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Dickinson Township tentatively adopts 2024 budget using $500,000 from savings for Peach Glen Road; ratifies wage increases
Summary
At an Oct. 3 budget workshop the Dickinson Township Board of Supervisors tentatively approved the 2024 proposed budget using Option #2, which applies $500,000 from General Savings to a full-depth reclamation of Peach Glen Road. The board also ratified wage increases discussed in an earlier executive session and agreed to mileage reimbursement for emergency responses.
The Dickinson Township Board of Supervisors on Oct. 3 tentatively approved the township's 2024 proposed budget using Option #2, which applies $500,000 from the General Savings fund toward a full-depth reclamation (FDR) of Peach Glen Road and authorizes the budget for public review.
Chairwoman Lorelei Coplen said the workshop format would focus discussion and that road improvements, savings and capital investment remain top priorities. Manager Larry Barrick walked supervisors through four budget options: Option #1 would use $700,000 from General Savings for Peach Glen Road; Option #2 would use $500,000; Option #3 phases the Peach Glen work over two years; and Option #4 defers road work for another year. The board agreed Option #2, as amended, best balances completing Peach Glen while preserving reserves.
The board ratified wage increases for 2024 that had been discussed in a closed executive session held before the meeting. The ratification was moved by Chairwoman Coplen, seconded by Vice Chairman Robert Line III, and approved unanimously.
On emergency services, visitor Charlie Westcott presented August response statistics for Cumberland Goodwill EMS and requested a township vehicle be provided for the Emergency Services Administrator. The board declined to commit to purchasing a vehicle at this time, citing legal and funding questions, but agreed to reimburse mileage for use of a private vehicle and increased the quarterly stipend line to cover payments for the Emergency Services Administrator and an assistant. Manager Barrick will add a note to the budget narrative clarifying that the Fire Tax Fund covers certain supplies and equipment expenses for emergency services.
The budget review included several auditing-firm-requested line-item additions and clarifications, including new revenue and reserve lines (301.20, 357.01, 361.60, 392.108, 392.60, 380) and adjustments to expense items such as IT/cybersecurity (405.45), engineering (408.31), and building repairs (409.25). Supervisors discussed maintaining sustainability after spending from savings, with Supervisor Rob Kole urging efficiency reviews and potential future audits of services.
Board members also discussed other road priorities, including Alexander Spring Road, which Public Works Director Glenn Kelso said carries more traffic than it was designed for and is about 16 feet wide. Kelso cited a quick engineer estimate of roughly $800,000 to perform FDR on a section from Burnt House Road to the Carlisle end, and an alternate estimated $500,000 to upgrade the entire road using a modified full-depth approach.
The board tentatively approved the 2024 Proposed Budget using Option #2, as amended, and authorized the township to advertise the budget for public review. Supervisors scheduled an executive session and a follow-up workshop for Oct. 10 to finish review of the Liquid Fuels Fund, long-term capital items and fire and EMS allocations. The meeting adjourned at 7:37 p.m.
