Though still early on in the process, the number crunching for the 2018 budget has begun in West Penn Township.

The township's board of supervisors held a budget workshop Monday morning to discuss next year's spending plan.Township police Chief Brian Johnson and supervisors discussed the possibility of hiring a third full-time police officer.Johnson said the cost to bring on a third full-timer would be somewhere between $46,000 to $47,000 with salary and benefits.Township roadmaster Singleton Harvey and supervisors discussed the potential addition of a new 10-wheel truck for the township's road department.The cost for the truck would be about $177,500.Other areas the board mentioned possibly setting money aside for were building improvements, Act 537, ordinance and revision updates, and professional service reserve.Supervisors agreed to hold their next budget workshop at 9 a.m. Oct. 16.This year, residents saw no increase in their municipal property tax rates when the board passed the budget with a millage rate of 4.75 mills.However, as part of that budget, the board agreed to increase the local service tax from $10 to $52, which only affected people who are employed in the township.Raising the tax was expected to generate about an additional $23,000 for the township, supervisors said previously.Supervisor Tony Prudenti said at that time the board was able to save $28,000 on benefits and insurance for police, as well as $17,000 by switching around insurances.