.

These motions were made in conjunction with adopting the township’s 2017 budget.

Both the estimated total revenue and total of expenses for Center Township’s 2017 budget is $1,956,700.

Earned income taxes make up 64 percent of the revenue, which is a little shy of $1.1 million.

Real property taxes make up $218,000 of the budget, real estate transfer taxes make up $175,000, mercantile taxes make up $108,500, and the township expects to earn $95,000 from public safety fees.

Real property taxes generated to repay the township’s loan to NexTier bank account for $204,500 of the total revenue. Other revenue includes $374,800 from the liquid fuels fund and $130,100 from the Marcellus shale fund.

The township’s public works department takes up $579,500 of its expenses, and general services, which reflect the cost of operating and maintaining the department, are expected to cost an additional $212,000.

Snow and nice removal is set to cost the township $230,000, compensation and expenses to the board of supervisors is set at $120,500 and highway maintenance and construction is at $105,000.

Public safety, which includes money distributed to the Unionville and Oneida Valley fire departments and rental on fire hydrants, is at $92,350.

Other expenses include $330,000 to the liquid fuels fund, and $205,100 toward the debt to NexTier Bank.

Further expenses include $130,000 to the capital projects fund, a $105,000 fire tax released during the first quarter to the Unionville Volunteer Fire Company and $102,500 to the Marcellus shale fund.

The township’s tax millage remains the same, at 7.05 mills.

Township supervisor Ed Latuska said the budget was constructed by township secretary and treasurer Anthony Amendolea without a hiccup.

“We try to be as fiscally responsible as we can and the fact that we have surpluses in our accounts attests to that fact,” Latuska said.

Township supervisor Ken Frenchak said at Wednesday’s meeting that 2016 will be his last as supervisor, as he will not be running for reelection. He has been a township supervisor since 2008.