DUBOIS – The Sandy Township Supervisors on Monday night approved the first draft of the township’s 2022 budget.
Some amendments were made prior to the supervisors’ approval, and it was noted the budget is still subject to change prior to its final adoption.
The budget draft currently projects expenses totaling $4,697,668.57 and revenues of $4,697,675. No tax increase was announced.
The supervisors met for a budget meeting ahead of their regularly-scheduled board meeting to discuss possible amendments before passage of the first draft.
Though he was excused from the meeting, Supervisor Jim Jeffers related some of his budget suggestions/questions to the rest of the board.
First, Jeffers suggested the inclusion of some road improvements in the outlying areas of the township with capital reserve funds. Currently, the budget projects a capital account of $3.306,776.66.
Sabula was mentioned during board discussion and also previously by residents who believed their area was overlooked and that it’d worsen with the consolidation of Sandy Township and DuBois City.
According to Township Manager Shawn Arbaugh, Sabula roads weren’t included as part of the township’s five-year roadway maintenance plan.
However, Arbaugh did say some Sabula roads were listed for tar-and-chipping and 10 miles of work was planned for the upcoming year. The supervisors decided to stay with their original plan.
They also discussed spending $60,000 of capital funds on the township’s roof and another $100,000 on sidewalks, if a matching grant is received.
Due to the DuBois/Sandy consolidation passage Nov. 2, Jeffers had questions over a one-mill tax established for the 2020 budget year to raise funds to replace/renovate the township building.
In reality he said it helped kickstart the consolidation process after consideration of a shared municipal building failed over legal concerns.
He asked whether or not there was a mechanism to refund taxpayers to which Arbaugh indicated that the township’s solicitors opposed a refund.
According to Arbaugh, a refunding would likely require funds pass through the general fund, which the funds raised by this special building enhancement tax was not permitted to.
The supervisors maintained the funds generated by this tax, and also discussed putting it towards a fire hall instead of a new municipal building.
The budget draft allocates a $204,437 increase to the Sandy Township Police Department, an 18 percent increase over last year’s figure.
Insurance also saw an increase of $59,139 and the road department an increase of $54,479. Below are budget categories before some funding changes.
| Change Year to Year | 2021 – Projected | 2022 – Budgeted | Total Change | Percentage Change |
| Police | $ 1,119,214.00 | $ 1,323,651.00 | $ 204,437.00 | 18% |
| Insurance | $ 771,300.00 | $ 830,439.00 | $ 59,139.00 | 8% |
| Road Department | $ 956,794.00 | $ 1,011,273.00 | $ 54,479.00 | 6% |
| Legal Services | $ 35,000.00 | $ 55,000.00 | $ 20,000.00 | 57% |
| Engineering | $ 41,035.00 | $ 59,100.00 | $ 18,065.00 | 44% |
| Planning/Zoning | $ 57,885.00 | $ 66,758.00 | $ 8,873.00 | 15% |
| Tax Collection | $ 73,000.00 | $ 74,000.00 | $ 1,000.00 | 1% |
| Data Processing | $ 16,500.00 | $ 17,500.00 | $ 1,000.00 | 6% |
| Vector Control | $ 300.00 | $ 1,000.00 | $ 700.00 | 233% |
