Offsetting minimal property tax increases, the Springfield Township Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday to approve several increases in township expenses.

In an 4-0 vote (with Commissioner Robert Layden absent), the commissioners approved increases to sewage, trash and other rates for 2013.

"(The ordinance) gets into a plethora of areas where we currently have fees but it brings the fees more in line with the 2013 standards in other communities," Commissioner Lee Janiczek said.

Three separate ordinances were approved Tuesday—individual votes on sewage and trash fees took place, in addition to one general vote on many fees.

As it impacts every household in Springfield, increases to trash and sewer fees were approved separately. Trash disposal increases from 200 to $215, while the sewer fee will rise from $4.25 to $5.25 per 1,000 gallons of water consumed. 

Additionally, other costs administered by the township will rise. 

Janiczek said several fees were particularly noteworthy, including:

• $1,000—liquor license transfer
• $500—residential zoning application
• $25—Shade Tree cost to remove a tree
• $15—police accident/incident report