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Below we have archived our recent weekly news briefs.. If there are any questions or comments regarding any specific news items, please contact us via email.

 

News briefs for the week of January 30, 2012

PA Supreme Court overturns redistricting

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court rejected an official plan to remap State House and State Senate Districts for this year’s election. For the first time since 1968, when the legislative reapportionment commission was formed, the remapping has been overturned.  The Justices have yet to explain the ruling, but it appears the 2001 maps will remain in place until the commission is able to redistrict.

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 1/26/2012

No way to find out now about Philly property tax bill

Philadelphia is in the midst of its Actual Value Initiative (AVI), part of an endeavor to fix a historically inequitable tax system based on decades of bad and incomplete assessments. Assessors have fanned across the city in an attempt to tag each property with its market - actual - value. But the job won't be done until at least September, and the new City Council must pass a budget and set a millage rate - the property tax rate - before the start of the fiscal year July 1. According to Councilman Bill Green, "That essentially means we are putting in place a new tax without having a true public debate on the issue. Not that we can do anything about it." AVI would figure to be a daunting challenge for any Council, but the 2012 version comes before a Council with six freshman members and a new leadership team. The city is also coming off several lean years marked by cutting services and raising taxes in often-bruising budget fights. Several Council members said the most likely approach is to determine a revenue goal and then pass a formulaic millage rate where the actual number is an unknown. In the fall, when the assessments are completed, the millage rate could be plugged in to hit that revenue goal.

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 1/26/2012

 

Lawmakers expected to consider Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac reform this year

Since the market downturn several years ago lawmakers in Washington have been talking about reforming the secondary mortgage market but nothing has come out of Congress yet. This year, though, a lot of progress is expected to be made toward reform, so it will be especially important for real estate brokers and sales associates to stay engaged in what’s happening, particularly this spring. Although we’re still waiting for legislation to come out, lawmakers have been working on the issue. Four bills have been introduced that would take a comprehensive approach to reform.  NAR members can expect to hear more shortly, but whether all of this activity results in a single bill for a vote this year is uncertain. You can learn more about what to expect by clicking here.

Source: National Association of REALTORS; 1/17/2012

Bucks County

Penndel Borough to consider requiring sewer lateral inspection at point-of-sale

Penndel Borough Council will consider an ordinance that establishes a requirement for certification of sanitary sewer status prior to the sale of real estate. A public meeting will be held on Feb. 6, at 7:30 p.m. at the Penndel Borough Municipal Building, 300 Bellevue Ave., Penndel, PA. The proposed ordinance would require a televised inspection of a sewer lateral from a residence to the main to ensure the lateral is free from inflow and infiltration and there are no illegal storm or surface water connections. The inspection is to be done thirty (30) days prior to the sale of the property. If repairs are necessary, they will need to be completed prior to certification. Click here to view the proposed ordinance. Penndel Borough had a voluntary sewer lateral inspection program in place, however not all properties registered for inspection. The Suburban REALTORS Alliance will be in communication with the Borough prior to the Feb. 6 vote to list our concerns regarding the ordinance.

Source: Courier Times; 1/16/2012

Bucks planners taking tougher stance on fair housing

Bucks County municipalities that have applied for Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) can expect a review of their municipal zoning regulations by county planners to ensure compliance with the federal Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has stipulated that grant money cannot be distributed to any entitiy in violation of the acts. The acts prohibit discrimination on housing-related dealings because of a person’s race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability or familial status; and also prohibit regulations on group homes for people with disabilities that wouldn’t normally be imposed on a typical home. The main issues found in some Bucks County municipalities include special requirements for group homes and the “definition of family.” The county planning commission stressed that some Bucks municipalities have provisions on the books that predate federal laws like the ADA, and that most of the issues are not blatant errors.

Source: PhillyBurbs.com; 1/13/2012

Central Bucks eyes outsourcing bus service to save $1.2 million

The Central Bucks school board approved a $288.3 million preliminary budget for 2012-13 that includes a proposed tax increase of 1.7 percent, the Act 1 limit imposed by the state. The proposed tax increase would raise the tax rate to 122.85 mills, for a total property tax bill on the average home of $4,912 - $80 more than last year. The district business manager, Dave Matyas, proposed an annual reduction of the budget by $1.2 million by outsourcing bus transportation to an outside provider. Currently, the school district runs about 125 bus routes and employs close to 140 drivers, dispatchers and mechanics. Central Bucks is currently in contract negotiations with the Central Bucks Transportation Association and cannot make any changes to outsource routes until a new contract is in place. Association members have been working under the terms of the old contract that expired on June 30, 2011.

Source: Courier Times; 1/25/2012

Warrington approves conditional uses for Penrose Tract

The Warrington Township Board of Supervisors approved two conditional uses for the Penrose Tract, one of the last open stretches of old farmland in the township. The 67-acre property was rezoned as mixed-use last year, and a drive-through for a proposed restaurant and 81 town homes have been approved as conditional uses. The proposed project, currently named “Valley Gate,” includes a mix of retail, a hotel and the town homes. The plan has not received preliminary land development approval from the township.

Source: Courier Times; 1/26/2012

Bristol Township re-opens 2012 budget

Bristol Township’s new council voted unanimously to re-open the 2012 budget and tasked new Township Manager Bill McCauley to present a new version to the board on Feb. 1. The former council approved a 2012 budget last December that increased taxes 0.3 mills, or about $5 for a property assessed at the township average of $17,877. The total property tax millage was 24.29 for a total average bill of $434. The former council also used $771,000 in township reserves to balance the budget. By state law, changes made to the re-opened budget must be made by Feb. 15. Click here for up-to-date meting information.

Source: PhillyBurbs.com; 1/20/2012

Chester County

Oxford school board representation dispute continues

Opposing sides in the dispute over reapportionment of the Oxford Area School Board’s voting districts agreed to sit down together and attempt to reach an agreement on new boundaries before fighting the matter out in Common Pleas Court. A hearing was scheduled to ask Judge Shenkin to approve the at-large plan for board representation that was approved by a 5-3 vote of the board last year, as is required by law. Opponents had, however, submitted two modified plans for regional and at-large representation to the court, asking Shenkin to give his nod to one of them rather than the board’s plan. Before the hearing began, with the courtroom packed on both sides of the aisle, attorney Patrick O’Donnell, representing the at-large plan opponents, suggested to Judge Shenkin that he appoint a mediator to help the sides settle the dispute. He noted that such a technique had been successful in two other contentious voting cases, including the fight over a polling place in Lower Oxford.  Shenkin gave the sides until March 8 to report on whether any progress had been made in negotiations or whether a full hearing on the issue would be necessary. Asked if he thought the two sides could reach a compromise between the at-large plan approved by the school board last year and the modified plans supported by some district residents, President Joe Scheese told a reporter “I don’t think so.”

Source: Daily Local; 1/23/2012

Phoenixville website highlights community

Phoenixville Borough’s website includes links to a Video TourBook, which highlights various aspects of the community. The videos are all available on the lower right hand side of www.phoenixville.org  and include the following topics:

• Welcome
• Quality of Life
• Real Estate and Relocations
• Education
• Arts and Entertainment
• Parks and Recreation

Residents object to Parkesburg tax hike proposal

Changes in how money is being allocated means the 2012 Parkesburg budget will be advertised for reopening, but the 2012 tax rate is still expected to jump dramatically. The new tax rate borough council is advertising for this year is 10 mills, a 25% increase over the 2011 rate of 8 mills. For residents with a home assessed at $100,000, the two-mill increase will mean an additional $200 in taxes. Residents attended the January 16 Borough Council meeting to question the need for the increase. The tax ordinance and budget will be considered at the February 6 Council meeting.

Source: Avon Grove Sun; 1/19/2012

Ordinance gives residents right to permit parking

West Chester Borough Council gave residents of the 400 block of West Miner Street the right to permit parking. The new ordinance designates that West Miner Street between Wayne and Brandywine Streets will be included in residential parking permit zone B from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Residents brought the parking issue to the attention of council last year, citing problems with county employees using their spaces. Similar parking petitions from South Brandywine Street and Wayne Street were denied because council did not feel there was the same immediate parking issue. Councilman Jim Jones suggested creating an ad hoc parking committee to examine the borough’s long term parking problems.

Source: Daily Local; 1/23/2012

 

Solar farm developers promise sewer hookups, buffer expansion

The developers of a proposed solar farm project in Caln Township promised residents who live north of the property that they will expand a buffer and pay for sewer-connection fees. The farm is proposed for 46 acres south of Dogwood Lane. During a township hearing, developer Harry Keares said the new plan is to move the natural buffer on the northern part of the property from 25 feet to 100 feet. The developer will also pay for both a public sewer and water line along Scott Drive and Dogwood Lane and pay the tie-in fees to the 38 residences along those streets. The Board of Commissioners has 45 days to render a decision on the proposed project.

