The Durham Township Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted a $635,775 budget at its December meeting.
The supervisors have held taxes steady at 6 mills for seven years but the board this month authorized a 2-mill jump, meaning the average property owner will pay an additional $77 in 2024.
The township is planning to add one full-time employee in the public works department. The spending plan also includes pay raises for the staff and additional funding for Palisades Regional Fire and Rescue (PRFR), a consolidation of the former Riegelsville, Ottsville and Springtown fire companies.
PRFR Chief William Shick presented a year-end report to the supervisors. His presentation included a synopsis of firefighter training classes, 800 emergency dispatches and several equipment upgrades.
He said the department is planning to hire a part-time office manager who will rotate office hours among the three stations. The person appointed will take over paperwork formerly handled by volunteers. He also said Jeff Mease has been appointed fire commissioner.
PRFR, he said, has also ordered a new ladder truck for Springfield at a cost of about $1.8 million but it will not be delivered until 2029.
In other business, the board approved an estimate of $3,330 for needed repairs to the roof of the Durham Grist Mill. Other expenses the board approved included $750 for Kubota pallet forks and a combined price of about $10,000 for emergency heater replacements for both the township office and the space in the mill it rents to the Durham Post Office. Both old systems failed in late November.
The township office will be closed Dec. 25 and 26 and Jan. 1. The board will conduct its reorganization meeting Jan. 2 at 7 p.m.
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