Chapman Township Jumps Taxes to Cover Bucktail Bridge Costs

NORTH BEND, PA – Chapman Township government got hit with a mammoth jump in the cost of repairs for the township-owned bridge leading to Bucktail High School and now township taxpayers will be picking up the tab.

The township supervisors have posted a proposed 2021 budget for viewing and, if given final adoption in December, will increase the township real estate tax from 1.18 to 3 mills (the state limit is 19 mills). The last hike in the real estate levy came more than a decade ago and, as a township spokesperson told therecord-online, “Thanks to Bucktail Bridge, the time has come unfortunately” for the increase.

The bridge is the culprit. According to the township, it has to take out loans to pay for it in excess of $600,000. The loan payments will amount to over $60,000 a year and the millage hike will cover those payments.

As explained to therecord-online, Chapman’s yearly budget for the past three years has averaged around $500,000. The supervisors had saved up money in previous years from Act 13 and Liquid Fuels to pay for the bridge. But exorbitant, unanticipated damages and costs were far greater than the township imagined. This coming year the only projects the township can manage will be the Bucktail Bridge and fixing Main Street through North Bend. The spokesperson explained that Main Street was a state road until last year. The township was paid $850,000 in a turn-back agreement, funding that must be used to bring Main Street back to PennDOT standards as part of that agreement.

As for the Bucktail Bridge, while open, the project is not yet finished and will not be done until the end of May 2021. The township will be paying for it for the next decade. As the township spokesperson said, “We are sure that our students, teachers, workers and residents safety is worth every bit the cost and work required! The bridge was over 50 years old; hopefully it will be great for another 50 years to come!”

As for additional financing for the project, it was noted that Clinton County honored its 2019 offer and paid the township a $60,000 grant. It also received notification this week that Williams Pipeline has approved a $7,500 grant.

Meanwhile the township is working with PennDOT, SEDA-COG, the county, and state representatives trying to find additional funds for this project. As the spokesperson said, “We are not giving up on any opportunity that may be out there. We are grateful for any help we can get!”

Chapman Township also has filled a board vacancy created by the recent passing of board chairman Tim Horner. Charles Rossell was sworn in at the November meeting after having been appointed as a supervisor by unanimous vote. Rossell is retired from Dominion Energy and is a former supervisor and road master with Chapman Township from 2006 – 2012. During the Bucktail Bridge project, he also helped on the traffic flagging crew.

The board is now organized as follows: Chairman, George Machak; Vice Chairman, Charles Rossell; Supervisor, Gregory Werts