Spending down and taxes up in Dingman

Sharp 2008 decline in building permits reported By Jerry Goldberg DINGMAN — As usual there were no township residents to ask questions and get answers regarding the proposed 2009 Budget when it was presented in late November. Barring changes, the $2,214,994 budget will be adopted at the Dec. 16 meeting. The 2008 expenditures were $2,295,147. The 2009 budget calls for an $80,000 reduction from last year. Spending reductions were made in data processing, administration, recycling costs as well as the maintenance of roads and bridges. The township supervisors have reduced spending and expenses in order to accomplish this. Still, property taxes are going up by one-half mill (one mill equals 1/10 cent) of assessed valuation or about $17 for the average property. If your home is assessed at $40,000 the property tax formula would be $40,000 times the new rate of six mills (.006 cents) or $240.00. This is the second consecutive year of an increase in property taxes. A $75,000 revenue increase will be realized from the increase. In addition, there will be an increase in revenues from the Blue Ridge Cable Franchise Fee which went from $30,000 to $50,000. New 2009 costs include an increase of $62,000 for payroll. This includes pay raises and associated expenses such as payroll taxes, unemployment insurance, pension benefits and health insurance. “Although we have to tighten our belt a bit we won’t have the financial cushion we’ve had in past years,” said Township Secretary Karen Kleist. She went on to say that 2009 “looks good on paper.” Call for a higher permit fee Township Zoning Enforcement Officer Sean Boles asked the supervisors to revise the permit fee schedule currently being used. “We lose money on every inspection,” reported Boles. The township currently charges 30 cents per square foot for an inspection. He suggested they raise it to 55 cents per square foot which would take into account costs such as payroll taxes, pensions and hospitalization insurance. “On many inspections we find illegal bathrooms, bedrooms, kitchens and other living areas that were not on the original plans,” he said. He went on to say he had recently found a five bedroom house that was listed as a three bedroom house which had no second floor fire escape, no windows and no smoke alarms. Dingman Supervisor’s Chair Tom Mincer asked Boles about the number of building permits issued this year compared to last year. In 2008 Dingman has issued 247 permits, compared to 390 last year. In other business: A spokesperson for the Milford Fire Department Ambulance Corps reported they had 48 emergency calls last month of which 22 were in Dingman. Their year to date calls amount to 544. They took possession of a new ambulance which is certified and currently in use. Electrically operated hydraulic gurneys have been purchased and now are a regular part of the emergency ambulance equipment. The Milford Fire Department has answered 364 calls this year and 161 came from Dingman. Dingman Township Fire Chief Bill Mikulak said his department has tested all their equipment and they are ready for winter emergencies. Sewage Enforcement Officer Chris Wood told the supervisors that the last two weeks were very busy and he issued 24 notices for enforcement of permanent occupancy violations. He asked Pike County to make Dingman receive more frequent pick ups from the magazine recycling container. “This time of year people get overloaded with magazine advertising waste,” said Wood.