Source: Daily Local; 1/23/2012

Delaware County

County moves on economic plan

Delaware County is moving forward with a component of an economic and jobs plan. The first phase of the three pronged plan will create recommendations for workforce development though the Office of Employment and Training and Commerce Center. The other two aspects of the plan, which provide incentives to redevelop blighted and vacant properties in the county’s older communities and the utilization of the Commerce Center to provide support for small businesses, will be considered at a later time.

Source: Daily Times; 1/19/2012

REALTORS urge action in Chester Upland

The Suburban REALTORS Alliance has written to Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett urging him to work with state legislators, school district administrators and other concerned parties to immediately explore short and long-term solutions to the financial crisis in the Chester Upland School District. Click here to read the full statement. Judge Michael Baylson of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia last week ordered the state Department of Education to provide $3.2 million in immediate funding so the Chester Upland School District could meet payroll through the end of February. Baylson has not ruled on whether the state should pay the school district more than $20 million in additional funding, which would be used to keep the school operating throughout the remainder of year.

 

Middletown approves zoning change

Middletown Council approved a zoning change needed to build a modified town center on the former Franklin Mint site and two other properties on West Baltimore Pike. Amending Middletown’s zoning ordinance and zoning map at the request of the developer for the properties — WV-PP Towne Center L0P — creates a mixed-use zoning district. It also provides design standards and regulations governing the proposed use of the 173-acre site. The revised plan calls for 1.2 million square feet of development, less than half the 3-million-square-foot development originally proposed and rejected by council. The development would include 200 age-restricted residential units, a 120,000-square-foot office building and two 150,000-square-foot retail buildings. The revised plan allows for the development of SEPTA’s Wawa commuter rail station. It also provides green areas and a buffer to protect adjacent Hunter Street residents. Rezoning is the first step forward in a six-year effort by the Mint team to develop their property. The likely next step in the process is for a preliminary land development plan to come before the county and township planners, and then township council.

Source: Daily Times; 1/25/2012

 

Norwood council lays off employees in cost-cutting moves

Norwood Borough council members recently laid off the borough’s highway department and assistant secretary in an effort to save up to $100,000 a year. Delivered after a Jan. 18 borough council work session, the layoffs were part of a plan to shore up borough finances in the face of a creeping deficit, Council President David Kowalski said. Mayor George McCloskey stressed that the decision was a financial decision as Norwood’s revenue has decreased for the past two years, with little indication it will rise anytime soon. Last week’s layoffs came two years after a 34.7 percent tax hike in early 2010, which ended up netting the borough a $327,000 budget surplus. The borough has not raised taxes since. Norwood Treasurer George Fieo said the borough’s revenue and expenditures essentially broke even at the end of 2011. Revenue from taxable real estate continues to fall because of residents’ tax reassessments. The borough could have been looking at an almost $30,000 deficit if the layoffs were not implemented.

Source: Daily Times; 1/26/2012

 

Mayor Linder, city council approve more hires

Chester Mayor John Linder and his administration continued to make changes within City Hall by approving a series of appointments and terminations. City council formally terminated the contracts of 14 individuals, who had been given pink slips nearly two weeks ago. Council also brought in a number of new personnel within various city departments. Council also passed an amended budget, which the Daily Times filed a right-to-know request to see. When council passed the first reading of the amended budget earlier this month, it contained increased line-item allotments for the salaries and wages in various departments. It also eliminated money allotted for overtime in some departments.

Source: Daily Times; 1/26/2012

Montgomery County

Norristown to set procedures for revocation of rental licenses

Norristown Municipal Council will consider an ordinance that will clarify the procedures for revocation or suspension of a rental license. Ordinance 12-03 of 2012 will be considered at the regular meeting of Norristown Municipal Council on Feb. 7 at 7:30 p.m. in Norristown Municipal Hall, Council Chambers, 235 E. Airy St., Norristown, PA 19401. Click here for the proposed ordinance.

Source: Times Herald; 1/21/2012

Narberth meets with planning consultant

A joint session of the Narberth Borough Building and Zoning Committee and Narberth planning commission met with a planning consultant to aid in a rewrite of the borough zoning code. Planning assistance will be provided by the Montgomery County Planning Commission to explore a new zoning code using form-based zoning. Form-based zoning is an alternative to traditional zoning and focuses less on separation of uses and more on the physical forms to address the relationships of buildings to each other and public spaces. The option has been available for about 10 years and is in use in a limited capacity in several Montgomery County municipalities, but Narberth is the first to look at form-based zoning for every zoning district. The group plans a “focused outreach” for business owner and resident involvement, with a draft code in place by the fall. Working meetings take place during the planning commission meetings on the first Monday of the month. Click here for the borough website.

Source: Main Line Times; 1/19/2012

Lower Merion announces City Avenue official map workshop

A workshop will be held on Jan. 28 at 10:00 a.m. in the GSB Building, Top Floor Conference Room, 1 Belmont Ave., Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004, for the City Avenue Official Map project. Click here for the meeting agenda.

Source: Lower Merion Township; 1/24/2012

Methacton preliminary budget hikes taxes

The Methacton School Board adopted a proposed preliminary budget that includes a 2.95 percent tax increase. The Act 1 index set by the state limits a tax increase to 1.7 percent unless the district is approved for exceptions. Methacton has applied for a PSERS exception for pension payments. The proposed 27.082 millage rate would amount to a $140.35 tax increase on the average home in the district for a total tax bill of $4,898. The district will continue working on the preliminary plan with final adoption required by June.

Source: Times Herald; 1/24/2012

 

Norristown seeks volunteers for board vacancies

The Municipality of Norristown is seeking interested residents to serve on the Planning Commission, the Historical Architectural Review Board or as an alternate on the Zoning Hearing Board. A letter of interest and qualifications may be submitted to: Mr. David Forrest, Administrator, Municipality of Norristown, 235 E. Airy St., Norristown, PA 19401. Click here for the Norristown website.

Source: Times Herald; 1/21/2012

News briefs for the week of January 23, 2012

Area growth projections released

Chester and Gloucester are likely to be the fastest-growing counties in the region over the next three decades, while Philadelphia is poised to continue its recent rebound from a half-century of decline. New population projections by the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission predict the nine-county region will be home to 6.26 million people by 2040, an 11.3 percent increase over the 2010 population of 5.63 million. The latest projections suggest the Philadelphia region will continue to grow more slowly than the nation, whose population is projected to grow 31 percent over the same period. The Philadelphia region's population in 2040 is likely to be older and more diverse than it is today, planners say. The region's suburbs will continue to grow, but the long, post-World War II population drain from Philadelphia and inner-ring suburbs is likely to reverse, said Mike Boyer, manager of long-range planning for DVRPC.  Chester County is predicted to see an increase of 30 percent; Bucks County is anticipated to have a 16 percent increase; Delaware County is projected to have a 2 percent increase; and Montgomery is expected to see a 12 percent increase.

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 1/17/2012

 

Chester Upland School District facing serious financial issues

School remains in session within the Chester Upland School District, but the district’s troubled finances are far from fixed. A federal judge ordered the state to advance $3.2 million to Chester Upland Tuesday, but that will only be enough to enable the district to meet its immediate bills until its next court date, Feb. 23. The school board has sued the state to provide the funding needed to keep the district open through June. With the district’s long-term outlook still uncertain, local legislators have taken action by scheduling community meetings and penning letters to Gov. Corbett. Rep. Thaddeus Kirkland will host a community meeting Jan. 20 at 6 p.m. at the Chester Fine Arts Center to discuss the steps he has made to find a solution and listen to the concerns of residents. State Sen. Dominic Pileggi, R-9, of Chester, also will host a public meeting Jan. 27 from 8:30-9:30 a.m. at the Chester Upland administration building. Later that day, state Rep. William Adolph, R-165, of Springfield will host a House Appropriations Committee hearing at Widener University to discuss Chester Upland’s financial crisis. Delaware County legislators are trying to find a long-term solution. They plan to meet with Gov. Tom Corbett to discuss possible answers to the district’s situation.

Source: Daily Times; 1/19/2012

Bucks County

Penndel Borough to consider requiring sewer lateral inspection at point-of-sale

Penndel Borough Council will consider an ordinance that establishes a requirement for certification of sanitary sewer status prior to the sale of real estate. A public meeting will be held on Feb. 6, at 7:30 p.m. at the Penndel Borough Municipal Building, 300 Bellevue Ave., Penndel, PA. The proposed ordinance would require a televised inspection of a sewer lateral from a residence to the main to ensure the lateral is free from inflow and infiltration and there are no illegal storm or surface water connections. The inspection is to be done thirty (30) days prior to the sale of the property. If repairs are necessary, they will need to be completed prior to certification. Click here to view the proposed ordinance. Penndel Borough had a voluntary sewer lateral inspection program in place, however not all properties registered for inspection. The Suburban REALTORS Alliance will be in communication with the Borough prior to the Feb. 6 vote to list our concerns regarding the ordinance.

