Lower Towamensing Township supervisors passed the 2017 budget Tuesday night.

The $1.1 million budget includes a 2 percent matching pension plan for employees through the Pennsylvania Municipal Retirement System, a couple additional sick days and no new taxes, said Ronald Walbert, chairman of the supervisors."The taxes haven't gone up in 10 years," he said.The township solicitor James Nanovic said the general tax rate will remain at 1.6 mills, the fire tax at 0.5 mills for a total of 2.1 mills."We're always very pleased when we don't have to raise taxes," Walbert said.The supervisors also approved the appointment of Sean Corey as an alternate Building Code officer. He will be paid $45 per hour when he is performing duties as a building code officer.Corey has been employed by the township for at least 10 years. He is the sewage enforcement officer.In other business, the supervisors adopted two resolutions: the Carbon County 2015 Hazard Vulnerability Assessment and Mitigation Plan and the Carbon County 2015 Hazard Mitigation Plan. Nanovic said adopting the plans before Jan. 1 is required by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency. The documents cover the plans for handling both disasters involving man-made structures such as dams and building collapse as well as natural disasters such as hurricanes and floods."We are required to adopt it along with everyone else in the county, so we're not alone in it," Walbert said.Township roadmaster Charles Shupp submitted to the supervisors for approval the purchase of a new tamper for use in road construction and repair. The old tamper is not working properly. A new one would cost about $3,500.Walbert asked him what is wrong with it. Shupp said the motor runs but the tamper won't move. The township has had it for about four years, he said."Is it possible we can get it fixed for less than $3,500?" Walbert asked.Shupp said that could be possible, but he doesn't know what the problem is with it."They say sometimes the spring goes in them," he said. "When it was working, it worked well."Walbert said if it could be fixed for $300 or $400, then it would be in the best interest of the township to get it fixed."Get a cost estimate and let's see if it can be fixed," Walbert said.