The roads were paved with good intentions, but the cost of the work wreaked havoc with West Penn Township's 2014 budget.

During a budget workshop meeting Monday, the supervisors learned that paving work completed during the past two months was "more extensive than anticipated," according to roadmaster and supervisor Ted Bogash. He said that the paving work was completed on sections of Mush Dahl, Winter Mountain and Chain Circle roads.For the 2014 budget, the estimate for roadwork was $210,000, but the township has spent $273,000. The roadwork includes various categories, but the paving and road repair costs are the bulk of it. In the 2015 budget, Bogash set the estimated roadwork cost at $200,000."How are we going to do that?" Chairman Jim Akins asked. "We need to itemize, and have a better strategy, so we can all (the board of supervisors) do better."Bogash said he would stay within that budget, with the majority of the paving work focusing on Zion's Stone Church Road. Roadwork wasn't the only line item to exceed the 2014 estimates. Township treasurer Karen Wittig said that the cost of gasoline and various insurances, such as liability and workers' compensation insurance, also were higher than budgeted. The township had budgeted $45,000 in gasoline costs; the actual cost to date is $57,000. The insurances were budgeted at $70,000; the actual cost is about $82,000.As part of the discussion about the 2015 budget, the supervisors heard appeals for funding from Penn Mahoning Ambulance and West Penn Fire Company. Last year, West Penn Township allocated $40,000 to the fire company; in 2015 the fire company is asking for $55,000."This year, through our various activities, we raised $70,000," said West Penn Fire Co. financial secretary Marie Schock. "We were able to decrease our debt by $40,000."But raising that money comes with a price. The fundraisers can't be accomplished without hundreds of volunteer hours, and those volunteers are asking for help."We're tired," said fire company secretary Cheryl Leone. "We want to take a step back."Penn Mahoning Ambulance will also need extra money to pay for new digital radios, said ambulance company president Donnie Hoppes. The company will need two mobile and six portable digital radios which will cost $34,000.The supervisors took no action during the budget discussions, except to schedule two additional budget meetings which will be held at 6 p.m. Nov. 12 and 17 at the township building.