Washington Township supervisors announced at their Dec. 4 meeting the tax rate will remain at 0.3 mills.

That means on $10,000 of assessment, the tax will be $30.

Office and work crew will receive 3.5 percent pay increases.

A new Stop the Bleed program will be part of firefighter training.

In the $1,596,866 budget that was approved, each fire company will receive $22,000, up $2,000 from past years.

There were more than 100 per capita tax exonerations for former residents who have moved from the township or who have died.

The Sanctuary at Haafsville will collect stray dogs at $110 per animal and cats at $50.

Friedens fire Chief Joel Merkel raised the issue of additional fire company financing.

He said the amount received from the state as relief association contributions have gone down and it is harder to support the company.

He said each of the three fire companies received $9,000 which is enough to buy two sets of gear.

There has not been a raise in 20 years, he noted.

Supervisor Josh Friebolin said the township has given them $20,000 for the last five years. It used to be kept in escrow but now money goes directly to the companies.

“The extra $2,000 is not cut in stone,” he said. “We’re looking at raising it by $10,000 but incrementally.”

Volunteer numbers have dropped to 38,000 in the entire state. When a grant is applied for it costs $2,000 to the grant writer which is a write-off if a grant is not received.

A new tanker costs between $350,000 and $500,000.

“We have to prepare for resources in the township,” said Merkel.

By combining the three companies or creating a fire tax are the only ways he sees to solve the problem.

Friebolin said they should mention the issue later in the year when the township knows how its budget is going.

Under public comment, Ed Ziegler said it is his understanding roads have to be maintained to qualify for liquid fuel payments.

He also said the D&L had not yet taken down their signs for its race.

Ziegler wants someone to provide divers to check if anything is at the bottom of any of the local quarries.

From the November minutes Kevin Boyman of Skyline Drive complained about shooting. He has neighbors who are shooting pistols 50 feet from the roadway and shooting toward neighbors’ houses.

He called the state police who allegedly said there is nothing they can do. Darryl Kibbler of Woodside Road said he has the same problem.

Boyman attended the December meeting to see if the supervisors have any new ideas.

In November a letter of resignation was received from Andrew Kanas of the planning commission; and a zoning ordinance amendment was advertised to allow poultry as pets or for home use.