| Library | $ 55,000.00 | $ 55,000.00 | $ – | 0% |
| Buildings | $ 48,500.00 | $ 48,500.00 | $ – | 0% |
| Auditors | $ 10,000.00 | $ 10,000.00 | $ – | 0% |
| Recycling | $ 10,000.00 | $ 10,000.00 | $ – | 0% |
| Public Works/Other | $ 8,000.00 | $ 8,000.00 | $ – | 0% |
| Economic Development | $ 3,500.00 | $ 3,500.00 | $ – | 0% |
| Emergency Management | $ 500.00 | $ 500.00 | $ – | 0% |
| Misc | $ 100.00 | $ (100.00) | -100% | |
| Fire Department | $ 416,800.00 | $ 416,500.00 | $ (300.00) | 0% |
| Recreation | $ 24,400.00 | $ 21,500.00 | $ (2,900.00) | -12% |
| Benefits | $ 475,678.21 | $ 470,102.57 | $ (5,575.64) | -1% |
| Health & Welfare | $ 7,119.00 | $ – | $ (7,119.00) | -100% |
| Executive | $ 108,262.00 | $ 100,973.00 | $ (7,289.00) | -7% |
| Elected Officials | $ 153,068.00 | $ 99,372.00 | $ (53,696.00) | -35% |
| Unlabeled Category | $ 178,000.00 | $ 15,000.00 | $ (163,000.00) | -92% |
| Current Assets | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 – Projected | 2022 – Budgeted |
| Totals | $ 2,878,631.00 | $ 2,835,011.00 | $ 3,099,645.87 | $ 3,306,776.66 |
| Liabilities (Sick/Vacation Days) | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 – Projected | 2022 – Budgeted |
| Totals | $ 500,000.00 | $ 500,000.00 | $ 500,000.00 | $ 500,000.00 |
| Expenses – Totals | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 – Projected | 2022 – Budgeted |
| Elected Officials | $ 116,582.00 | $ 103,070.13 | $ 153,068.00 | $ 99,372.00 |
| Executive | $ 89,142.00 | $ 105,845.67 | $ 108,262.00 | $ 100,973.00 |
| Auditors | $ 10,637.00 | $ 10,000.00 | $ 10,000.00 | $ 10,000.00 |
| Tax Collection | $ 65,498.52 | $ 70,295.00 | $ 73,000.00 | $ 74,000.00 |
| Legal Services | $ 31,603.00 | $ 20,963.13 | $ 35,000.00 | $ 55,000.00 |
| Data Processing | $ 34,330.07 | $ 58,050.57 | $ 16,500.00 | $ 17,500.00 |
| Engineering | $ 45,776.00 | $ 50,567.15 | $ 41,035.00 | $ 59,100.00 |
| Buildings | $ 42,144.00 | $ 38,135.47 | $ 48,500.00 | $ 48,500.00 |
| Police | $ 975,966.76 | $ 1,111,939.74 | $ 1,119,214.00 | $ 1,323,651.00 |
| Fire Department | $ 356,391.00 | $ 344,245.47 | $ 416,800.00 | $ 416,500.00 |
| Crossing Guards | $ – | $ – | $ – | $ – |
| Planning/Zoning | $ 72,036.00 | $ 39,243.63 | $ 57,885.00 | $ 66,758.00 |
| Emergency Management | $ 3,268.00 | $ 44.00 | $ 500.00 | $ 500.00 |
| Vector Control | $ 1,050.00 | $ 575.00 | $ 300.00 | $ 1,000.00 |
| Health & Welfare | $ 4,990.00 | $ 7,617.41 | $ 7,119.00 | $ – |
| Recycling | $ – | $ – | $ 10,000.00 | $ 10,000.00 |
| Road Department | $ 979,651.00 | $ 1,200,243.83 | $ 956,794.00 | $ 1,011,273.00 |
| Public Works/Other | $ 7,500.00 | $ 8,000.00 | $ 8,000.00 | $ 8,000.00 |
| Public Transportation | $ – | $ – | $ – | $ – |
| Recreation | $ 19,897.00 | $ 11,243.81 | $ 24,400.00 | $ 21,500.00 |
| Library | $ 55,022.00 | $ 54,703.24 | $ 55,000.00 | $ 55,000.00 |
| Economic Development | $ 939.00 | $ 938.88 | $ 3,500.00 | $ 3,500.00 |
| Misc | $ (11,502.00) | $ 79.03 | $ 100.00 | |
| Insurance | $ 880,591.00 | $ 705,619.67 | $ 771,300.00 | $ 830,439.00 |
| Benefits | $ 420,986.00 | $ 458,198.54 | $ 475,678.21 | $ 470,102.57 |
| Unlabeled Category | $ 227,125.00 | $ 6,667.81 | $ 178,000.00 | $ 15,000.00 |
| Total | $ 4,429,623.35 | $ 4,406,287.18 | $ 4,569,955.21 | $ 4,697,668.57 |