For the second consecutive year Whitehall Township will not have to secure a short-term loan to pay its bills.

Mayor Edward D. Hozza Jr. recently reported the township has sufficient funds on hand to meet its immediate financial obligations.

According to Hozza, the township has roughly $1.7 million in its accounts. Hozza noted payroll and other ordinary expenses should be met.

Hozza also said revenue from real estate taxes and garbage bill fees will arrive shortly after property owners are mailed the bills sometime in February.

The township anticipates $6.1 million from real estate taxes in 2015, $5.9 million in anticipated earned income taxes and $1.8 million in business privilege taxes.

In recent years, as the country reeled from Wall Street issues, municipalities like Whitehall began to feel the pinch as residents were laid off or permanently lost their jobs, causing a decrease in the township's earned income tax revenue.

Whitehall was required to seek tax anticipation loans as it charted a conservative course, while at the same time retaining all services for its residents, such as street improvements and its parks and playground system.

The purchase of a new fire truck this year for the West Catasauqua Fire Company is a sign the economy is improving.