Introduction
Cranberry Township, having a population of 31,000 in 2018, is the biggest city in Butler County. Initially incorporated in 1804, Cranberry was mainly an agricultural society until the 1970s and 1980s, as a result of its locality twenty miles north of Pittsburgh at the junction of two Interstate roads, its population and economy began to rise. In the present day, there are over 1,000 businesses of all sizes in Cranberry. The municipality’s economic development is balanced, and involves a range of industries ( Yao & Qian, 2019) . Its commercial growth has been due to ordinances aimed at implementing comprehensive plans which the Township’s Board of Supervisors implemented in 1977, 1995, 2009, and 2017. Today, there are about 20,500 jobs in city ( Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau, n.d.) . Many more persons travel into Cranberry for work compared to those who travel from the city to work in other towns. Apart from its rise as a key regional hospitality and retail center, the main engine of the Township’s local economy has been its expanding family of corporate, research and industrial organizations. The city is also the home for an increasing number of technology startups and for hospitality, retail, and finance, manufacturing and professional businesses. Good road connections, low taxes, 8 major business-industrial parks, along with a well-educated labor force have aided make the city a key employment center.
The residents of Cranberry, and the customers from communities across the area, are served by an increasing variety of local merchants and national chains which operate at shopping malls in the city. Over 220 retail business run in Cranberry. Westinghouse Electric Company is the largest employer in the Township, with over 3,000 persons working at the firm’s Cranberry branch whose business focuses on designing, constructing, maintaining and decommissioning nuclear power plants globally ( Westinghouse) . The city has a twenty-four-hour police force of 32 officers, a volunteer fire company supported by committed property tax, as well as an independent Emergency Medical Service institution which coordinates with other emergency services of the Township. Also, Cranberry is the community’s supplier of waste water treatment and fresh water, which are both financed by taxpayers.
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Budget Overview
Financial Summary, including Revenue and Expenditures
2019 Proposed General Fund Revenue of $20,557,950
| Table 1 | |||
| Department/Cost Center | Description | 2018 Revised Budget | 2019 Budget |
| Legislative | |||
| 10001200 | Real Estate Tax | 3,246,566 | 3,316,772 |
| 10001300 | Act 511 Taxes | 11,850,000 | 12,230,000 |
| 10001400 | Licenses And Permits | 475,000 | 485,000 |
| 10001500 | Interest And Rent | 112,075 | 168,028 |
| 10001600 | Intergovernmental Revenues | 1,106,500 | 1,166,500 |
| 10001700 | Misc Revenues & Transfers | 515,500 | 304,500 |
| Total | 17,305,641 | 17,670,800 | |
| General Government | |||
| 10002200 | Human Resources | - | - |
| 10002331 | Information Technology | 39,296 | 41,000 |
| 10002600 | Debt Service | 97,700 | 97,700 |
| 10002800 | Insurance | - | - |
| Total | 136,996 | 138,700 | |
| Community Development | |||
| 10003100 | Land Development | 130,600 | 129,600 |
| 10003200 | Code Enforcement | 1,039,000 | 1,086,000 |
| Total | 1,169,600 | 1,215,600 | |
| Public Safety | |||
| 10004116 | Police | 240,250 | 281,300 |
| Total | 240,250 | 281,300 | |
| Public Works | |||
| 10005110 | Snow Removal | 15,500 | 16,500 |
| 10005120 | Traffic Signals & Communic | 15,500 | 21,800 |
| 10005132 | Road Maintenance | - | - |
| 10005150 | Fleet Maintenance | - | - |
| 10005160 | Grounds Maintenance | 38,000 | 38,000 |
