Cranberry Township officials are proposing a 2.5 mill tax increase to create a new Recreational Investment Fund which is expected to generate nearly $1.2 million.

According to the township, the revenue source would be used to expand, maintain and upgrade the township’s growing network of parks, trails and open spaces. Township officials said the levy would equate to less than $60 per year for the average household.

Some investments planned include improvements to baseball and soccer turf fields to expand capacity, solar lighting installation at UPMC Passavant Sportsplex at Graham Park and new fitness courts and new multipurpose fields at Community Park North. It also will provide funding for new equipment, irrigation and planting upgrades at Powell Farm.

All of those projects are a result of the Greenways and Open Space Plan and the Recreation, Park and Open Space Plan, both of which were adopted by the township over the last two years.

The township’s proposed total $109.5 million budget does not increase real estate taxes going toward the municipalities already existing funds. The total budget consists of the about $29.9 million in general fund expenses and expenses of about $41.1 million in various enterprise funds, $7.6 million in various special revenue funds and $30.9 million in various capital funds.

The proposed total millage rate for 2026 stands at 15.75 mills, broken down by 8.03 mills for general purposes, 2.37 for fire, 1 for public buildings, 0.85 for road equipment, 2.5 for recreation investment and 1 for library. One mill is equivalent to one dollar of tax for every $1,000 of a property’s assessed value.

Some planned projects lined up for 2026 include a study of the Coal Run watershed, the continuation of the Missing Links Sidewalk Program, upgrades to the Brush Creek Water Pollution Control Facility’s solids handling process, improvements to the Franklin acres Pump Station and Phase 1 of the Route 19 Waterline Replacement Project.

Residents can review the budget online at cranberrytownship.org or in person at the township’s library and customer service center.

Supervisors will consider final adoption of the 2026 budget at their Dec. 11 meeting.