CENTER TWP — An agenda setting and reorganization meeting was the scene of a heated debate after a resident expressed concerns about the amount allotted toward health benefits for supervisors.

Resident Gary Rauschenberger spoke directly to the board Thursday, Jan. 2, referencing a letter he wrote to the editor, which was published in the Sunday, Dec. 22, edition of the Butler Eagle.

The majority of Rauschenberger’s letter focused on the 2025 advertised budget for the township, which included a total health benefits figure of around $154,000 for all five supervisors.

“I can’t imagine any rationale where you could say that a benefit like this puts the taxpayer ahead of you, because I think it’s the exact opposite of that,” Rauschenberger said.

Supervisor Donald Pringle offered a breakdown of the total values, estimating less than $20 in annual taxpayer costs.

“It is less than the price of a Starbucks latte,” Pringle said. “So I’m not worth the price of a Starbucks latte?”

The meeting did not see any vote on the health benefits, as it served to set the agenda for the upcoming meeting Monday, Jan. 6. The total township budget for 2025 is estimated to $2,414,350.

Rauschenberger said any vote for the benefits would lead to him recruiting new supervisor candidates.

“If you vote for this tonight, I can assure you that I’m going to do everything within my power, within reason, to see that you are not reelected to office,” Rauschenberger said.

Rauschenberger continued to voice his displeasure, saying the money could be put “to far better use than enriching the board of supervisors.”

“I think we’ve got our own little swamp right here in Center Township,” Rauschenberger said. “I hope we come together and clean it up.”

Supervisor Ed Latuska expressed support for the current budget, citing the lack of a tax increase since 2012.

“I think, as a board, we are very fiscally responsible and we stretch out our tax dollars,” Latuska said.

Pringle also mentioned the amount of grants that he had helped the township acquire alongside chairman Philip Wulff.

“Before I got elected to this board, there was not one grant that came in. We went, Phil and I, and got these grants,” Pringle said. “We got over two million dollars. What would that do to your taxes if we didn’t think about the people of Center Township?”

Supervisors plan to move forward with approval of the health benefits.