Despite a request for a 10 to 15% increase for the road department next year, the chairman of the West Penn Township board of supervisors is adamant there will be no tax increase.

Supervisors worked on the 2023 budget Monday morning, and supervisor Tim Houser said he’d like to see the road department’s budget increase by that amount in 2023.

Township roadmaster Jeremy Frable said the money would go toward the rising costs of fuel and road materials.

Board chairman Tony Prudenti said the road department would see about a $90,000 increase in its budget if the request is approved.

The board also discussed giving the township’s fire department $55,000 next year, along with its workers’ compensation, which Prudenti said comes out to about $75,000.

Supervisors appeared committed to giving the township ambulance department $45,000.

Don Hoppes, of Penn Mahoning Ambulance, asked if the ambulance department could apply for a Local Share Account grant for a vehicle.

Hoppes said the ambulance needs about $175,000 to $200,000 for a truck, and that even if it could order it right now, they’d be looking at two years until they would get it.

After the board wrapped up its budget discussion, Prudenti said, “no matter what happens here, we are not raising taxes.”

Last month, the board held its initial budget workshop and met with department heads to see where their respective budgets stood.

At that time, Frable said his department “definitely can’t cut anything out,” primarily because of fuel and asphalt costs.

Last December, the board adopted this year’s budget with no tax increase, leaving the tax rate at 4.50 mills.