Winfield Township residents have cause to be upbeat for two reasons as 2006 prepares to give way to 2007.

Not only did the township's board of supervisors approve a budget that doesn't increase the municipality's 2-mill real estate tax, but the supervisors also tabled action on a proposed sanitary sewer project to pave the way for a preliminary feasibility study.

That study will determine whether it would be more cost-effective for the township to hook into the Saxonburg Area Authority system, rather than for the township to have its own individual system.

Like Penn and Middlesex townships, which already are becoming part of the Saxonburg system, Winfield is being required by the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to install a sanitary sewer system because of failing on-lot systems such as septic tanks.

The Winfield supervisors' decision to table action is an attempt to determine which would be the approach least detrimental to residents' wallets and pocketbooks.

Commendably, DEP has given the township 60 days to make the determination.

But residents should not be overly optimistic at this point regarding the eventual findings of the upcoming study. As an article in the Dec. 15 Butler Eagle pointed out, previous discussions between Winfield and Saxonburg authority officials indicated that it would not be cost-effective for Winfield to hook up to the Saxonburg system.

Perhaps some new factor has entered the picture that prompted Paul Cornetti, Saxonburg authority engineer, to offer the feasibility study to Winfield.

Winfield's go-it-alone plan would be an estimated $6.9 million endeavor geared toward more than 300 residential and business customers in the Marwood, Cabot and Route 356 areas.

It is anticipated that customers hooking up to that system would pay no more than a $57 monthly rate and a $3,000 tap-in fee.

The project would include construction of a sewage treatment plant — something that would not have to be done if Winfield were part of the Saxonburg operation.

Long-range cost projections for operating the treatment plant, as well as tap-in costs and monthly bills if Winfield were to opt for becoming part of the Saxonburg system, will be among the issues upon which the feasibility study will focus.

Upon completion of the study, the supervisors will be able to feel more comfortable about which option they decide to pursue.

The state and federal governments encourage a regional approach to problem solving, and Winfield's participation with Saxonburg would fit in with that thinking.

However, Winfield's final decision must be based on financial impact on customers, whether that means selection of the regional or go-it-alone option.

That is the consideration Winfield residents expect and deserve.