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<p>KINGSTON TWP. &#8212; The board of supervisors approved a $3.4 million budget Wednesday that contained a decrease in the earned income tax and has funds for paving projects and equipment purchases.</p><p>The proposed 2017 budget reflected a promise the supervisors made when they acquired a bond to pave Green Road in the township, as well as cost-cutting decisions the municipality made while not limiting resident services.</p><p>At an October work session, supervisor Chairman James Reino said years ago the earned income tax was raised to 1.07 percent when the township acquired a bond to pave the formerly dirt Green Road.</p><p>Some remaining debt from the construction of the new municipal building was rolled into the bond, according to Township Manager Kathleen Sebastian.</p><p>&#8220;In September, the township made the final payment on the bond,&#8221; Sebastian said, allowing the township to lower the earned income tax to 1.05 percent.</p><p>The real estate tax will remain at 1 mill. A mill is $1 for every $1,000 in assessed value.</p><p>The budget also contained a $616,811 transfer into the Capital Reserve Fund planned for paving projects, purchasing equipment and vehicles, she said.</p><p>The transfer amount was a result of frugal spending habits over several years, Sebastian said.</p><p>&#8220;We were so conservative with spending,&#8221; she said.</p><p>The finalized budget retained $8,145 planned for landscaping around the East Center Street municipal building.</p><p>At an Oct. 27 work session, supervisors Melissa Chamberlain and Shirley Moyer questioned the expense, claiming it seemed high.</p><p>Sebastian explained the 20-year-old landscaping around the building is overgrown and creates a security threat. She said a person could hide in the large bushes in front of the municipal building.</p><p>She added the budgeted amount was just an estimation. Final landscaping bids will go before the supervisors for a vote before the funds are expended, Sebastian said at the work session.</p><p>The next supervisor meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 14 in the Kingston Township Municipal Building.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Kingston Township Supervisors approved a $3.4 million 2017 budget, which includes funding for landscaping and road paving. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_kingston-township-building.jpg</photo0><caption0>Kingston Township Supervisors approved a $3.4 million 2017 budget, which includes funding for landscaping and road paving. </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Eileen Godin</p><p>egodin@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Eileen Godin at 570-991-6387 or on Twitter @TLNews</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Kingston Township lowers earned income tax