West Penn Township has agreed to raise its local service tax in an effort to generate more income.

On a 2-1 vote, the township's board of supervisors on Monday agreed to raise the tax from $10 to $52. Supervisor Ted Bogosh was opposed.Bogosh said that he's spoken with people about the matter, and noted that a lot of people have donated to the fire company to help support it.Now, some of the donations may go down based on the people he's spoken with, Bogosh said.The increase would only affect people who are employed in the township.Before the vote, board Chairman Jim Dean said, "the budget is extremely tight. I don't know where money's coming from."Raising the LST will generate about an additional $23,000 to the township.Last month, Supervisor Tony Prudenti said that when the township initially adopted its LST in 2007, it did so at $10, the lowest possible rate.As a result, he said the township has never reaped the benefits of the tax, and suggested that the board look to raise the rate to $52.Prudenti said at that time the money would be divvied up among the township's fire company, ambulance, police department and road crew.The ordinance goes into effect Jan. 1.In other budgetary matters, the board adopted a resolution to raise the franchise fee tax to 0.03 percent.That action figures to bring in an additional $43,000.The agreement with Blue Ridge is set to expire Dec. 31.The board agreed to hold a budget meeting at 8 a.m. Monday, at which time it hopes to finalize next year's budget.