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General News

Higher tolls on Pennsylvania Turnpike

As of January 4, 2009, tolls on the Pennsylvania Turnpike will increase to meet financial obligations under Act 44. Signed by Gov. Rendell in July 2007, Act 44 provides an additional $2.5 billion in supplemental transportation funding through May 2010. As a result of the increase, projected annual gross toll revenue will increase from $619 million in 2008 to over $738 million in 2010. Starting in January 2010, tolls will increase incrementally about 3 percent a year. For more information including a complete toll schedule, go to www.paturnpike.com.

Bucks County

Riegelsville doubles up on tax increase

In addition to a one mill real estate tax increase, Riegelsville council voted to enact a $52 local services tax for the 2009 budget. At $1,200 less than the 2008 operating budget, the $257,337 budget for 2009 cut several projects including borough leaf collection for residents. The one mill increase means that the owner of a property assessed at the borough’s average of $23,203 will see the tax bill increase from $203 to $226.

Source: The Intelligencer; 12/29/08

 

No tax increase for Chalfont residents

The Chalfont Borough council passed the 2009 budget with a $330,000 reduction in spending but no increase in the property tax rate. The $2.4 million budget maintains the 9.75 mills tax rate but a $52 local services tax is expected to generate nearly $35,000 for the borough.

Source: The Intelligencer; 12/29/8

Richland hits residents with 280 percent tax increase

Richland Township supervisors approved a 280 percent property tax increase for the 2009 budget, raising the millage rate from 2.5 mills to 9.5 mills. The property owner of a home assessed at the township average of $32,000 will pay $304 in property taxes in 2009, compared to $80 in 2008. This $224 average increase is necessary, according to officials, to offset slumping revenues and the rising cost of police services.

Source: The Intelligencer; 12/31/08

Plumstead taxes going up to pay off open space

Residents of Plumstead can expect to pay about $30 more in property taxes in 2009 as officials look to start paying off an $8 million open space bond approved by voters in 2005. The $4.6 million budget will also need to dip into the township’s reserve fund to cover a $643,000 deficit. With the property tax rate set at 9.75 mills, the average homeowner will pay $470 in taxes for a home assessed at $40,000.

Source: The Intelligencer; 1/02/09

Chester County

Upper Uwchlan: Pipeline stance remains neutral

Upper Uwchlan Township officials have been scrambling to mollify what some residents believe is a change in the township’s position regarding a proposed pipeline route.  The AES Pipeline Co.’s latest proposed route, as described by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, will include the construction of an 88-mile natural gas pipeline north from Sparrows Point, Md., through Chester County and portions of Upper Uwchlan. Supervisors’ Chairwoman Catherine Tomlinson said the position of the supervisors sometimes changes as new information comes out about the pipeline route. She said the township’s stance may also be different when there are changes in members of the board. FERC’s description of the newest alternate route, known as 12C, includes a pipeline material staging area near the Lakeridge Wastewater Treatment Facility. Township supervisors in May informed FERC that they had no preference for any pipeline reroute plan.

Source: Daily Local; 12/08

 

Pennsbury sewage plan evaporates

The sudden withdrawal of the Sunrise Assisted Living subdivision plan has left the township without a sewage plan. Last month, township supervisors indicated their intent to work with Sunrise officials so that when they built the sewage treatment plant and drain fields the facilities would be large enough to handle their own 12,500 gallons old sewage and much more, up to a 60,000 gallon-per-day regional plant. One option the township may consider is renegotiating options with Pennsbury Village Associates. That sewage plan had been similar to Sunrise's but the effluent would have been discharged into ponds at Pond's Edge that ultimately drain into Ring Run. In that case, stream discharge has been a major stumbling point for the project from the township's viewpoint. Another version of this plan calls for the sewage effluent to go to Chadds Ford West property for land-based disposal. Meanwhile, the township is continuing its appeal of Chester County Judge Thomas G. Gavin's ruling barring Supervisor Wendell Fenton from official discussions or decisions concerning Pennsbury Village Associates' proposed town center-style development on Route 1.

Source: Daily Local; 12/27/08

 

Penn Township slashes 2009 budget with no increase in taxes

In anticipation of tough economic times ahead, Penn Township supervisors worked to cut expenses while still able to fund non-profit group requests for 2009, including the Avon Grove Library and West Grove Ambulance. The 2009 approved budget of $1,242,216 is a decrease of $640,000 from 2008. Penn Township has not increase taxes since 1997 when the ½% earned income tax was enacted. The real estate tax has remained at 0.053% for many years.

Source: Chester County Press 12/24/08

 

HACC comes under fire

In 2008, the Housing Authority of Chester County came under the scrutiny of Phoenixville Borough. Maintenance and management problems at HACC sites King Terrace and Fairview Village, problems that made both properties regular and predictable call locations for Phoenixville firefighters and police, were cited, fixed — or not.  Despite concerns about maintenance and management of existing properties, HACC moved forward with new projects. By autumn, HACC staff had selected Pennrose Properties to develop the Fairview project for them, and, by year’s end, Pennrose had shuttled the proposal through a first round of Planning Commission reviews. At year’s end, the future of the Community Garden and Labyrinth was still unsettled.

