If the budget Mahoning Township supervisors agreed by majority last evening on a three to one vote to advertise for adoption in 20 days is approved, residents will see their taxes go up by a half mill for the first time in several years.

There were three preliminary budgets that were devised during their budget workshop on October 30th that had different variations of increases, but they all ranged from a half mill to three quarters of a mill. The first option adds a half mill to the budget dividing it between the general fund and the building and maintenance and land fund adding a quarter mill to each of them. The second option places a half mill in the general fund while the last option adds a half mill to the general fund and an additional quarter mill to the building and land fund."I would like to adopt the second option which would increase the budget a half mill that would then be placed in the general fund which I think is most flexible for us. It gives us a level of security to address the 2012 Budget," said chairperson John Wieczorek. He indicated that he felt the third option was too aggressive for the township.Supervisor Todd Weaver said he liked the flexibility of the second option and would support that as did Supervisor Linda Benner. Wieczorek pointed out that if nothing unforeseen occurred in during 2013 the surplus that would be left could always be transferred into the building maintenance and land fund.Wieczorek and Weaver made and seconded the motion to advertise the tentative budget version that increased the general fund millage by a half-mill, however when the vote was called it ended on a three to one vote with Supervisor Frank Ruch absent. While Wieczorek, Weaver and Benner supported the budget, Supervisor Bruce Steigerwalt opposed the vote without comment.The preliminary budget will be advertised and available for review in the township office for a period of 20 days before it is ready for adoption probably in early December.