Aleppo officials plan to hold the line once again on township real estate taxes as part of their 2025 budget.
Commissioners recently approved advertising next year’s proposed $1.476 million spending plan.
Budget documents indicate the millage rate will remain at 3.5 mills.
One mill generates approximately $166,000 in revenue.
It has been more than a decade since the township raised taxes.
Projected revenue includes $575,000 in real property taxes, $432,000 in Act 511 taxes, including earned income and local services; $212,000 in intergovernmental monies, $83,000 in interest/rents/royalties, $36,000 in licenses/permits, $12,460 in charges for services, and $11,000 in miscellaneous revenues and other funding sources.
Projected spending includes $293,000 for public works, $231,500 for administration, $160,000 for fire protection, $150,800 for waste collection, $128,000 for police, $55,000 for engineering, $50,000 for legal services, $40,000 for legislative expenses, $39,000 for building/property maintenance, $25,000 for emergency management, $18,000 for parks and recreation, $17,000 for tax collection and $11,000 for planning/zoning.
There are no cuts to programs or services. The budget is available for review at the township office, 100 North Drive.
Commission president George Jones said Aleppo is working with a lean budget with no major changes expected between now and formal adoption Dec. 16.
“There are no extraordinary expenses scheduled for 2025,” he said on Nov. 25. “The slight increase in operating expenses and a few tax rebates from reassessments have really been offset by earned income tax increases and property (value) increases.
“I think we can see that our surpluses are going to be less in 2025 than previously, but we don’t see any deficits and at the moment don’t see any need for tax increases.”
The township allotted about $583,600 for an extensive tar and chip program this year. No money is budgeted for paving next year.
Township manager Gwen Patterson said about $150,000 in the 2025 budget is being saved for an expected major road repair project in 2027.
“We have our engineers (Herbert Rowland & Grubic) do a road study every 10 years and update it every five years,” Jones said. “It helps us to formulate our reserve contributions. … We think reserves are a pretty important part of the budget.”
Jones said budget planning begins in October with a heightened attention to detail in November after the audit report from accountant Mark Turnley.
Patterson said the financial planning process was easier this year than previous ones due to some services still being under contract.
“We’re fortunate that we’re in the middle of some contracts for things like police services and trash and recycling collection,” Patterson said. “It helps that some of those numbers have been known and we know what we’re facing on some of the large expenditures like that.
The police contract expires at the end of June 2026.
The garbage contract with Waste Management and negotiated through the Quaker Valley Council of Governments expires in three years.
The township is in negotiations with Comcast for a new cable franchise agreement. That deal expired earlier this year.
Patterson said she is not anticipating a significant increase in revenues from a new deal, which may be finalized early next year.
There are no capital purchases expected for next year. The township bought a new dump truck for the public works department in 2023.
Some money has been allocated for new benches and a pathway at the greenspace off Weber Road.
“Things are tight, and revenue sources change from year to year,” Patterson said. “We are trying to work within what we know we’re going to receive and do the best we can with the tax dollars.”
Commissioners discussed the budget at their Nov. 11 workshop meeting.
A video of the meeting was posted to the township’s YouTube channel.