Source: Courier Times; 1/16/2012

 

Northampton proposes public water connection ordinance for Traymore Manor

Northampton Township supervisors will consider a proposed ordinance that will require 107 properties in the Traymore Manor area to connect to a new public water line to be installed with a grant from the PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The proposed ordinance can be viewed on the township website. The proposed ordinance sets forth guidelines for connection to the public water system and the abandonment of the contaminated wells. Please refer to the Northampton Township website for agenda updates regarding the next Board of Supervisors meeting scheduled for Jan. 25 at 7:30 p.m.

Source: Northampton Township; 1/19/2012

 

Tullytown reopens 2012 budget; increases property improvement allocation

Tullytown Borough Council reopened the 2012 budget in order to make adjustments after the resignation of Borough Manager Carmen Raddi. The council members removed $83,000 from the budget that had been allocated for salary and benefits for the full-time borough manager position. Tullytown has decided to replace the full-time manager with a part-time position that will pay $25,000 with no benefits. The budget will be available for public review and voted on at the Feb. 7 meeting. In other news, council also voted to increase the 2012 property improvement allocation from an earlier amount of $3,200 to $6,000. The allocation is given to the 640 property owners in the borough from tipping fees paid by Waste Management, Inc. for use of the landfill.

Source: PhillyBurbs.com; 1/17/2012

 

New Hope budget includes slight tax increase

New Hope Borough Council approved a $3.6 million 2012 budget that included a 0.5 mill tax increase. The increase will add about $25 to the average property tax bill. The 12.225 mill tax rate is broken down as follows: 6.93 mills for general borough purposes; 1.6 mills for fire protection; 0.945 mills for street lighting; 0.50 mill for rescue squad; 0.25 mill for the library; and 2 mills for debt service.

Source: New Hope Gazette; 12/22/2011

 

New Hope-Solebury school district releases preliminary budget

The New Hope-Solebury School Board reviewed a preliminary budget draft that will keep any tax increase within the 1.7 percent Act 1 index. A 1.7 percent increase would add about $80 to the school tax bill for the average property owner. The preliminary budget plan calls for using $1.3 million of the district’s fund balance to cover part of the $1.7 million deficit the district is facing. The district finance team will continue to work on the budget with final approval taking place in June.

Source: New Hope Gazette; 1/7/2012

 

Chester County

Oxford school district receives anonymous $1M donation

Like other public education leaders across the county, state and nation, Oxford Area School District Superintendent Ray Fischer faces a tight budget. Unlike the others, however, Fischer has a behind-the-scenes helper to fund educational programs in the district that face cuts. Superintendent Fischer announced the district is receiving $1 million from an anonymous donor. Fischer also hopes to obtain federal grant money of $250,000 to $1 million as part of the Race to the Top initiative. Those funds could be used to help make connections with other programs, such as Head Start. Another continuing issue in the district is the request for reapportionment to change the way board members are elected. The board's official suggestion is to make all members elected at large, abandoning the regional system. A hearing on reapportionment is scheduled for Jan. 23 in courtroom three in the Chester County Justice Center, West Chester.

Source: Daily Local; 1/13/2012

 

Phoenixville to pursue $23.27 million in borrowing

Phoenixville Borough Council took the next step for financing capital improvements by adopting an ordinance for the issuance of approximately $23.2 million in general obligation bonds. The bonds are for the acquisition of land and construction of a new borough hall, for water infrastructure projects, and for a refinancing program that would refund all or part of the borough's outstanding general obligation bonds from 2003.

Source: Daily Local; 1/18/2012

 

Volunteer position open on London Grove Municipal Authority

The London Grove Township Municipal Authority has a vacancy available to fill an unexpired municipal authority board member's term. The term runs until December 31, 2013. All applicants must be London Grove Township residents. If you are interested in applying for this position, please submit a letter of intent to: Karen A. Crossan, Manager London Grove Township Municipal Authority, 372 Rose Hill Road, Suite 300 West Grove, PA 19390 

Appeared in: Daily Local News on Sunday, 01/15/2012

 

West Pikeland supervisors to forgo stipends

West Pikeland Township supervisors unanimously agreed to eliminate their compensation. The decision will affect supervisors beginning with the next new term on the board on Jan. 1, 2014. According to Board Chairman Ernie Holling, the supervisors' compensation will not be lowered or raised until then. Holling said the decision arose because the township "really is low on funds."  We "preferred not to raise taxes as a revenue source and decided that one of things that we could do that could indicate our contribution to saving money was to forgo our salary," said Holling. This vote negates an ordinance adopted in January 1998 that authorized each supervisor to receive a financial compensation of $1,875 a year. That measure has been effective since Jan. 1, 2002.

Source: Daily Local; 1/18/2012

 

Delaware County

Chester Upland School District facing serious financial issues

School remains in session within the Chester Upland School District, but the district’s troubled finances are far from fixed. A federal judge ordered the state to advance $3.2 million to Chester Upland Tuesday, but that will only be enough to enable the district to meet its immediate bills until its next court date, Feb. 23. The school board has sued the state to provide the funding needed to keep the district open through June. With the district’s long-term outlook still uncertain, local legislators have taken action by scheduling community meetings and penning letters to Gov. Corbett. Rep. Thaddeus Kirkland will host a community meeting Jan. 20 at 6 p.m. at the Chester Fine Arts Center to discuss the steps he has made to find a solution and listen to the concerns of residents. State Sen. Dominic Pileggi, R-9, of Chester, also will host a public meeting Jan. 27 from 8:30-9:30 a.m. at the Chester Upland administration building. Later that day, state Rep. William Adolph, R-165, of Springfield will host a House Appropriations Committee hearing at Widener University to discuss Chester Upland’s financial crisis. Delaware County legislators are trying to find a long-term solution. They plan to meet with Gov. Tom Corbett to discuss possible answers to the district’s situation.

Source: Daily Times; 1/19/2012

Middletown council to hold public hearing

The former Franklin Mint site on West Baltimore Pike will be the focus when Middletown Council holds a public hearing at 7 p.m. on January 23 in the township building to consider proposed amendments to the township’s zoning ordinance and zoning map. Council’s approval would create a new SU (Special Use) 1-A Mixed Use District and would rezone various properties owned by WV-PP Towne Center L.P., the Mint development team, to the new district. This would allow the team to move forward in seeking approval of their revised plan for the land. The new plan drew positive response from council and a few residents on hand when it was unveiled at a special meeting Aug. 30, 2011. That’s because it called for a significant reduction in density over a previously proposed town center plan. Instead of more than 3 million square feet of development originally proposed, the new plan shows a total 1.1 million square feet, with the existing Mint building incorporated in the plan. It includes 200 residential units, a 120,000 square foot office building and two 150,000 square foot retail buildings. Two other parcels owned by the developers are targeted for several restaurants, a bank, a convenience store and a 125-room hotel with conference center.

Source: Daily Times; 1/17/2012

 

Longtime Ridley Twp. official thrilled to join county council

Former longtime Ridley Township commissioner David J. White was appointed to Delaware County Council earlier this month to fill the unexpired term of Jack Whelan, who was elected Delaware County District Attorney. White, a Republican, joined the all-Republican five-member county council on Jan. 3. White recently resigned from the Ridley Township Board of Commissioners, where he was vice president and represented the 4th Ward. In Ridley, he served as chairman of several committees, including building, economic development and public safety and police. He was also chairman of the Ridley Police and Fire Memorial Foundation. He was involved with attracting a new Marriott Springhill Suites Hotel and the redevelopment of a blighted housing area in the Crum Lynne section of the township. White said he wants to expand economic development in the county and make it more business friendly. He said another top priority is providing assistance to the Marcus Hook and Trainer communities, which face the closure of two refineries.

Source: Daily Times; 1/16/2012

Haverford school budget features tax hike

The preliminary budget for Haverford School District in 2012-2013 features a proposed 2.49 percent property tax rate increase from 26.0209 to 26.6689 mills. Officials noted it’s the smallest increase in memory, but the largest permitted increase for the district under Act 1 without going to referendum. If approved, the tax increase would equate to an additional $104 for a residential property at the average assessed value of $160,786. Officials will have additional opportunities to review budget calculations and updates at a meeting March 15. A proposed final budget discussion will take place April 10, with final adoption slated for June 7.

