MIDDLESEX TWP — The township's preliminary budget for next year has no new taxes and doesn't include any drastic increases in spending or projected revenue.

The township's board of supervisors Wednesday unveiled its preliminary spending plan for 2010.

Manager Scot Fodi said the property tax rate will remain at 9 mills for the general fund and 1.5 mills each for debt service fund and the fire protection fund.

The tax rate has either dropped or remained constant for the fifth consecutive year in the township.

A mill equals $1 for every $1,000 of a home's assessed value. One mill represents just under $50,000 in general fund revenue based on the township's current certified assessment from the county, Fodi said.

Fodi said the township is projecting to spend about $1.4 million next year, not including two interfund transfers totaling about $300,000; a portion to be used for capital reserve projects and the remaining $200,000 to be used on the township's roads, money that comes from the Highway Aid fund.

He also projected the township will get about $1.5 million in revenue from multiple source next year, creating a small surplus.

Fodi said he has allocated about $25,000 for a new police car, but added it is up to the police whether to use that money for a car or for other purposes. There also are funds in the budget to replace dashboard cameras in the police cruisers.

Fodi added there are funds in the budget to research the possibility of implementing a public emergency notification system similar to the one recently purchased by the Mars School District. He said such a system would benefit emergency responders in case of a power outage or other unforeseen circumstance, like the wind storms last year that knocked the power out for many township residents for three days.

The supervisors will vote at next month's meeting.