No new taxes in Eldred Township.

The supervisors passed the 2025 budget on Wednesday night without any tax increase. The tax rate will remain at 2.2 mills. This consists of 1.7 mills for the general fund, 0.25 mills for the capital equipment fund, and 0.25 mills for fire protection purposes.

No comment was made at the meeting, but at their meeting in November, Gary Hoffman, the chairman of the supervisors, said, Gary Hoffman, the chairman of the supervisors, said, “Expenses are going up, as they are everywhere. However, the good news there is no proposed tax increase for next year. Obviously we have to watch the dollars and the pennies.”

According to the 2025 budget, the total revenue in the General Fund is $1.4 million. The State Liquid Fuels Fund is $158,440; Fire Protection Tax Fund is $62,370; and the Capital Equipment Reserve Fund is $79,830. The total of all funds is $1,767,300.

These numbers increase when factoring in all funds available to the township. The total amount of funds available in the General Fund is $2.2 million. The State Liquid Fuels Fund is $277,340; Fire Protection Tax Fund is $274,030; and the Capital Equipment Reserve Fund is $212,440. The total of all funds is a little over $3 million.

Under expenditures, the township anticipates spending $1.6 million from the General Fund, which leaves a fund balance of $636,460. The budget shows $251,500 being spent from the State Liquid Fuels Fund, leaving a fund balance of $25,840. The expenditures for the Fire Protection Tax Fund is $2,460, leaving $271,580. In all, $1.9 million is budgeted for all expenditures, leaving a little more than $1 million.

In other business, the supervisors approved keeping the tax collector’s compensation at 4.5% and the meeting schedules the same.

They did discuss comments provided by residents regarding the Smale house. Hoffman said the responses were varied with a couple people saying they thought it should be sold. The majority thought that tearing it down was the best option. Ann Velopolcek, the township secretary, said there were seven responses.

“The conundrum with the grant to improve the bridge, there is no parking by the house down there now,” Hoffman said. “If you sell the house, there would be less parking. The only way to make more parking would be to tear down that house.”

Hoffman said the fire department has requested to use the house for training if the township does decide to tear it down.

“I don’t think we need to make a decision tonight,” said Supervisor Scott Clark.

Supervisor Susan McGinty said she thinks the township should get a cost for how much it would cost to tear it down and then develop a plan of action.

Hoffman asked Jonathan Gula, the Public Works Department supervisor, how much he thought it would cost to take it down. Gula said he thinks it would cost about $12,000 to $15,000, based on his experience in demolishing the portable classrooms next to the Eldred Township Community Center. He listed the things he thinks would need to be done to the property.

“We’ve got work to do,” Hoffman said.

The supervisors decide to table the matter for the night.