SLIPPERY ROCK TWP — Township's supervisors voted to implement a 1.5 mill fire tax beginning in 2022 at its meeting Monday night.

The tax will take effect Jan. 1, and community members will be charged based on the assessed value of their property. An average citizen will pay $11 under the implemented millage rate, officials said.

Supervisor Paul Dickey, board chairman, said that surrounding communities are implementing a fire tax. He said Slippery Rock should do its part to support the Slippery Rock Volunteer Fire Company.

“If we're not supporting the fire department and we lose them, it will be way more expensive,” Dickey said.

According to Dickey, the board was approached a few months ago by the fire company regarding the implementation of the tax, and had a representative from the department at the last meeting. He said all funds from the fire tax go directly to Slippery Rock Volunteer Fire Company.

“This is for the fire company; it's not for us,” Dickey said. “(The tax) can be significant to some property owners and businesses, but we need a fire department.”

The board also approved the proposed 2022 budget, which Dickey said has no major changes from last year's budget.

“We have no big projects going on,” he said.

At the meetings close, supervisors voted to accept a Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant from Gov. Tom Wolf for Slippery Rock University. The institution will use the $750,000 from the state grant to construct housing for its security force and Army ROTC. The proposed facility will be built on Institution Road in the township.

The board voted to cancel its Dec. 28 meeting. The next supervisors meeting will be Jan. 3.