| Total | 69,000 | 76,300 | |
| Engineering | |||
| 10005240 | Engineering | - | - |
| Total | - | - | |
| Recreation | |||
| 10006210 | Park Operation | 28,450 | 27,750 |
| 10006220 | Park Early Childhood | 185,200 | 310,000 |
| 10006230 | Park Youth Programs | 462,500 | 517,500 |
| 10006240 | Park Adult Programs | 156,000 | 142,000 |
| 10006250 | Park Family Programs | 8,500 | 6,000 |
| 10006260 | Park Teen Programs | 30,000 | 30,000 |
| 10006270 | Park Senior Programs | 32,000 | 2,000 |
| 10006280 | Park Community Events | 3,500 | 5,000 |
| 10006290 | Park Facility Maintenance | 125,000 | 125,000 |
| 10006295 | Park Special Program | 12,000 | 10,000 |
| Total | 1,043,150 | 1,175,250 | |
| General Fund Revenue Total | 19,964,637 | 20,557,950 | |
| Note. 2019 Budget data for the Cranberry Township, Cranberry Township Organization (2018), Retrieved from https://www.cranberrytownship.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/1655 | |||
2019 General Fund Expenditures of $23,457,950
| Table 2 | |||
| Department/Cost Center | Description | 2018 Revised Budget | 2019 Budget |
| Legislative | |||
| 10001100 | Board Of Supervisors | 47,748 | 47,748 |
| 10001700 | Misc Revenues & Transfers | - | - |
| Total | 47,748 | 47,748 | |
| Miscellaneous | |||
| 10001800 | Misc Expenses & Transfers | 2,500,000 | 2,900,000 |
| Total | 2,500,000 | 2,900,000 | |
| General Government | |||
| 10002100 | Executive | 927,290 | 934,614 |
| 10002200 | Human Resources | 382,868 | 413,976 |
| 10002311 | Information Technology | 163,592 | 190,590 |
| 10002400 | Finance | 468,724 | 431,635 |
| 10002500 | Communications | 305,965 | 358,883 |
| 10002600 | Debt Service | 1,727,363 | 1,678,764 |
| 10002700 | Tax Collection | 282,130 | 279,730 |
| 10002800 | Insurance | 416,500 | 407,500 |
| Total | 4,674,432 | 4,695,692 | |
| Community Development | |||
| 10003100 | Land Development | 365,336 | 382,976 |
| 10003200 | Code Enforcement | 674,845 | 806,383 |
| 10003300 | Planning | 220,798 | 200,871 |
| Total | 1,260,979 | 1,390,230 | |
| Customer Service | |||
| 10003400 | Customer Service | 154,522 | 146,962 |
| Total | 154,522 | 146,962 | |
| Public Safety | |||
| 10004111 | Police Department Support | 1,350,010 | 1,566,373 |
| 10004112 | Police Patrol | 3,241,747 | 3,530,565 |
| 10004113 | Police Traffic | 254,501 | 132,818 |
| 10004114 | Police Investigations | 407,272 | 411,515 |
| 10004115 | Police Fleet | 185,180 | 191,130 |
| 10004120 | Animal Service | 13,000 | 13,000 |
| 10004130 | Fire Police - Now Fire & Emergency Services | - | - |
| 10004140 | Firing Range | 12,000 | 12,000 |
| 10004150 | Emergency Management | - | - |
| 10004230 | Fire & Emergency Services | 568,372 | 584,834 |
| 10004310 | Ambulance Operations | - | - |
| Total | 6,032,082 | 6,442,235 | |
| Public Works | |||
| 10005110 | Snow Removal | 609,755 | 631,591 |
| 10005120 | Traffic Signals & Communic | 634,109 | 476,989 |
| 10005131 | Storm Water | 366,425 | 512,946 |
| 10005132 | Road Maintenance | 1,282,134 | 1,192,444 |
| 10005140 | Facility Maintenance | 731,068 | 811,616 |
| 10005150 | Fleet Maintenance | 303,301 | 295,545 |
| 10005160 | Grounds Maintenance | 929,586 | 1,003,564 |
| 10005170 | Pw Administration | 553,224 | 594,027 |
| Total | 5,409,602 | 5,518,722 | |
| Engineering | |||
| 10005210 | Engineering | 642,773 | 729,170 |
| Total | 642,773 | 729,170 | |
| Recreation | |||
| 10006210 | Park Operation | 608,569 | 673,767 |
| 10006220 | Park Early Childhood | 137,592 | 209,099 |
| 10006230 | Park Youth Programs | 372,715 | 383,255 |
| 10006240 | Park Adult Programs | 91,366 | 98,120 |
| 10006250 | Park Family Programs | 40,155 | 43,086 |
| 10006260 | Park Teen Programs | 9,139 | 9,853 |
| 10006270 | Park Senior Programs | 11,750 | 3,400 |
