West Penn Township's newest addition to the police force will have a great sense of smell and very sharp hearing.

And four legs.During a meeting Monday, supervisors approved Chief Brian Johnson's request to purchase a police dog, a Belgian Malinois. Johnson said the Schuylkill County District Attorney's Office recently contributed $3,000 toward the purchase of the dog, which will cost about $12,500. Including the D.A.'s donation, Johnson said the department has raised about $9,000 toward the cost.The dog will come from Progressive Canine Association, and March 16 is the projected date for training to begin for Johnson, who will learn how to work with the dog and its commands. The department is seeking additional donations to help with the purchase.The supervisors also approved a proposed budget which does not include a tax increase. Projected expenses and revenues are balanced at $1,881,799. The figures are nearly identical to last year's, when expenses and revenues were balanced at $1,863,932.The millage rate will remain at 4.75, which means that a home with a taxable value of $25,000 will have a real estate tax of $118.75. The supervisors will hold a meeting at 9 a.m. Dec. 29 to adopt the budget.One of the expenditures in the 2015 budget was approved during Monday's meeting. The township will purchase digital radios for Penn Mahoning Ambulance at a cost of $38,029, with payments of $12,679 yearly for three years. The township will purchase the radios and lease them to the ambulance company; according to the terms of the purchase agreement, doing it that way allows the township to get a discount on the radios because of Schuylkill County's contract with Greens Communications in Pottsville.The supervisors accepted a donation from Lehigh Engineering, Pottsville, of two in-wall air conditioning units. West Penn Township had been researching the cost of providing air conditioning for the township building in the meeting room and office areas.Chairman Jim Akins said getting the units donated saved the township at least $12,000, which was the average cost of the estimates that had been received. Lehigh Engineering provides code enforcement work for the township.The supervisors are still seeking public input for the township's comprehensive plan, and will hold a workshop at 6 p.m. Jan. 12 seeking comment. Information about the comprehensive plan is also available on the township's website and Facebook page. The supervisors expect to adopt the plan during their February meeting.Breakfast with Santa will be held at 8 a.m. Dec. 14 at the West Penn Fire Company.