The Chestnuthill municipal budget for 2016 is $1.2 million greater than last year with no increase in taxes. The increase was explained as being a combination of the expected increase in state liquid fuels revenue and a significant number of grants which the township anticipates receiving during the upcoming year.

"I want to commend our supervisors for making almost $1.2 million appear without increasing taxes," said resident Stuart Thody. "I am always so impressed by Dave's ability to secure grants. We must be the most successful township in the Poconos."Township manager Dave Albright and the supervisors all stressed several times during the discussion that the capital improvements listed in the new budget were dependent on the success of obtaining the various grant monies."If we are not successful in getting awarded the grant, we will not proceed with the project," Albright said.One such project is a repair to the culvert on McIlhaney Road. The board approved a motion to have the township engineers draft the proposal for the repair in anticipation of receiving the grant money.Thody also questioned the $20,000 budgeted for line painting."I know that this is something I bring up every year, but it is a matter of safety," Thody said. "I would ask the supervisors to consider, right now, increasing the amount to at least $45,000 or to consider once again purchasing our own line painting equipment.""I have looked into this myself and I even did line painting in the past," said supervisor Chris Eckert. "The equipment alone could cost between $500,000 and $750,000, and with the number of roads we have, we would need four crew members full time all summer just for line painting. You are talking about a 2 to 3 mill increase just for that. It would be a huge increase."Planning itemsThe Mastermind Route 115 project was tabled again this month. Mastermind is the name for a store and restaurant development which will be located next to the Dollar General in Effort. Wawa's Land Development Plan dated May 29 was conditionally approved pending receipt of outstanding township and stormwater fees.The planning module for the 715 Professional Building (St. Luke's) was conditionally approved pending receipt of the sewer maintenance agreement and some outstanding fees. The 715 Professional Building's Land Development Plan was tabled. The St. Luke's medical building will be built at the corner of routes 209 and 715 where the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is currently restructuring the intersection.