Source: Daily Times; 1/15/2012

Middletown approves Rails-to-Trails plan

Middletown Township approved the preliminary/final land development plan for the Chester Creek Rails-to-Trails project. This means 2.8 miles of an unused SEPTA rail line, from Creek Road to Lenni Road, will be converted to a 10-foot-wide walking/jogging/biking trail for public use. Among conditions of approval is that an 80-foot-high berm with evergreen trees must be provided by the non-profit Friends of Chester Creek Branch to create a visual barrier between an abutting Creek Road residential property and a 10-11 space parking lot that will serve the tail. Since the approval was granted, Glenloch Homes Association has taken legal action to prevent construction of the trail. The request for preliminary injunction states that the Glenloch community of 72 townhomes and 30 single-family dwellings border almost 2,000 feet of the rail line. According to the complaint, the Rails-to-Trails project will cause Glenloch homeowners “immediate and irreparable injury.” Among the association’s concerns are loss of privacy, security and property values.

Source: Daily Times; 1/1/2012 and 1/16/2012

 

Aldan 2012 budget calling for tax hike

Aldan Borough’s 2012 budget calls for a tax rate increase from the current rate of 5.658 mills to 6.111 mills. The increase means that on an average assessment of about $80,000 a property owner will pay $38.48 more in 2012. Although the trash fee remains unchanged, the sewer rental fee has yet to be determined, based on final charges by the Darby Creek Joint Municipal Authority. It’s estimated that there will be a 10 percent increase over the 2011 fee.

Source: Daily Times; 1/6/2012

Montgomery County

County borrows $25 million

Montgomery County commissioners recently approved a $25 million short-term loan to temporarily pay operating costs for the county. The tax anticipation note (TAN) will help cover the county’s costs until tax revenue starts arriving in the spring. The county’s fund balance is $20 million and the commissioners felt it was insufficient to absorb the current expenses of the county. Montgomery County has not relied upon a tax anticipation note since 2002.

Source: Times Herald; 1/12/2012

 

Pottstown to review ordinances

Pottstown Borough council has resolved to review some older ordinances in 2012 and most of them deal with residential properties. The Council’s safety and finance committees will review the “charge-back” ordinance which is meant to force owners of properties that require frequent police services to pay for the cost of the repeat visits, thereby keeping costs down for those who do not require similar services. However, the current ordinance contains so many exemptions that it is difficult to enforce. Council’s codes committee will review the relatively new rental ordinance enacted two years ago. The ordinance requires the annual licensing of rental properties and allows for the revocation of a rental license if a landlord does not pay water/sewer/trash bills in a timely manner. Borough manager Jason Bobst would like to open up a dialogue with landlords to see what kind of impact the ordinance is having and also educate landlords on the new blight law enacted by the state and borough. The codes committee will also be tasked with review of the property maintenance ordinance, which needs some updating in terms of notification of codes violations. Other ordinances to be reviewed include the trash ordinance and requirements for the creation of Citizen Advisory Groups. Click here for the Pottstown Borough website.

Source: Pottstown Mercury; 1/9/2012

 

Final plan for Willow Grove nearly complete

The redevelopment plan for the vacant Willow Grove Naval Air Station is nearing completion with the final touches to the draft plan being approved on Jan. 18. Some of the recent changes included reducing the residential portion of the plan by 30 percent, increasing the amount of land for the Hatboro-Horsham School District and reducing the acreage to the Bucks County Housing Group and the Delaware Valley Historical Aviation Association. The final draft is expected to be voted on March 21 and sent to the federal government for approval by March 31. For more information, visit www.hlra.org.

Source: PhillyBurbs.com; 1/19/2012

Lower Merion seeks HARB Candidates

Lower Merion Township is seeking a licensed real estate broker to apply for an anticipated vacancy on its Board of Historical Architectural Review (HARB) for a full five-year term of office. HARB is a nine-member advisory Board to the Board of Commissioners and meets on the second Tuesday of each month (except August) at 8:30 a.m. in the Township Administration Building. Deadline for applications is Feb. 3, 2012. Click here for application guidelines.

Source: Lower Merion Township; 1/17/2012

 

Narberth Borough council posts vacancy

Narberth Borough Council will be accepting letters of interest and/or resumes for a vacancy on the Narberth Borough Council until noon on Jan. 27, 2012. The prospective candidate must be a resident of the Borough of Narberth and be available for a Special Meeting of Borough Council to be held at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 30 and/or Jan. 31, 2012 at the Narberth Borough municipal building, 100 Conway Ave., Narberth, PA 19072. Click here for more information.

Source: Mainline Group; 1/12/2012

News briefs for the week of January 16, 2012

Fed Reserve recommends key principles for housing recovery

Stabilizing and restoring the health of the housing market is critical to a broader economic recovery, according to a white paper released yesterday by the Federal Reserve Board. Many of the issues and recommendations outlined in the paper support key principles established by the National Association of Realtors® to help revitalize the housing industry and economy. The white paper, titled “The U.S. Housing Market: Current Conditions and Policy Considerations,” calls for increased lending to creditworthy home buyers and more loan modifications, mortgage refinancings and short sales to reduce the rising inventory of foreclosed homes and help stabilize and revitalize the housing industry. Click here to read more.

Source: realtor.org; 1/5/2012

Bucks County

Bucks commissioners adopt comprehensive plan

Bucks County commissioner approved the county comprehensive plan during their final meeting of 2011. The plan, designed by the county planning commission, will guide county and municipal governments, private agencies and the general public as they make decisions about the future planning, development and management of Bucks County’s natural and infrastructure assets. The entire comprehensive plan can be found at www.BucksCounty.org.

Source: Bristol Pilot; 1/4/2012

 

Morrisville Council overrides mayor’s veto of budget

At a special meeting on Dec. 28, 2011, Morrisville Mayor Rita Ledger read aloud her veto of the 2012 budget, tax rate ordinance, budget resolution and salary resolution for the borough manager. This marks the second time in two years that the mayor has vetoed a budget passed by borough council. After reviewing the mayor’s 12 objections to the budget and related resolutions, Morrisville Borough Council voted 6-0 to override the veto, with two members absent for the vote. Morrisville Borough’s tax rate will remain at 40.93 mills, with one mill equal to a tax of $1 for each $1,000 of assessed property value. The owner of a home assessed at the borough average $20,000 can expect a borough property tax bill of $818.

Source: Yardley News; 1/11/2012 & PhillyBurbs.com; 12/13/2011

Warrington development passes conditional use hurdle

Warrington Township supervisors voted to allow for a cluster development of 48 twin homes and one single-family home on 30 acres on Phillips Avenue off Street Road. The vote ended a very long conditional use hearing process. The conditional use hearing was necessary because the property is zoned Residential 2 and cluster communities are only permitted as a conditional use. The neighboring Lamplighter Village community argued against the conditional use permit based on density and environmental concerns. After an agreement was reached between the developer and neighbors, the supervisors deemed the conditional use appropriate. The developer will now need to move the project through the land development process.

Source: PhillyBurbs.com; 1/11/2012

 

Council Rock requests exemption; taxes could rise three percent

The Council Rock School Board plans to request a state exception that will allow it to raise taxes by as much as three percent in 2012-13. The board plans to apply for an exception to the Act 1 index to cover an anticipated increased in pension contributions. The Act 1 index limits the amount Council Rock can increase taxes to 1.7 percent without an exemption or voter referendum. The pension exemption would be 1.3 percent. The district is not obligated to use the exemption if it is approved, however, the school board wanted the flexibility it provides.

Source: The Advance; 1/8/2012

 

Bensalem schools proposed budget includes tax increase

The Bensalem Township School District has released a 2012-13 preliminary budget that, if adopted, would mean an $89 tax increase for the average homeowner. The proposed budget will increase the tax rate from 141.4 mills to 145.5 mills. The district has applied for an exception to The Act 1 limit of 1.7 percent to cover an increase in pension contributions to the Public School Employee Retirement Fund. The school district plans to use $2.7 million from the fund balance to aid in balancing the budget. The draft spending plan is available to view on the school district website.

Source: PhillyBurbs.com; 1/11/2012

 

Chester County

Early Coatesville District spending plan includes tax increase

The Coatesville Area School Board discussed a preliminary budget with a 3.36 percent tax increase during Tuesday's finance committee meeting. The budget would require the district to apply for exceptions to increase taxes above the state-mandated 2.1 percent limit set by the Act 1 index, which is determined by various market measures. Board President J. Neil Campbell said he is uncomfortable with a tax increase over 3 percent, but he voted for the measure to move it forward and give the district flexibility. The proposed tax increase of 3.36 percent is below the estimated increase in expenditures at 3.5 percent. Many districts are filing for the exceptions at this point even if they do not plan to use them to give themselves flexibility. Two hundred districts in the state responded to a recent survey and nearly half said they are filing for the exceptions. The final budget will not be released until April or May.

