During a meeting Tuesday, West Penn Township supervisors scaled back on some "wish list" expenditures and put the clamps on spending as they worked through the 2015 budget. According to preliminary numbers, they should be able to approve a budget during their regular meeting Monday, with no tax increase for residents. Final numbers will be available then.

Among the decisions they wrestled with during the lengthy meeting was the purchase of a backhoe. Supervisor Ted Bogosh, who is also the roadmaster, said he can no longer get parts for the township's aged backhoe.The supervisors decided to buy the backhoe, which will cost about $129,000. They plan to spread the payments over three or five years, depending on financing information they get from the seller, Stevenson Equipment, Harrisburg. A representative from Stevenson is to contact the supervisors before Monday, when the purchase must be finalized.Items on the "wish list," but removed from the budget, included a new heating system for the township garage and a generator. Bogosh suggested the purchase of both items. He said heating costs for the garage could be reduced by installing a system which uses an infrared heater, powered by propane. He estimated that the system, including installation, would cost about $5,000.The township currently does have a generator which would power the building, but it is operated by using the PTO system on a tractor.Instead of buying a generator, Chairman Jim Akins suggested that Bogosh develop a written procedure for operating the generator, and also train key personnel. Akins suggested that the supervisors revisit the purchases of the heating system and the generator about midway through 2015.The supervisors also made cuts to portions of the road budget, which included reducing the amount of tar and chip work which will be accomplished and reducing the amount of money set aside for bridge repairs. They also increased the anticipated amount they'll spend on salt for the roads. At the beginning of the winter season a year ago, the township had a full salt shed; this year, they started empty."I would prefer to be able to buy those things (the new heating system and a generator) because they would be assets, but I think we should wait and see if the money is there at the end of the year," Akins said. "I don't want to commit to buying those things now."The supervisors will meet at 7 p.m. Monday, when they're expected to approve a final budget for 2015.