| 10006280 | Park Community Events | 40,000 | 40,000 |
| 10006290 | Park Facility Maintenance | 67,173 | 72,536 |
| 10006295 | Park Special Program | 37,000 | 54,075 |
| Total | 1,415,459 | 1,587,191 | |
| General Fund Expenses Total | 22,137,597 | 23,457,950 | |
| Note. 2019 Budget data for the Cranberry Township, Cranberry Township Organization (2018), Retrieved from https://www.cranberrytownship.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/1655 | |||
Department Budgets
2019 Proposed General Fund Revenues
Figure 1
| Table 3 | ||
| Department/Cost Center | 2018 Revised Budget | 2019 Budget |
| Legislative | 17,305,641 | 17,670,800 |
| General Government | 136,996 | 138,700 |
| Community Development | 1,169,600 | 1,215,600 |
| Public Safety | 240,250 | 281,300 |
| Public Works | 69,000 | 76,300 |
| Engineering | - | - |
| Recreation | 1,043,150 | 1,175,250 |
| General Fund Revenue Total | 19,984,637 | 20,557,950 |
| Note. 2019 Budget data for the Cranberry Township, Cranberry Township Organization (2018), Retrieved from https://www.cranberrytownship.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/1655 | ||
2019 Proposed General Fund Expenses
Figure 2
| Table 4 | ||
| Department/Cost Center | 2018 Revised Budget | 2019 Budget |
| Legislative | 47,748 | 47,748 |
| Miscellaneous | 2,500,000 | 2,900,000 |
| General Government | 4,674,432 | 4,695,692 |
| Community Development | 1,260,979 | 1,390,230 |
| Customer Service | 154,522 | 146,962 |
| Public Safety | 6,032,082 | 6,442,235 |
| Public Works | 5,409,602 | 5,518,722 |
| Engineering | 642,773 | 729,179 |
| Recreation | 1,415,459 | 1,587,191 |
| General Fund Revenue Total | 22,137,597 | 23,457,950 |
| Note. 2019 Budget data for the Cranberry Township, Cranberry Township Organization (2018), Retrieved from https://www.cranberrytownship.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/1655 | ||
Capital Projects
Capital Project Funds 2019 Budget
| Table 5 | ||
| Fund Name | Revenue | Expenses |
| Fire Capital | 409,161 | 379,499 |
| Capital Improvement | 2,925,000 | 2,809,000 |
| 2015 Bond Fund | - | - |
| 2017 Bond Fund | 20,000 | 5,544,839 |
| 2017 Renovation Fund | 5,000 | 560,000 |
| 2015 Marshall Twp. Construction Fund | 5,000 | 970,159 |
| Note. 2019 Budget data for the Cranberry Township, Cranberry Township Organization (2018), Retrieved from https://www.cranberrytownship.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/1655 | ||
Capital Improvement Projects
| Table 6 | |
| Capital Improvement Program | Budget ($) |
| Library as the 2019 Project of the Year | 1,200,000 |
| Continue traffic signal system upgrades in technology | 200,000 |
| Replacement of lights and structures at WaterPark | 150,000 |
| Franklin/Burke Roads intersection improvement | 350,000 |
| Public Safety Training Facility enhancement | 150,000 |
| Design and preliminary site preparation for DPW and Public Safety utilization of new property | 100,000 |
| Treatment Plant technology (SCADA) upgrades | 70,000 |
| Wolf Run Pump Station upgrades | 50,000 |
| MSA Thruway | 17,000,000 |
| North Boundary Park Lighting and Turf upgrades | 3,700,000 |
| Rt. 19 and St. Francis Intersection Signal Upgrades and pedestrian improvements | 800,000 |
| CHGC Pavilion enhancements | 20,000 |
| Solid Waste Cart replacement | 30,000 |
| Municipal Center interior space utilization enhancements | 500,000 |
| Franklin Acres pump station upgrade | 700,000 |
| BCWPCF Technology upgrades SCADA | 70,000 |
| Municipal Center Parking areas rehab | 200,000 |
| Traffic signal upgrades to incorporate adaptive technology | 200,000 |
| Golf cart fleet replacement | 500,000 |
| Note. 2019 Budget data for the Cranberry Township, Cranberry Township Organization (2018), Retrieved from https://www.cranberrytownship.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/1655 | |
