Polk Township’s’ proposed budget for 2023 holds the line on taxes, the board announced Monday night.

Details of the proposed $4,230,000 budget will be available for public inspection during business hours. Residents can pick up a spreadsheet of the budget summary.

“There is no township tax increase this year. It will stay at the .62 millage rate,” said Chairman Brian Ahner.

Residents have 20 days to review the proposed budget before it is adopted at the Dec. 19 meeting.

“We don’t know what will happen this year. We anticipate fuel costs will go up,” he said.

Because of high fuel costs and supply chain issues in 2022, the township did not do its usual amount of paving and road repair. Supervisors are hoping that costs come down this spring and they can fix the roads. There is $1,605,000 budgeted for highway, road and streets.

Also in the budget is $100,000 for culture/recreation. The Polk Township Historical Society’s building needs repair, which will come from this allotment.

In other business:

• The annual Polk Township tree lighting event is at 4 p.m. Dec. 11. Trach Road will be shut down for the event, which occurs on the lawn of Salem-St. Paul Lutheran Church. It includes a craft for the kids, visit with Santa and reading a Christmas storybook.

• Claudio T. Stabile, a sophomore at Commonwealth Charter Academy student, gave a presentation for his Eagle Scout project. He would like to put a shed at the township’s walking park, where he would store telescopes and other equipment for frequent nighttime sky viewing events at the park. He said the park offers a great unobstructed view of the southern sky. Ahner said, “I love the thought of this and your enthusiasm.” The supervisors have some logistics to research, such as liability costs and if the shed would need to be raised since the park is in a flood plain.

• Supervisors are working on three ordinances which will be advertised and presented at the January meeting. The ordinances are for outdoor burners, food trucks and fireworks.