Source: Daily Local; 1/11/12

 

Chester County’s former steel towns credit ratings shift

According to Moody’s, Chester County’s former steelmaking towns are headed in opposite financial directions. Moody’s boosted its rating on $12 million of Phoenixville’s general-obligation bonds to Aa3, citing the borough’s “ample financial reserves” and downtown redevelopment, which has put more property back on the tax rolls. Moody’s dropped the rating on $158 million in Coatesville Area School District general-obligation debt from A2 to A1 blaming the “structural imbalance in the district’s operating budget resulting in five years of operating deficits that have decreased the district financial position.”

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 1/10/2012

 

T/E board leaves options open for property tax exceptions

The Tredyffrin/Easttown Board of Education voted to publish notice of the intent to file for referendum exceptions that would enable the board to enact a tax increase of 3.3 percent.  The vote came after a presentation of preliminary budget options for 2012-13 within the context of a five-year projection of revenues and expenses. In a letter mailed earlier to all T/E taxpayers, the district had explained that it faces a deficit of about $6.2 million because of "continued revenue erosion, contractual salary expenses and benefit costs (and an) increased rate of retirement contributions to the Pennsylvania School Employees Retirement System." That retirement-fund contribution rate is 12.36 percent of paid salaries for 2012-13 and projects to 23.66 percent in 2015-16, according to Tuesday's presentation.

Source: Daily Local; 1/5/2012

 

Oxford council revisits sidewalk issue

Property owners in Oxford without sidewalks may have to install them, depending on their location in the borough. Councilman Randy Teel expressed concerns about the lack of enforcement of the sidewalk ordinance. According to borough ordinances, sidewalks must be installed on properties that do not have them when the parcel is sold. Teel has expressed concerns that Wells Fargo Bank on North Third Street was not required to put in sidewalks when ownership was transferred on the property. Enforcement of the ordinance seems to have varied over the years.  According to the borough solicitor, council can define a region for sidewalk improvements based on health and safety needs. Borough Manager Betsy Brantner pointed out that the planning commission will tell a builder if they need a sidewalk during their plan review. Now that sidewalks are being discussed again, the policies on enforcement of the ordinance are going to council’s codes committee for further discussion.

Source: Daily Local; 1/11/2011

 

Delaware County

Upland passes sewer lateral inspection ordinance

The Borough of Upland adopted an ordinance requiring the inspection of all private sanitary sewer lateral connections at point-of-sale. The ordinance also requires all repair or replacement work to be completed and approved by the Borough prior to the transfer of title. Click on this link to view the full ordinance, which will go into effect on February 9. The inspection fee will be set at a later date by council.

Chester Upland remains in state of uncertainty

The Chester Upland School District continues to operate in an atmosphere of uncertainty due to an inability to meet its next payroll date. Though employees don’t know whether they’ll receive a paycheck come Jan. 18, their next pay date, they continue to show up for the benefit of the students, district spokesman Joel Avery said Tuesday. Last week, the district’s teachers and support staff unions decided to work for delayed pay for as long as they are able. No one has missed a paycheck, but that deadline is drawing near. How long employees will continue to work without pay beyond Jan. 18 — the date they actually could miss a paycheck — remains to be seen. The district’s payroll crisis became public last November. In December, district officials made a public plea to Gov. Tom Corbett, asking him to forward subsidies due in June. Those subsidies, totaling $18.7 million, would enable the district to meet its payroll for the remainder of the fiscal year, officials said. State officials declined the request, saying the district was responsible for its situation. In addition to the payroll crisis, the district slashed its operating budget last summer after the state assembly dramatically cut education funding.

Source: Daily Times; 1/12/2012

 

Parkside approves tax increase

Parkside Borough raised property taxes by 0.64 mills. This increase was less than originally proposed, but a tax hike remained as a result of having no reserve fund to counterbalance rising costs. The real estate tax increase was needed to balance the 2012 budget, and will translate to a $38 increase for the average taxpayer. The increase brings the totally millage for the borough up to 9.5 mills, which represents a 101 percent increase since 2004.

Source: Daily Times; 1/4/2012

 

Upper Darby passes tax increase

Upper Darby’s 2012 budget was adopted with a 0.85 mill-increase and a $20 hike in sewer fees. The tax rate will increase from 15.94 to 16.69 mills. The sewer rental fee for each household is increasing from $185 to $205 annually to repair and maintain the township’s aging sanitary sewer system. Taxpayers with a $100,000 assessment paying $1,595 this year will pay an additional $85, a total of $1,669 next year.

Source: Daily Times; 1/4/2011

 

After further consideration, Yeadon holds line on tax rate

Working with recommendations proposed by a citizens’ task force, Yeadon Council members unanimously passed a last-minute borough budget that includes no real estate tax increase for residents in 2012. It was the borough’s second attempt to vote on a budget for 2012. The first draft of the budget proposed a 6 percent millage increase to 9.42 mills; council, however, failed to vote on the document during a special meeting after a task force comprised of borough residents announced that it could cut $340,000 from the budget. After meeting with task force members, council met again to approve a budget that would keep the millage rate at the 2011 level of 8.89 mills. All told, council’s revised budget saves the borough an additional $130,000. In addition to maintaining the real estate tax rate, the 2012 borough budget sets the sewer use charge at $4.50 per 1,000 gallons of water used, down from $4.62 in the first proposed budget, and keeps the refuse fee at $225 for every parcel containing a structure.

Source: Daily Times; 12/31/2011

 

Ridley Park approves tax increase

Ridley Park Council approved a final budget that will require a real estate millage rate of 7.79 mills, an increase of 0.34 mills over the 2011 rate. The tax increase will mean an additional $34 in taxes for each $100,000 of assessed property valuation.

Source: Daily Times; 12/29/2011

 

Lansdowne budget calls for 2.5 percent increase

Lansdowne Council adopted a 2012 budget that ratchets up property taxes 2.5 percent from 10.85 mills to 11.12 mills. The new rate translates to an additional $25 for the owner of a property at the borough’s average assessment of $98,000, bringing the total annual tax payment to $1,090.

Source: Daily Times; 12/29/2011

Montgomery County

City Avenue rezoning adopted in Lower Merion

In a 6-4 vote, the Lower Merion Board of Commissioners voted to adopt a rezoning ordinance for City Avenue, the prime commercial location in the township. The ordinance will create two districts; the Bala Retail Center, and a Regional Center Area that includes commercial properties going east toward the Schuylkill River. The intent is to create a more pedestrian-friendly area and encourage mixed-use development. A delay has been built into the rezoning ordinance, with a requirement that an official map be presented by the planning staff by April 30, 2012. The map will show the placement of key features such as open space and public gathering locations, new streets, public transit facilities and a future trail network. Learn more about the City Avenue rezoning at www.lowermerion.org .

Source: Main Line Times; 12/22/2011

Skippack taxes remain steady

Skippack Township supervisors approved a 2012 budget that holds the line on township property taxes. The tax rate will remain at 0.3508 mills. The budget includes four capital expenditures, but is projected to end the year with a $20,000 surplus. Sewer rates are also expected to remain at 2011 rates.

Source: Times Herald; 12/30/2011

 

Narberth hikes taxes 3.32 percent

Narberth Borough Council adopted a $4.44 million budget that will raise property taxes to 9.067 mills. The 3.32 percent increase will mean a borough property tax bill of $1,360 for the owner of a home assessed at the borough average of $150,000, an increase of about $44 over last year. Council also approved a 28 cent increase in the sanitary sewer rental rate. Customers will pay $2.39 per 1,000 gallons of water used. Narberth traditionally waits to adopt the budget as close to year-end as possible so it has a clear picture of receipts and projected expenses.

Source: Main Line Times; 1/5/2012

 

Upper Dublin School Board approves preliminary budget

The Upper Dublin School Board approved a 2012-13 preliminary budget that includes two exemptions to the Act 1 tax index rate of 1.7 percent. The exemptions are for special education and pension reimbursement. If approved, the two exemptions could pump up the proposed tax increase to 4.47 percent – an increase of $236.97 to the tax bill of a home assessed at the district average of $192,000. Administrators stress that the 4.47 percent is a maximum preliminary figure that will most likely decrease during the budget process.

Source: Ambler Gazette; 1/11/2012

North Penn eyes $7.1 million in budget cuts

North Penn school board members were presented with $7.1 million in possible budget cuts by district administration. The cuts, if approved, would impact curriculum, staffing, class sizes, sports programs and construction projects. The preliminary budget calls for a 2.9 percent tax increase and would require $2.8 million in budget cuts to balance. Reducing the 2.9 percent tax increase would mean millions more in budget cuts. Click here to visit the school district website and preliminary budget information.

