JAMES CITY -- There's no tax increase in the tentative 2009 budget for Highland Township.

Charlie Vaughn, chairman of the township Board of Supervisors, announced Wednesday that the proposed spending plan is on display at the township building in James City. The supervisors are expected to adopt a final budget at a special meeting Dec. 22 at 10 a.m. at the township building.

The township expects to have $1,575,136 in revenue in 2009. This includes $308,998 in "cash on hand," $957,111 in certificates of deposit, $200,000 in timber revenue from the U.S. Forest Service and $65,365 in state liquid fuel tax revenue.

The township property tax rate remains at .02 mills and generates only $4,106 in revenue.

The budget proposal anticipates that the township will end 2009 with "cash in hand" totaling $982,598.

"We're keeping our taxes exactly the same," Vaughn said in discussing the proposed budget. He said holding the line on taxes is a challenge because "everything costs more" and certain revenues have decreased.

While the township is retaining its same tax rate, taxpayers will see a tax increase on their bills in April because the Elk County Commissioners have approved a 1.75-mill increase in the county tax. The township and county taxes are collected at the same time on one bill.

In other business at the meeting at the township building, the supervisors:

•Discussed a revised plan from E&M Engineers of Bradford for improvements at the ballfield in James City. Alice Burton Jones, Jodi Weidenhoff and Marsha Buhl, all James City residents, were among those to participate in the discussion. Buhl is president of the Highland Township Recreation Association, which has been planning various improvements at the ballfield location.

Portable nets will be made available for soccer practices, but a separate soccer field is not part of the revised recreation plan.

•Received a copy of a notice from the Kane Area Soccer Association. According to the notice, "it would not be feasible" for the association to travel to James City for soccer games or practice.

•Heard Loretta Niklas of James City ask the township to remove a fire siren from her garage. This siren was removed from the township fire hall several years ago because it did not function properly. Vaughn said he had heard that the siren was being auctioned off on Ebay on the internet. He said the township has no plans to remove the siren from the Niklas garage.

•Heard a report from Dan Hulings, the newly-elected fire chief for the Highland Township Volunteer Fire Department. He said federal community-development funds will be used to purchase a new "rescue tool" for the fire department. He expects delivery of the new equipment by mid-February. The "rescue tool" is used to extricate victims from vehicles involved in traffic accidents.

•Heard Hulings request funding for new air packs for the fire department. He said the ones now used are "obsolete." Vaughn said the supervisors will seek funding for the air packs.

•Discussed the numerous calls for fire department personnel to direct traffic at accidents and other emergencies. Vaughn said he believes the fire department should be "subsidized" for the use of its manpower for long periods of time.

Bill Edinger, deputy fire chief, said the firemen on Nov. 28 spent 10 hours directing traffic due to an accident on Route 948 involving two tractor-trailer trucks. The accident scene was in Howe Township in Forest County.

Edinger said both the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and the State Police claim they are not responsible for traffic control at accidents.

Hulings said the firemen assist with traffic control "as a courtesy." But he believes PennDOT should shoulder the responsibility because "it's their road."

In other township news, Vaughn is walking with crutches after he fractured three bones in his ankle and leg. He suffered the injury last Friday when he slipped on ice outside the township garage. Despite his injury, Vaughn still is working as the township roadmaster.