The Chestnuthill Township board of supervisors passed the 2017 budget on Tuesday evening with no increase in taxes for the coming year. The millage rate will remain at 5.2 mills for the municipal/road budget, 1 mill for the dedicated fire tax for the West End Fire Company and 0.25 mills dedicated tax for the West End Ambulance for a total of 6.45 mills.

The total budget for the year is $5,860,944.There are a number of projects included in the budget that are dependent on receiving grants to cover the cost. The township has already received a Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources grant of $176,000 toward projects at the Chestnuthill Park and the regional park.The township will also receive a $10,000 grant from Monroe County hotel tax allocations. The grant is earmarked for the Merwinsburg Hotel restoration.The supervisors also agreed to a 2 percent increase to the Burnley Workshop agreement for the final year of the current three-year contract. The agreement permits the workshop to request increases."I am happy to agree to the increase," said supervisor Harry Miller. "You all know how happy I am with these guys and the job they do."The board has set 7

p.m.Jan. 3for the township reorganization meeting. A conditional use hearing for the Mount Effort Development will be held at 7

p.m.Jan. 7.