Franklin Township is in good financial shape for 2014.

Franklin Township Supervisors on Tuesday night reviewed the nearly $2 million proposed budget line item by line item for nearly two hours before coming to the conclusion that the township will have excess revenue.Brenda Neeb, secretary, assisted supervisors with identifying account numbers to help smooth the review process. For Neeb this was her first budget meeting serving as secretary, as she is stepping in for Sandra Gaumer, who is retiring after 36 of service on Nov. 27.Attending the meeting were township supervisors Rod Green, chairman; Bryron Long, vice chairman; Paul Kocher and incoming supervisor and road foreman Rob Cressley, who is recuperating from surgery.Neeb said that township is in good financial shape for a variety of reasons. She noted that engineering costs are down, wages are down, snow removal costs are down and costs for legal fees are down.She noted that the only area where the township went over budget was for zoning to deal with an issue with a township business.Millage the sameNeeb said that the milage will remain at 6.3 mills for general purposes and .537 mills for the capital reserve fund for a total of 6.837 mills. Residents who live within 780 feet of a fire hydrant are assessed an additional .800 mills. A home valued at $80,000 will continue to pay $504 in real estate taxes to the township.Neeb noted that the township lost $4,000 in tax revenue when the Hampton Inn was reassessed and also lost tax revenue when two homes on Evergreen Street burned down, which lost another $7,000.The township has an anticipated budget of $1,8829,988 in the general fund and oversees $149,854.65 in liquid fuels to bring the total amount of funds administrated by the township to $1,979,842.Neeb said there is approximately 8 percent of taxes which are uncollectable and 7.5 percent of the budget is set aside for the building fund.Green said that one area which will see an increase in funding is the police department."We want to increase funding so that we can pay a higher rate for part time police officers," said Green. "We want to be able to attract good candidates, which we are not able to do because the present rate is too low."Green said that presently part-time officers are paid just over $13.40 an hour.Security for recycling binsSupervisors also set aside about $5,000 to pay for security cameras and installation costs. The cameras would monitor the recycling bins, township building and police office."We're having a lot of garbage thrown in with the recycling," said Green.The township is also allocating $104.25 more for the cost for 9-1-1 services as costs have risen.Despite discussing the possibility of using an outside hauler for garbage at the October township meeting, supervisors included the costs of maintaining employees for collecting trash and road work.Cressley said that one employee would work four days on the garbage truck, and the fifth day on roads; another employee would work three days on garbage and two days on roads; and another employee would work part time working on the garbage. A fourth employee would be strictly working on roads.Green noted that costs for the landfill are down and he attributed that decease to the increased recycling program.Deliquent customersLong suggested that the township increase efforts to hit delinquent garbage customers with liens."This is revenue that you never see," said Long. "We keep putting the revenue in the budget."There is presently $40,000 in delinquent garbage collection costs, according to Neeb.When there are foreclosures Neeb said the township usually does not see any revenue because the township is last on the list for funds. She noted that there are some delinquents on sewer bills too.Neeb said that she included a new air conditioner for the office in the budget and new office phones."We don't want to overspend," said Kocher. "It could be a hellish winter."