Source: The Intelligencer; 1/11/2012

News briefs for the week of January 9, 2012

Regional tax rates change in 2012

Over the past month counties and municipalities across Southeastern Pennsylvania have made tough decisions on spending and tax issues. The tax picture for suburban counties is mixed:

• Bucks County’s 2012 budget calls for a 5.7% increase in taxes.
• Chester County held the line on taxes for a third straight year.
• In Delaware County, property owners will pay 2.3% more in county taxes next year.
• Montgomery County’s budget calls for a 17% increase in taxes.

Many residents in the region may see a change in their municipal tax bills as well. Read the Suburban REALTORS Alliance Weekly News Briefs for more information on next year's tax rates. Also note that these changes will be reflected in the SRA Municipal Database later this month.

Bucks County

Upper Makefield ditches public comment policy

Upper Makefield Township supervisors are no longer considering the implementation of a public comment policy for meetings. The proposed policy was a response to election-driven public comments at supervisors meetings last year. The public comment policy would have restricted public comment to agenda items and allowed a time limit to be placed on individual comments. After much debate over the proposed limitations, the township has decided to continue to allow public comment without time limit at the start and end of meetings and before an item is to be voted on.

Source: Courier Times; 12/22/2011

No tax increase in Yardley

Yardley Borough officials passed a $2.54 million budget for 2012 that holds the line on taxes for the sixth consecutive year. The 16.73 mill tax rate amounts to a tax of $401 in municipal property taxes on the average home assessed at $24,000. A mill is a tax of $1 for each $1,000 in assessed property value.

Source: Courier Times; 12/22/2011

Haycock holds tax rate for 2012

After experiencing a 300 percent jump in property taxes over a three year period, Haycock residents will get a reprieve in 2012. Township supervisors approved a 2012 budget that will keep the tax rate at 5 mills. For the average township home assessed at $30,000, that amounts to a tax bill of $150. The property tax increases over the last three years helped Haycock manage the collapse of the housing market and subsequent recession. Haycock experienced a massive decline in real estate transfer tax revenue, which brought in close to $100,000 several years ago and is now budgeted at $15,000.

Source: Courier Times; 12/27/2011

Newtown Township releases fire protection study

In March 2011, Newtown Township supervisors authorized Matrix Consulting Group to review the township’s hybrid system of volunteer and paid fire protection services. The hybrid system of fire protection developed in the 1990s tasked the Newtown Emergency Services Department with providing coverage during the day, Monday through Friday, and the volunteer Newtown Fire Association covering evenings and weekends. The report recommends that a fire chief be hired to oversee the two agencies and that they establish a uniform rank structure and consistent training between the two.

Source: PhillyBurbs.com; 1/3/2012

West Rockhill passes budget

West Rockhill supervisors passed a final 2012 budget that will maintain the 2011 tax rate. Homeowners with a single-family home assessed at the township average of $31,939 will pay about $168 in township property taxes. The operating expenses for the 2012 budget are about $71,000 lower than last year.

Source: PhillyBurbs.com; 12/27/2011

Bristol Township schools will not seek Act 1 exceptions

The Bristol Township School Board recently voted not to seek exceptions to raise taxes above the 2.1 percent Act 1 index set for the 2012-13 school year.  School districts must decide early in the budget process to raise taxes above the Act 1 index set by the state Department of Education, either by voter referendum during the primary election or through state exceptions for costs that cannot be controlled. The current property tax millage for the school district is 188.3 mills, or $3,366 for a single-family home assessed at the township average of $17,877.

Source: Courier Times; 1/5/2012

Chester County

Portion of Downingtown rezoned

Downingtown Council members unanimously approved to rezone Brandywine Avenue and the 100 block of Washington Avenue to a General Commercial District. Under previous zoning, the area included residential, industrial and commercial zones. According to Andrew Rau, the borough's solicitor, the area will now be both residential and commercial throughout, which will allow for a variety of different uses for the buildings, including churches, legal offices and stores. "The residence can always stay as a residence," said Rau. Homeowners can also expand upon the current building, up to 25 percent. The most significant change will occur when a homeowner wishes to sell or change a property to a commercial building. If this change occurs and remains as a business entity for more than 12 months, and the owner wishes to return the building to a residence, they must petition to do so to the Zoning Hearing Board.

Source: Daily Local; 12/29/2011

West Vincent seeks volunteer for Planning Commission

The West Vincent Board of Supervisors is searching for a volunteer to serve on the Planning Commission.  This will be a two year commitment, with meetings taking place on the 2nd and 3rd Thursday of each month.  If you have a desire to serve West Vincent in this way, please send your name, contact information and any qualifications you feel would help the Township in this capacity to tswavley@westvincenttownship.org.

Easttown approves 2.5 percent tax increase

Easttown Township supervisors approved a 2.5 percent tax increase for the township’s 2012 budget. The increase is the lowest in the past four years and follows a 4 percent increase in the 2011 budget. The millage rate will increase from 3.919 to 3.979 mills. In October, Easttown residents found they would have a 2.5 percent increase in sewer rates for the next five years due to an ongoing and urgent need to upgrade the township’s part of the Valley Creek Trunk Sewer System, and also a 4 percent increase in trash removal fees.

Source: Daily Local; 12/27/2011

 

Oxford officials approve tax hike to fund $3.27 million budget

Oxford Council approved an increase in the real estate tax rate for 2012, bringing it up from 11 mills to 11.20 mills. For a homeowner in the borough with a property assessed at $100,000, that translates to a tax increase of $25 for the year.

Source: Daily Local; 12/24/2011

Downingtown council OKs sale of Kardon Park

Downingtown Borough Council approved an agreement to sell Kardon Park to developers Sarah Peck and Jack Loew. Prior to the meeting, Borough Manager Stephen Sullins said the agreement will outline how the sale would proceed when and if the litigation over Kardon Park is resolved, since everything in the courts must be settled prior to the land's transfer. Solicitor Patrick McKenna said the agreement had undergone several revisions since Dec. 22. The agreement of the sale involves three park parcels, called Parcel 1, Parcel 2 and Parcel 3. Parcel 1 is measured at approximately 17.5 acres and is located in the borough; Parcels 2 and 3, in East Caln, are approximately three and seven acres, respectively. According to the newest revision of the contract, Parcel 1's minimum price is $2.61 million; Parcel 2's is $900,000; and Parcel 3's is $860,000. McKenna said at the meeting that even if the developers purchase Parcel 1 and not Parcel 2, they must still remediate Parcel 2. The developers have already deposited $300,000, which will be applied to the total purchase price.

Source: Daily Local; 12/29/2011

O’Neill, Citizens settle dispute

Litigation between two of the region’s economic heavyweights, Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania and developer Brian O’Neill, is over. Accompanying word of settlement, O’ Neill made an enthusiastic pronouncement that his long-stalled Uptown Worthington mixed-use development near Malvern -- which stood at the center of the nearly two-year-long dispute -- would soon rumble with new construction. As Uptown Worthington progresses, it will include modifications to the original plan. What were once envisioned as condominiums will be 753 apartments built in three phases, the first to begin within six months. Construction of a 145,000 square foot office building will also begin within the next three months. An additional 375,000 square feet of retail space is expected to accommodate 55 stores and 15 restaurants.

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 12/24/2011

No tax hike for residents in Pocopson

Pocopson Township residents can look forward to another year without a property tax increase from the township. According to Supervisor Steve Conary, new homes at Scaleby Farms and new construction by NV Homes have brought in taxes Pocopson had not expected. Conary also noted that the township’s open-space preservation program has officially ended. Enacted in 2006, the open space program used a 1 mill property tax to purchase open space throughout the township and place easements on those properties. At the time, the township officials limited the program to five years. The 1 mill tax, which was enacted by public referendum, will remain in place for the next few years to offset funds borrowed by the township to purchase land for the purpose of open space. The township has conserved 1,264 acres of land through the program.

Source: Daily Local; 12/25/2011

Delaware County

Upland Borough to consider point-of-sale sewer lateral ordinance

The Borough of Upland will consider adopting an ordinance requiring the inspection of all private sanitary sewer lateral connections at point-of-sale. The ordinance also requires all repair or replacement work to be completed and approved by the Borough prior to the transfer of title. Alliance staff has reviewed the proposed ordinance, and sent a letter outlining concerns regarding the impact on the transfer of property to the borough council. Ordinance 1 of 2012 will be considered for adoption at a hearing on January 10 at 7 p.m. in the Upland Borough Hall (224 Castle Avenue).

Swarthmore council passes 2012 budget

Swarthmore Council passed a 2012 budget of nearly $4.3 million, which is supported by a tax rate of 5.302 mills, or about $1352 for the average assessed home of $250,000. The 2012 budget includes an increase of 0.1 mills, or approximately $24.

Source: Daily Times; 12/21/2011

Prospect Park taxes going up

Prospect Park’s 2012 budget calls for increasing the property tax millage rate from 7.92 to 8.32. For the average homeowner, this means $40 more in annual property taxes. The increase is down from 2011, when property taxes increased by $68 for a property assessed at $100,000.