Source: The Phoenix; 12/29/08

 

Delaware County

Stadium developers toss request for tax exemption

Developers of the planned Chester soccer stadium withdrew their request for the expansion of their tax-exempt building zone when, after several hours of tough questioning Tuesday, it became clear they would not be able to strike a deal with the Chester Upland School District before an end-of-the-year deadline. Earlier this month, the district had demanded a hearing and memorandum of understanding outlining ways the developers of the planned $115 million soccer stadium could benefit Chester schools. District administrators said they wanted to reach an agreement before signing off on an expansion of the tax-exempt Keystone Opportunity Zone. Between being grilled by board members, developers reiterated their commitment to support education, but argued it was too early in the building process for them to make specific promises. Delaware County and the city of Chester had already signed off on the zone expansion, so the deal hinged on getting the school district’s approval before a Dec. 31 deadline. As it became increasingly clear they would not be able to reach an accord before the end of the meeting, the developers formally withdrew their request while still promising to move forward with crafting a partnership and memorandum of understanding with the district. By withdrawing their request, the developers essentially abandoned any chance that the opportunity zone could be expanded in the future. Hare said they would have to re-evaluate their estimated $82 million construction budget.

Source: Daily Times; 12/30/08

 

Newtown taxes to jump 4 percent

Township supervisors adopted a final 2009 budget at the special Dec. 29 meeting, retaining the proposed 4 percent property tax and sewer-rate hikes. The new real-estate tax rate is 2.1175 mills, which includes the general fund millage and a 0.064-mill hydrant tax. The approved 0.079-mill tax hike will translate to the average Newtown property owner assessed at $275,000 paying an additional $21.73 in township tax in 2009. Sewer rates will also rise for some Newtown residents. SR2 and SR3 customers will either pay $4 per thousand gallons of usage (up from $3) or a flat annual fee of $224 for well properties. Some SR3 homeowners will pay a flat fee of $599.50, which reflects an increase of $44 over this year.

Source: Daily Times; 12/31/08

 

Chadds Ford raises taxes

Chadds Ford Supervisors approved the 2009 budget 3-0, which will increase taxes for next year. As anticipated, the 5.8 percent tax increase hikes the total township millage by 0.043 mills across the board. That raises Chadds Ford taxes to 0.867 mills in the hydrant district, and to 0.772 mills elsewhere in the township.

Source: Daily Times; 1/2/09

 

Sharon Hill skirts tax increase

Sharon Hill Council recently passed a $3,716,000 general operations budget for 2009 with no tax increase to borough residents. The borough tax rate stands at 6.412 mills. Thus, homeowners are expected to pay about $480 in taxes if their house was assessed at the borough average of about $75,000. Council also passed several ordinances pertaining to service fees and tax rates at their meeting. These included sewer and trash rates, the local service tax and real-estate tax. The monthly borough sewer rate is $30 for single-family dwellings and $35 for multifamily dwellings and for businesses. The trash rate and local service tax also had no increase. In 2009, residents can expect to pay $140 for trash collection and $52 for the local service tax. Finally, council passed the real-estate tax for property transfers that accounts for one half of 1 percent of the gross cost of the property. The Suburban REALTORS Alliance is investigating the passage of this tax to determine if it has stayed at the same rate.

Source: Daily Times; 12/31/08

 

No tax increase for Springfield Township

Springfield Township commissioners met Dec. 16 for final approval of the 2009 $15.4 million general fund budget with no increase in property taxes. The current tax rate of 4.74 mills translates to about $701 for a property assessed at $148,000. Trash service fees are set to increase from $100 to $150 to offset a shift in disposal rates from the county to the municipalities.

Source: Springfield Press 12/24/08

Montgomery County

Pottstown taxes increase 10.44 percent

In a 4-3 split vote, Pottstown Borough council approved the 2009 budget with a 10.44 percent tax increase. The property tax millage rate is set at 8.89 mills in the borough’s $35,114,988 budget, which eliminated over $134,000 in economic development funding and put a one-year freeze on wages for borough employees which will save about $138,000.

Source: The Pottstown Mercury; 12/30/08

 

East Norriton passes budget, approves hospital plan

At its Dec. 23 meeting, the East Norriton Township supervisors approved a $23,781,000 budget for 2009 with the property tax rate remaining at the 2008 rate of 2.312 mills. Additionally, the board of supervisors unanimously passed Resolution No. 2430, the Preliminary Einstein Land Development Approval despite resident protest.

Source: Montgomery Life; 12/31/08

 

Lower Merion Township increases taxes by 2 percent

The 2009 budget for Lower Merion Township was approved by commissioners with a .07 mills increase in property taxes for residents, putting the millage rate at 3.68 mills for the township. The homeowner of a property assessed at the township’s average of $363,000 will pay approximately $25 more in property taxes in 2009 as a result of the increase. The $53.9 million budget should generate an additional $525,000 as a result of the tax increase, but the township will still need to draw $2.1 million from its general fund reserves.

Source: Main Line Times; 12/31/08

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