Carroll Township, Perry County, Pennsylvania

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 34.4 square miles (89 km²), of which, 34.4 square miles (89 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km²) of it (0.09%) is water. The unincorporated community of Shermans Dale is located near the center of the township along Sherman's Creek.

As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 5,095 people, 1,897 households, and 1,472 families living in the township. The population density was 148.1 people per square mile (57.2/km²). There were 2,036 housing units at an average density of 59.2/sq mi (22.8/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 98.94% White, 0.26% African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.06% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.22% from other races, and 0.39% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.61% of the population.

There were 1,897 households, out of which 38.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.2% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.4% were non-families. 16.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the township the population was spread out, with 26.7% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 33.7% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 7.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.2 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $45,011, and the median income for a family was $48,472. Males had a median income of $31,966 versus $24,677 for females. The per capita income for the township was $19,312. About 3.0% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.7% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.

Carroll Township is governed by three locally elected Township Supervisors. In Pennsylvania, the term of office of a Supervisor is 6 years. The Township is one of twenty-two townships in Perry County, Pennsylvania. The Carroll Township Supervisors Monthly Meetings are typically held at the Carroll Township Municipal Building, Municipal Building, 50 Rambo Hill Road, Shermans Dale In 2017, the Supervisors are: Kirby Kitner, Chairman; Richard Baum, Vice Chairman and Dan Kirk, Supervisor.[7] There is also a Recreation Board (member ship by appointment of supervisors) and planning commission. Recycling of various materials is available for a fee.

Taxes

In 2017, Carroll Township property owners were subject to the following millage rates: Carroll Township - 0.34900 mills and Perry County 3.3125 mills.[8] Carroll Township does not levy an earned income tax. For 2017, West Perry School District's millage was 11.43 mills. West Perry School District also levies a 1.7% earned income tax which only applies to wage earners. Both social security income and pension income are exempted from the earned income tax regardless of the wealth of the individual or the amount of the pension.[9]

The average yearly property tax paid by Perry County residents amounts to about 3.11% of their yearly income. Perry County was ranked 538th of the 3143 counties for property taxes as a percentage of median income.[10] According to a report prepared by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the total real estate taxes collected by all school districts in Pennsylvania rose from $6,474,133,936 in 1999–2000 to $10,438,463,356 in 2008-2009 and to $11,153,412,490 in 2010–2011.[11] Property taxes in Pennsylvania are relatively high on a national scale. According to the Tax Foundation, Pennsylvania ranked 11th in the U.S. in 2008 in terms of property taxes paid as a percentage of home value (1.34%) and 12th in the country in terms of property taxes as a percentage of income (3.55%).[12]

County level

Three, elected at large, Perry County Commissioners. In 2014, they are: Stephen C. Naylor, Paul L Rudy, Jr. and Brenda K. Benner. The County levies several taxes (Per Capita Tax - $5 per person per year, real estate tax - 3.3125 mills) and receives funding from both the state and federal government. The county is mandated by the Pennsylvania General Assembly to provide many social services to residents.[13][14]

State level

• Mark Keller - State Representative, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 86
• Jake Corman - State Senator. Senate Majority Leader (2015–17), Pennsylvania Senate, District 34

Federal level

• Louis J. Barletta, Republican, Pennsylvania's 11th Congressional District in 2013 after redistricting.
• Pat Toomey, US Senator
• Bob Casey, Jr., US Senator

Map of Perry County, Pennsylvania School Districts

Residents of Carroll Township may attend the local, public schools operated by West Perry School District which provides full day kindergarten through 12th grade. In 2013, the District's enrollment declined to 2,482 students. In 2016, West Perry School District ranked 331st out of 493 public school districts for academic achievement of its pupils, by the Pittsburgh Business Times.[15] The 2016 graduation rate was just 86%.[16]

High School students and adults can attend the publicly funded Cumberland Perry Area Vocational Technical School which is located in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. CPAVTA provides students training in the: construction and mechanical trades, culinary arts, health aids, computer technical careers and other fields. Students may also attend Capital Area Online Learning Association (CAOLA) online education programs. The service is operated by the Capital Area Intermediate Unit 15.

Carroll Township residents may also apply to attend any of the Commonwealth's 13 public cyber charter schools (in 2015) at no additional cost to the parents. The resident's public school district is required to pay the charter school and cyber charter school tuition for residents who attend these public schools.[17][18] By Commonwealth law, if the District provides transportation for its own students, then the District must provide transportation to any school that lies within 10 miles of its borders. Residents may also seek admission for their school aged child to any other public school district. When accepted for admission, the student's parents are responsible for paying an annual tuition fee set by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. In 2015, the tuition fees for West Perry School District were: Elementary School - $7,145.66, High School - $9,606.12.[19]

Capital Area Intermediate Unit #15 provides a wide variety of services to children living in its region which includes Carroll Township. Early screening, special education services, speech and hearing therapy and many other services like driver education are available. Services for children during the preschool years are provided without cost to their families when the child is determined to meet eligibility requirements.

Libraries

Community members have access to the Community Library of West Perry County in Blain; the Bloomfield Public Library which is located in New Bloomfield and to the statewide PA Power Library which is an online library funded with tax dollars through the state's annual education budget.

School aged residents may also attend the Capital Area School for the Arts which is an arts charter school located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Armstrong Valley Christian School is one of several private schools that are also available to the Township's residents.

Community college

Carroll Township residents have access to Harrisburg Area Community College. People residing in the community fund HACC through an annual payment made by West Perry School District.[20] Twenty two local public school districts are required to contribute annually to HACC, regardless of whether any residents are attending the college. Full-time students from these districts, who attend HACC, pay $1,674 for 12 credit hours.

Carroll Township residents maintain two sports focused, community parks: Burn Hill Park and Valley Road Park.