Source: Daily Times; 12/21/2011

 

Chester Heights adopts budget; taxes rise

Chester Heights Borough’s remarkable 42-year run of no tax increase budgets came to a close with passage of the 2012 budget, which calls for a 0.36-mill increase in property taxes. The tax hike translates to a 164 percent jump in the millage rate, but the new tax rate of 0.58 mills is still the lowest in Delaware County. The average property owner in Chester Heights (assessed at $113,900) will see the borough property taxes rise from $25 to $66 per year. The tax increase was spurred by a $55,000 budget deficit in 2010 and a projected $75,000 shortfall for 2011. A drop in real estate transfer tax revenue, coupled with a steady rise in operating costs and several unfunded mandates from the state in recent years, ultimately forced the issue and led to the tax hike, according to council President Michael Pierce.

Source: Daily Times; 12/20/2011

 

Rose Valley approves 9 percent tax increase

Rose Valley Council voted to approve a 9 percent tax increase for 2012, raising the millage rate from 1.94 to 2.11 mills. The typical property tax bill will increase $40, from $447 to $487. The increase is the last of a projected three-year plan resulting from the 2009 sale of the borough-owned sewer system to DELCORA. In the past, excess money from the sewer fund was typically transferred into the general fund. To compensate, taxes were raised 14 percent in 2010 and 9.6 percent in 2011.

Source: Daily Times; 12/27/2011

 

Haverford approves 5.2 percent tax increase

Haverford Commissioners approved a smaller real estate tax increase than originally projected in the preliminary budget. The final budget calls for a 5.2 percent increase that will bring the millage rate from 6.359 to 6.689 mills, a 0.330 mill increase. The average property owner with a $167,000 assessment will pay an additional $55 annually.

Source: Daily Times; 12/26/2011

 

Colwyn passes nearly 30 percent tax hike

Colwyn Borough Council approved a significant tax hike as part of the 2012 municipal budget. The budget calls for a 27.9 percent tax increase, raising the millage rate from 19.6 to 27.2 mills. For the average row home assessed at $38,000, the increase means a tax bill of roughly $1,033. For the average free-standing home assessed at $45,000, the increase means a tax bill of roughly $1,224. The increase was largely the result of a $300,000 deficit incurred in 2007 which resulted in a tax anticipation loan that was never repaid. Moreover, the borough is falling short in the area of tax collections. By the end of 2011, the borough was owed about $230,000 in tax revenue. Many of the delinquent offenders are landlords, collectively owing approximately $155,000. Of the 750 homes in the borough, roughly 380 are rental properties. Starting next year, the borough will target some of the delinquent landlords. The borough also suffers from a high foreclosure rate. Since 2007, nearly 200 properties have been foreclosed upon.

Source: Daily Times; 12/31/2011

Chester 2012 budget passed

Chester City Council voted to pass a budget which holds the line on all current taxes, but a new library tax will be put to referendum on the primary ballot. If the new library tax is approved, residents will face a 5.03 percent increase to their tax bill. The proposed financial plan keeps the earned income rate at 2.15 percent for residents and 1.15 percent for nonresidents. The business privilege tax remains at 3.65 mills for retail and service businesses.

Source: Daily Times; 12/22/2011

 

Montgomery County

Norristown increases property taxes 3.43 percent

Norristown Council adopted a $28 million budget for 2012 that includes a 3.43 percent increase in the municipal property tax rate. The property tax rate in Norristown will increase from 11.95 mills to 12.36 mills. A mill is a tax of $1 for each $1,000 in assessed property value. A residential property owner with a home assessed at the municipal average of $95,000 will pay $39 more than last year for a bill of $1,174.

Source: The Times Herald; 12/29/2011

Lower Merion adopts budget

For the first time since 2006, Lower Merion adopted a budget that does not include an increase in township property taxes. The budget holds the millage rate at 4.19 mills, which translates to a tax of $1,512 for the township portion of the property tax bill for a home assessed at the average $361,000. The 2012 budget includes a 1.6 percent increase in expenditures over the 2011 budget, something that caused contention between several board members.

Source: Main Line Times; 12/29/2011

Whitpain to create West Ambler Development Committee

Whitpain Township is in the initial stages of establishing a West Ambler Development Committee, which will be charged with the creation of an action plan to improve the quality of life in the West Ambler area. The committee will be tasked with investigating storm-water management efforts for the flood-prone area, brownfield revitalization for the 38-acre BoRit asbestos sites, and finally rolling all of the research into neighborhood revitalization. An RFP will be issued for professional community planning and engineering. Once the proposals are reviewed a committee will be created within the next three to four months.

Source: Ambler Gazette; 1/3/2012

Lower Merion extends deadline for Comprehensive Plan Committees

Lower Merion has extended the application deadline for citizens interested in taking an active part in the formation of the township’s Comprehensive Plan by serving on one of five volunteer committees. The committees include: Land Use - the blueprint of the future for the township; Housing - identification of housing needs inventories and trends; Circulation – planning for the movement of people and goods; Community Facilities and Infrastructure – inventory of all public/private buildings and infrastructure support; and Energy and Water Resources Conservation – explore small scale storm-water runoff measures. Detailed committee information and application procedures are available by following the “Topical Issues” prompt on www.lowermerion.org. Applications and supporting information must be submitted by Jan. 31, 2012.

Source: Lower Merion Township; 1/4/2012

Springfield Township passes budget

The Springfield Township Board of Commissioners adopted a final 2012 budget that holds the line on property taxes for the fifth straight year. A resident with a home assessed at the township average of $175,400 will pay $591 in township property taxes. However, residents can expect a $1.11 increase in the refuse service fee and a $2.45 increase for sewer rental. The $16.7 million budget is $33,270 less than 2011.

Source: Springfield Sun; 12/22/2011

Authority requests 600 fewer homes at base

Members of the Horsham Land Reuse Authority recently debated the density of housing in the proposed reuse plans for the closed Willow Grove Naval Air Station. It was decided to reduce the number of residential units by 30 percent. RKG Associates, the land planners tasked with creating a blueprint for the property reuse, will present a fifth map with the residential density changes to the authority on Jan. 18. The final redevelopment map is due to the Department of Defense by March 18. It is not expected that any true land transfers or rebuilding of the property will occur until 2015. For more information about upcoming Horsham Land Reuse Authority meetings and past presentations, please visit www.hlra.org.

Source: The Intelligencer; 1/3/2012

News briefs for the week of December 26, 2011

Happy Holidays from the Alliance

The Suburban REALTORS Alliance office will be closed on Monday, December 26 and Monday, January 2 in observance of the holidays. Should you need immediate assistance, please consult our website, www.suburbanrealtorsalliance.com. In addition, the next edition of the weekly News Briefs will be sent on January 6, 2012.

Bust for local zoning, boom for gas drilling

Last week state lawmakers took the first step in approving legislation that would impose an impact fee on oil and gas companies. Under Senate Bill 110 and House Bill 1950, municipalities would be stripped of their zoning authority when it comes to drilling, which would allow gas companies and the state to determine where gas wells would be placed. The legislation would require towns to allow drilling in every zoning district. Though municipalities lack the authority to ban gas drilling outright within their borders, some, including Nockamixon in Bucks County, have restricted where gas drilling can occur. In Nockamixon, roughly 300 property owners, most in residential areas, have signed gas leases, but the Upper Bucks community has been able to hold off companies seeking to do exploratory drilling by restricting gas drilling operations to industrial zones.  Gas companies have been seeking to break ground on exploratory drilling in Upper Bucks County, suspecting that pockets of natural gas lie underneath. 

Source: The Intelligencer; 12/19/2011

PA budget seeing red

Pennsylvania is already facing a half billion dollar shortfall in the current fiscal year, and Corbett administration officials say they only expect that number to increase in the next six months. Such was the bad news delivered this morning at a mid-year budget briefing by Budget Secretary Charles Zogby. Zogby said a weak economy was a major culprit, as well as pension and health care costs. As a result, Gov. Corbett is asking for a freeze in state spending, although Zogby could not give any detail as to what that will mean to specific programs or departments.

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 12/20/2011

Bucks County

Bucks budget raises taxes 5.7 percent

Bucks County Commissioners voted 2-1 to approve a 2012 budget that will increase taxes by 5.7 percent. The millage rate will rise to 23.2 from 21.942. The owner of a home assessed at the county average of $35,800 will pay $830 in county property taxes, an increase of $45 over last year. The tax increase is the first in six years, with the county using $8 million from its rainy day fund to balance the budget last year. The current plan calls for using $1.875 million from reserves to aid in balancing the budget.

