Catharine Township Wrestles with Budget Issues for 2019

An $82,000 deficit in the 2019 budget caused concern for supervisors during Catharine Township’s regular meeting on Thursday evening, Dec. 27.

An amount classified as “unbudgeted reserve,” caused the supervisors concern in approving the 2019 budget. The $82,000 was the total of the estimated end-of-year balances of township checking and other bank accounts.

According to a call placed by Supervisor Heather Flaig to the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors (PSATS), that money has to be accounted for in the budget. PSATS is a non-profit organization that provides services to townships in Pennsylvania.

Township Solicitor Dave Pertile said the balance was an “accounting issue” and that he would look into the matter further but still the proposed budget needed to be passed by Dec 31.

Supervisor Flaig made a motion to pass the advertised budget with Vice Chairman Ken Brenneman seconding. The motion passed unanimously.

The supervisors said that they hope to have answers to the budget questions during their reorganizational meeting in early January. A final budget will need to be passed by Feb. 15th, according to PSATS information.

Township Roadmaster Michael Fay voiced his displeasure repeatedly with the budget, noting cuts to the Roadmaster Department.

Fay said, “they wiped out the roadmaster portion of budget – we have always sat down, those with anything to do with the budget. This year, that wasn’t the case.”

Fay also said that he has yet to receive a Catharine Township credit card for which he was given the application form.

The supervisors held a closed-door session following meeting for the stated purpose of discussing litigation affecting the township.