Debt Administration
| Table 7 | |
| Item | 2019 Budget |
| Debt Service Revenue | 97,700 |
| Note. 2019 Budget data for the Cranberry Township, Cranberry Township Organization (2018), Retrieved from https://www.cranberrytownship.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/1655 | |
Cost Analysis
| Table 8 | |
| Type of Cost | 2019 Budget |
| Fixed Costs | |
| Board of Supervisors | 47,748 |
| Executive | 934,614 |
| Human Resources | 413,976 |
| Information Technology | 190,590 |
| Finance | 431,635 |
| Communications | 358,883 |
| Debt Service | 1,678,764 |
| Tax Collection | 279,730 |
| Insurance | 407,500 |
| Land Development | 382,976 |
| Code Enforcement | 806,383 |
| Planning | 200,871 |
| Police Department Support | 1,566,373 |
| Police Patrol | 3,530,565 |
| Police Traffic | 132,818 |
| Police Fleet | 191,130 |
| Animal Service | 13,000 |
| Fire Police - Now Fire & Emergency Services | - |
| Firing Range | 12,000 |
| Ambulance Operations | - |
| Traffic Signals & Communic | 476,989 |
| Storm Water | 512,946 |
| Road Maintenance | 1,192,444 |
| Facility Maintenance | 811,616 |
| Fleet Maintenance | 295,545 |
| Grounds Maintenance | 1,003,564 |
| Pw Administration | 594,027 |
| Engineering | 729,170 |
| Park Operation | 673,767 |
| Park Early Childhood | 209,099 |
| Park Youth Programs | 383,255 |
| Park Adult Programs | 98,120 |
| Park Family Programs | 43,086 |
| Park Teen Programs | 9,853 |
| Park Senior Programs | 3,400 |
| Park Facility Maintenance | 72,536 |
| Park Special Program | 54,075 |
| Total | 18,743,048 |
| Step-fixed Costs | |
| Snow Removal | 631,591 |
| Total | 631,591 |
| Variable Costs | |
| Misc Revenues and Transfers | 2,900,000 |
| Customer Service | 146,962 |
| Police Investigations | 411,515 |
| Emergency Management | - |
| Fire & Emergency Services | 584,834 |
| Park Community Events | 40,000 |
| Total | 4,083,311 |
| Total Costs | 23,457,950 |
| Note. 2019 Budget data for the Cranberry Township, Cranberry Township Organization (2018), Retrieved from https://www.cranberrytownship.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/1655 | |
Budget Recommendations
The municipality should try to cut expenditures on General Government department over the next five years, to ensure that it is not incurring so much cost on running the government, while the revenue from the general government department is very low. Looking at the Budget, the revenue from the general government department is 138,700, compared to expenses of 4,695,692, which is an extremely huge difference.
The Recreation department should also work towards reducing its expenses, because the revenue which is being generated by the parks is relatively lower compared to the cost of running them. The projected revenue from the parks is 1,175,250, compared to expenses of 1,587,191. Thus there is the need to ensure that in the next five years, the park revenue is higher than the park expenses.
Also, the engineering department must ensure that in the next five years, it can start earning revenue from engineering works since it has projected expenses of 729,170 in the 2019 budget, while it does not project to earn any revenue at the same time from engineering works.
References
Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau. (n.d.). Cranberry Township. Retrieved from https://www.visitbutlercounty.com/attractions/cranberry-township
Cranberry Township Organization. (2018, November 14). 2019 Budget. Retrieved from https://www.cranberrytownship.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/1655
Westinghouse, B. W. R. S. A. NF-FE-0034. Cranberry Township, PA , 16066 .
Yao, W., & Qian, Z. S. (2019). Real-Time Traffic Monitoring and Prediction for Cranberry Township.
