The bottom line on Lowhill Township's 2013 budget shows the amount left over after subtracting total expenditures from the total amount available for appropriation.

This amount is $1,647,130, more than double the $769,600 of total expenditures projected for 2013, and a 9-percent increase over the $1,507,370 balance projected for 2012.

This increase is due partly to a 9-percent decrease in general government expenditures from 2012.

Another item contributing to a more favorable fund balance is an expected increase of $11,370 in charges for services related to new construction.

Secretary-Treasurer Jill Seymour said this is due to an increase in subdivisions, such as North Lane Estates and Cottage Gates, approved this year.

This apparently also accounts for an increase in projected tax revenue of 27 percent, from $453,387 to $576,300, although this number includes Earned Income Tax as well as property taxes. A breakdown of individual line items was not made available.

As of Nov. 16, the budget showed a property tax rate of 2 mills, the rate for the past 20 years, Seymour said.

The millage rate, however, will have to be adjusted due to the county reassessment so the total tax levy on existing properties does not increase by more than 10 percent as a result of the reassessment.

The township had not received its notification of the reassessment by the time the budget was prepared, so this adjustment could not be made, and the budget was based on the old assessments.

Vice Chairman Richard Hughes told The Press the adjustment will take place at the regular December meeting, when the budget is approved.

Hughes also commented on the large fund balances retained by the township, which the budget documents show increasing from $1,080,457 at the beginning of 2012 to $1,590,694 in 2013, an increase of 32 percent.

"We're a successful township," Hughes said. "We're keeping the township whole [so] we don't need to depend on anybody."

He said it was important to have at least enough in reserve to cover one year's expenses and to be prepared in case of a shortfall in the future.

"We've never gotten any public comment [on the budget]," he said, "because there haven't been any tax increases, and people are satisfied."

Expenditures for 2013 include no significant changes other than the purchase of a used dump truck for $38,000.

This will be covered by state liquid fuels money, and is also offset by lower overall expenditures for roads.

Seymour said the township stocked up on road supplies, such as salt, which was not needed because of the mild winter.

Also, she said, the township was able to complete a large amount of paving work this year.