Cash for the county
Initiation of a drug court program, repairs to the R.C. Miller Bridge and planned renovations at Alameda pool.
These are some of the results of the millions of dollars from state impact fees on oil and gas drillers that have trickled to Butler County in its first two years of distribution.
The state late last week announced distributions of the money, commonly referred to as Act 13 funds, for this year showing an increase to the county as well as most municipalities for the coming, third round.
The county in July will receive $1.75 million. That's about a $600,000 increase over last year's disbursement, and it brings the three-year total to about $3.75 million.
The 57 municipalities in the county will get another $2.79 million this year. That's an increase of little over $1 million from last year, and brings the three-year total to $5.89 million.
“It's up generally across the state,” said Jennifer Cocher of the state Public Utility Commission.
Chief Butler County clerk Amy Wilson said it's always good to see an income source on the rise. But this year's allocation won't have an immediate impact because the county doesn't budget the money because the distribution isn't known until June and received until July every year.
The state has issued a 13-point list of items the money can be spent on that ranges from road and bridge infrastructure to environmental programs and emergency preparedness.
During the past two years, some of county's money has been used for physical needs, such as bridge repair. And other money has helped implement programming.
“The commissioners try to use the money to offset direct impact of the shale industry since the money is a benefit to the county from the shale activity,” Wilson said. “Or they use the money in ways that will benefit the life of Butler County residents overall.”
Some of the bigger beneficiaries on this year's distribution list are Forward Township receiving $282,178 and Jackson Township $199,808. Butler Township's $239,225 disbursement double's last year's $113,760 allotment.
“We have earmarked it exclusively for road paving and storm water issues,” said Butler Township manager Ed Kirkwood. “I think it's a wise use of the money. It's extra, new money that can be used to supplement our road program without going back to the taxpayers.”
Even smaller distributions can have a big impact.
Take Cherry Township, for example, with a population of about 1,111. It has a general budget for 2014 of $259,000. So the upcoming $39,500 distribution is a significant bump in spendable money equal to about $35.50 for every resident.
“We have been using it to fix up the roads, tar and chip to cut the dust,” said Carolyn Yeager, township secretary/treasurer. “We don't get a lot of road money, so it's always a help.”
Here is the money municipalities in Butler County have received from the state impact fee on gas wells.<b>Municipality - 2013 • 2012 • 2011</b>Adams Township $65,139 • $40,250 • $33,347Allegheny Township $36,965 • $20,132 • $32,771Brady Township $11,417 • $7,353 • $6,183Bruin $3,005 • $1,946 • $1,628Buffalo Township $82,279 • $54,196 • $58,978Butler $64,616 • $41,791 • $15,398Butler Township $239,225 • $113,760 • $49,681Callery $2,261 • $1,651 • $1,223Center Township $63,171 • $32,066 • $26,885Cherry Township $39,500 • $32,799 • $4,609Cherry Valley $1,150 • $736 • $622Chicora $5,132 • $1,651 • $1,222Clay Township $25,084 • $16,082 • $5,939Clearfield Township $97,934 • $22,494 • $22,300Clinton Township $90,187 • $28,581 • $21,708Concord Township $36,169 • $14,643 • $5,408Connoquenessing $2,616 • $1,573 • $1,311Connoquenessing Twp. $174,573 • $160,151 • $205,487Cranberry Twp. $140,123 • $88,012 • $73,537Donegal Township $51,103 • $11,352 • $9,555East Butler $4,840 • $3,120 • $1,152Eau Claire $1,992 • $1,288 • $1,081Evans City $8,355 • $5,405 • $4,514Fairview $1,043 • $666 • $246Fairview Township $21,447 • $13,758 • $5,062Forward Township $282,178 • $217,301 • $184,168Franklin Township $18,554 • $11,781 • $9,889Harmony $5,258 • $3,386 • $2,837Harrisville $4,644 • $2,977 • $1,099Jackson Township $199,808 • $138,828 • $113,954Jefferson Township $64,138 • $53,692 • $43,804Karns City $947 • $601 • $222Lancaster Township $159,511 • $141,132 • $137,418Marion Township $19,863 • $12,607 • $4,655Mars $8,365 • $5,398 • $4,513Mercer Township $81,690 • $79,845 • $1,966Middlesex Township $57,478 • $23,901 • $20,060Muddy Creek Twp, $38,128 • $18,401 • $18,841Oakland Township $23,012 • $14,797 • $12,432Parker Township $10,465 • $6,706 • $5,662Penn Township $95,594 • $56,693 • $19,153Petrolia $1,483 • $953 • $352Portersville $1,609 • $1,030 • $865Prospect $6,040 • $3,895 • $3,255Saxonburg $6,698 • $4,304 • $3,592Seven Fields $13,449 • $8,605 • $7,182Slippery Rock $15,494 • $9,868 • $3,645Slippery Rock Twp. $69,978 • $59,896 • $7,147Summit Twp. $178,064 • $60,733 • $18,841Valencia $2,538 • $1,596 • $1,332Venango Township $13,296 • $8,520 • $7,192Washington Twp. $23,433 • $17,526 • $9,367West Liberty $4,247 • $2,723 • $1,005West Sunbury $861 • $277 • $205Winfield Township $55,932 • $48,366 • $66,579Worth Township $43,072 • $37,589 • $8,841Zelienople $18,601 • $12,015 • $10,038