Despite a hefty bank balance of $3.6 million, Martic Township is feeling enough of a pinch that it cut its contribution to the Quarryville Library by 20 percent for 2010, from $5,000 to $4,000.

Frances Vita, the library's director, attended the township supervisors' budget meeting Dec. 7 to plead for a greater contribution.

"Believe me, we feel your pain," said Barbara Stokes, the township board's chairwoman.

The supervisors voted unanimously to approve a proposed 2010 budget that totals just over $1 million and designates $4,000 for the library.

Stokes did not promise anything but told Vita that the contribution amount is not fixed.

"There's a possibility that when it comes time to write the check that we could write it for more, but right now we're budgeted for $4,000," Stokes said. "We'll see what we can do."

Martic Township residents account for 10.2 percent of the library's circulation, ranking it fourth among the communities that use the library.

In 2009, the township — with a population of more than 5,000 people — budgeted $5,000 for the library. That ranked it fourth among the 10 municipalities that contribute to the library.

Overall, the township budget anticipates gross income of $1,015,550 and total expenses of $1,012,265. That would leave net income of $3,285, which is down about 33 percent from 2009.

The township lists its total checking and savings at $3,642,716, which is more than three times its total budget. The accounts are expected to earn $125,000 in 2010, equaling about 12 percent of the township's total income.

Stokes attributes the township's lack of a municipal real estate tax, in part, to careful management of those savings and thrifty spending when it comes to equipment and facilities.

The budget projects that earned income tax revenues will fall by about 3.3 percent, from $615,000 to $595,000.

The municipality expects to pay $11,700 more for insurance in 2010, an increase of about 10 percent. And overall public safety spending is expected to fall $19,100, or 12 percent.

The board voted down an offer from the Lancaster County Humane League for stray-animal services in 2010. The Humane League offered $2,994, plus a $25 service fee for each call.

The figure was too big an increase from the $1,497 the township actually spent for the service in 2009, township officials said, and the item is not listed in the 2010 budget.

"I don't know if we'll have to revisit this issue come January," township secretary Judy Ament said, when asked what's next in the process of finding someone to provide the service. "I know municipalities all over the county are seeing the same kind of spike in their bids."

So far in 2009, the Humane League picked up seven dogs and 20 cats in Martic Township.

In other business, the board passed a motion to rent out a recently purchased residential property next to the municipal building. Rent on the 631 Martic Heights Drive house was set at $950 a month. The lease will include a stove, washer and dryer in the rent. The tenant must pay utilities.