With the prices of goods and services on the rise, Wilkins commissioners are seeking ways to tighten belts and cut spending. There has been, however, some disagreement on the best way to reduce the bottom line.

Michael Szoko suggested that he and his fellow commissioners should not use the health-care plan provided by the township.

The township code allows commissioners to use the plan, but Mr. Szoko said at the Nov. 10 meeting that they should reject that right because township employees face the possibility of paying increased health-care contributions.

"If we're going to ask for contributions for health care, we have to start with sacrifices from the top," Mr. Szoko said.

He also said the township should require all employees and dependents older than 65 to apply for Medicare and Security Blue and the township would pay their deductible. He estimated the township would save $1,000 per month in expenses through the change in Medicare coverage and $16,000 per commissioner if they reject the coverage.

Commissioner Sharyn Fialla, who said she does not receive health-care coverage, agreed the commissioners should reject it. She also suggested a wage freeze for township department heads as a temporary money-saving measure.

"We can ask heads not required to abide by a union contract to forgo part of their salary in a giveback. And at the end of the year, if things get better, we can lump-sum-bonus it back."

Commissioner Joseph Costa said he didn't believe rejecting township health care would help with the bottom line because the next group of commissioners elected can opt to use the health care even if the current board doesn't. He said the township is already on the right track toward cutting costs by obtaining grants for its recreation center and for putting laptop computers in police cars.

He also applauded joint initiatives with surrounding communities. One such initiative has saved money on garbage pickup.

"I think that's what townships are going to have to do to survive," he said.

Mr. Costa also said the township would save money in legal fees if Mr. Szoko did not file an appeal to a declaratory judgment he filed against the township last year.

The judgment, which challenged the legality of the length of township Manager Rebecca Bradley's contract, was dismissed without prejudice by Common Pleas Judge Paul Lutty Jr. last month.

Commissioners President William Wilson agreed with Mr. Costa. As a retired police officer, Mr. Wilson receives lifetime health-care benefits from the township and is not part of the plan Mr. Szoko wants commissioners to reject.

He, however, called it "hypocritical" that Mr. Szoko would discuss saving the township money and continue a lawsuit against it.

"How about him dropping the lawsuit against Rebecca and we'll save on those legal fees?" he said. "You can't be the Robin Hood of the township and turn around and end up suing the township."

Mr. Szoko defended his appeal, saying the township will save money in the long run if the contract length is cut.

Ms. Bradley reiterated that commissioners are permitted to use health care and said she would like to see the township look more closely at long-term solutions to cutting spending.

She said grants from the Environmental Protection Agency for sewer work will save the township $250,000 and that participation in a Department of Environmental Protection study on the township's greenhouse gas emissions will teach officials how they can regularly cut energy costs.

With 53 percent of the township budget paying for salaries and benefits, she said, officials must look into alternatives. The township is studying the possibility of regionalizing its police force, which has a $1.7 million budget for 2009, she said.

"Let's think long-term and look at true projects that will balance budgets for years to come."