Lower Towamensing Township supervisors passed the 2019 budget Wednesday evening. Taxes remain unchanged.

“For the 13th year, rates have remained what they are for general mills,” said Brent Green, chairman of the supervisors.

The general tax is 1.6 mills, fire tax is 0.5 mills, light tax is 0.45 mills, and water is 0.4 mills. There is a 1 percent real estate transfer tax, 1 percent earned income tax, $5 per capita tax, and $52 local service tax.

The income for the township is $1.2 million and the expenditures are a little more than $956,000, Green said.

The supervisors also approved offering health insurance benefits to its four full-time employees. The township doesn’t have any part-time employees.

Before approving these benefits, the township’s employees were not covered by health insurance.

The insurance will be provided under Blue Care PPO Gold 27 at a monthly premium of $3,672. The deduction for an individual will be $500 and $1,000 for a family. It becomes effective on Jan. 1, 2019.

The Aquashicola Fire Company requested assistance from the township to cover the cost of steps and a railing.

Green said the fire company expects the steps to cost $2,207.50 and the railing to cost $3,000, including installation.

“I’m fine with covering the steps,” he said. The cost of the railing seemed a little high to him.

Supervisor Jesse Mendez agreed. Supervisor Ron Walbert was absent from the meeting.

Mendez and Green passed a motion to purchase the steps and have the bill sent to the township.

In other business, the supervisors approved hiring Portnoff Law Associates to collect unpaid garbage bills. The township has more than $100,000 in unpaid garbage bills.

Township solicitor James Nanovic said he reviewed the contract, made some suggestions that were implemented by Portnoff, and approved of the final agreement. The supervisors will vote on the ordinance at their next meeting on Jan. 7.