West Mahanoy approves tentative budget with $250 donation to EMS, no tax increase
SHENANDOAH HEIGHTS – West Mahanoy Township Supervisors approved their tentative 2024 budget Tuesday night and, for the 12th year in a row, there is no tax increase.
Supervisors approved the $2.041 Million budget unanimously.
The budget keeps the tax rate at 7.15 mills, which was first set in 2012.
It still has to be approved at next month’s meeting.
Also approved at Tuesday’s meeting was a $250 annual donation to the Shenandoah Community Ambulance Association.
Supervisors Chairman Paul “Pepper” Martin said the donation is in line with what the township provides to other community organizations, like the library.
The ambulance association sent a letter to the municipalities in its primary coverage area — Shenandoah, Ringtown, and West Mahanoy, Union, East Union, and North Union Townships — seeking a stipend to help offset rising costs.
In the letter, Rick Examitas, president of the ambulance association’s board of directors, said the ambulance’s coverage area has grown through mergers and closures, and that they estimate they will respond to 4,000 calls a year.
Rising costs, including a $12,100 hike in station and vehicle insurance costs over the past two renewals, are taking a toll, he said.
“All of this occurs without or organization seeing an increase in the reimbursable amounts for services rendered,” Examitas wrote. “Our primary population served are covered by government insurance (Medicare or Medicaid) who have fixed rates for reimbursement that have not increased to keep up with the expenses.”
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