Source: The Intelligencer; 12/22/2011

 

Newtown Borough taxes up 50 percent

Newtown Borough officials passed a 2012 budget that includes a 50 percent increase in municipal property taxes. Mayor Dennis O’Brien was forced to cast a tie-breaking vote for final approval of the $2.37 million budget. A homeowner with a property assessed at the borough average of $42,000 can expect a $129 tax increase for a total borough property tax bill of $380. The tax rate is set at 9 mills, up from 6 mills in 2011, with one mill equaling a tax of $1 for each $1,000 in assessed property value. The borough will also use $60,000 in savings to help balance the budget.

Source: The Advance; 12/14/2011

Centennial school budget tops $100 million

The Centennial School Board voted to make the proposed 2012-13 preliminary budget available for public viewing on Jan. 4. The $100.2 million plan is the largest budget in school district history. The board still needs to work on covering a $3.8 million budget deficit and does not yet know if it will apply for exceptions to exceed the 1.7 percent tax increase allowed by state law. A 1.7 percent increase would increase the tax bill for the average home by about $51. The proposed preliminary budget will be available for 20 days prior to adoption which is set for Jan. 24.

Source: Courier Times; 12/14/2011

Upper Southampton approves budget

Supervisors in Upper Southampton approved a $3.8 million final budget that holds the line on property taxes for 2012. The property tax rate will remain at 21.88 mills, which amounts to a tax bill of $623 on the average township home assessed at $28,488. Upper Southampton residents will pay 10 percent less in trash collection fees due to a new contract with the trash hauler. The budget is available to view on the township website.

Source: Courier Times; 12/21/2011

Hilltown hires manager; passes budget

The Hilltown Township Board of Supervisors recently appointed Richard C. Schnaedter as the new township manager. A national search generated a pool of 40 applicants. Schnaedter has 25 years of experience in public administration and was most recently manager of Forks Township in Northampton County, PA. The supervisors also approved the 2012 budget that maintains the current township property tax rate of 8.75 mills. Click here to visit the Hilltown Township website.

Source: Perkasie News Herald; 12/13/2011

Langhorne taxes steady

Langhorne Borough council adopted a 2012 operating budget that maintains the current property tax level. Although the $382,647 budget is $15,000 higher than last year, council believes the difference will be made up through increased revenue from business privilege taxes, real estate transfer taxes and building permits. The borough property tax rate of 12.2 mills equates to a property tax bill of $278 for the average home assessed at $22,800.

Source: PhllyBurbs.com; 12/21/2011

Chester County

Chester County unveils online community profiles

A new interactive resource that provides information on Chester County, its 73 municipalities and 12 public school districts is now on the county’s website.  Community Profiles is available free of charge and shows in colorful graphics, pie charts and bar graphs current information about the things that make the county a community — its people, housing, open space and development, transportation, economic development, government, and community facilities. The site is easy to understand and use, and a variety of information can be added to the maps and interactive menus. Detailed searches can be made of the entire county, or at the municipal and school district level. Data can be displayed in the form of tables, graphs or maps. Additional information can be obtained by sorting data categories. Selections in the additional features section show locations of facilities and services.

Source: Daily Local; 12/19/2011

Coatesville tracking municipal sore spots

Coatesville is introducing a new online program that will help residents report and track any claims of quality-of-life violations. As of Friday, the city has a place on its website where residents can use SeeClickFix to report any issues. City Manager Gary Rawlings said residents can report potholes, trash violations, grafitti or various other problems and provide pictures or put the location on a map so city departments know exactly where and what the problems are. Once an issue has been reported, the city can tag it and report back once the problem has been fixed or addressed.

Source: Daily Local; 12/19/2011

 

W. Vincent rescinds Ludwig's Corner plan

West Vincent Supervisors unanimously voted to rescind a plan to condemn Ludwig's Corner Horse Show Grounds during a special meeting Friday morning. After weeks of rallying and assembling before the supervisors, the Ludwig's Corner Horse Show community was pleased to hear the supervisors rescind Resolution 20-2011, which would have taken by eminent domain the 33.2-acre property. The supervisors defended their initial decision to condemn the grounds, both before and after the vote. According to Chairman Kenneth Miller, the township will continue to proceed with the Ludwigs Corner Strategic Vision and Community Design Plan, and will request that the Parks and Recreation Committee research other suitable areas for a future public park. The announcement to take the grounds by condemnation was made on Nov. 28, during a township board of supervisors meeting. The move came as a surprise to the horse show grounds community. Negotiations between the supervisors and the Ludwig's Corner Horse Show Association, regarding selling the property's transfer of development rights or selling the property outright, had occurred since 2003.

Source: Daily Local; 12/17/2011

 

Phoenixville council approves 19 percent tax hike

Phoenixville Borough Council approved a 19 percent tax increase raising the town’s millage from 4.41 mills to 5.25. The increase will help the borough balance a $7.6 million budget that also takes into account debt service for a bond recently issued for capital improvements in the municipality. Included in the budget’s capital improvements is a $8 million new borough hall, something residents railed against at the meeting. Most residents that spoke at the meeting said they didn’t believe there was a pressing need for the new hall during a down economy. Borough council also voted 4-3 to increase residents’ water and sewer bills.

Source: Daily Local; 12/15/2011

 

Tredyffrin passes budget with smaller than expected increase

The Tredyffrin Township Board of Supervisors approved a budget for 2012 that will raise the township millage rate by 3.5 percent. Originally facing a 6.9 percent increase, the board cut the projected increase by reducing police hours and professional services fees, changing some funding sources, and cutting other staff-related expenses.

Source: Main Line Suburban Life; 12/20/2011

Delaware County

Upland Borough to consider point of sale sewer lateral ordinance

The Borough of Upland will consider adopting an ordinance requiring the inspection of all private sanitary sewer lateral connections at point of sale. The ordinance also requires all repair or replacement work to be completed and approved by the Borough prior to the transfer of title. Alliance staff has reviewed the proposed ordinance, and a letter outlining concerns regarding the impact on the transfer of property will be submitted to the borough council. Ordinance 1 of 2012 will be considered for adoption at a hearing on January 10 at 7 p.m. in the Upland Borough Hall (224 Castle Avenue).

Nether Providence budget calls for 7 percent tax hike

Nether Providence Commissioners voted in favor of a tax increase just shy of 7 percent and an increase in the annual sewer fee for residents in 2012. The new millage rate will be set at 4.37, up from 4.09 mills in 2011. For a home assessed at $150,000, the tax hike will raise the amount paid in municipal services tax by $42, to $656. The township’s annual sewer rate will be rising to $304 next year. The increase was needed in anticipation of higher costs being charged to the township by DELCORA, the county authority responsible for processing the waste.

Source: Daily Times; 12/16/2011

 

Upper Chi bucks trend, cuts taxes

Upper Chichester Township residents will see their taxes decrease for the second time in three years. The 2012 budget cuts taxes by half a mill to 5.35 mills. In 2010, commissioners enacted another half-mill tax decrease; they held the line on taxes in 2011. The 2012 budget includes a $52 local services tax, a $190 trash fee and a 1 percent earned income tax, all unchanged from previous years.

Source: Daily Times; 12/14/2011

 

CUSD asks state for $18.7 million advance

Chester Upland School District officials have made a public appeal to Gov. Tom Corbett for $18.7 million to ensure the district meet its payroll beyond December. Chester Upland requested that Gov. Corbett advance the district’s June subsides for basic education and special education. That funding, officials said, will enable the district to meet its payroll for the remainder of the fiscal year. The requested funding does not represent an increase in funding, but an advance of funding already earmarked for the district. If Gov. Corbett refuses to advance the money, district officials have said the livelihoods of employees and the education of students are at stake. In a worst case scenario, schools would close.

Source: Daily Times; 12/16/2011

 

No tax increase in Bethel

Supervisors unanimously adopted a 2012 operating budget totaling $1.089 million, reflecting a zero tax increase for residents. Millage was maintained at 1.865 mills. A homeowner with a residence assessed at $200,000 will pay $373 in township taxes in 2012. The trash fee is slated to increase to $180 per household, which reflects a $20 increase over 2011. This fee does not apply to the Foxfield, Belmont and Winterset Farms developments because trash service is not provided by the township, but instead by a private hauler. Township Treasurer Jill Ponzio announced that 328 residences owe $52,543 in outstanding trash fees for 2011, and 71 fees remain unpaid from 2010, which total $11,210. Solicitor Stephen Durham is in the process of taking legal action in the form of liens against the delinquent property owners.

Source: Daily Local; 12/19/2011

 

Lansdowne mulls slight tax increase

Lansdowne Council voted to advertise an ordinance fixing the real estate tax rate for 2012 at 11.12 mills, a 2.5 percent increase over the current 10.85 mills. In dollar terms, the owner of a home assessed at the average value of $98,000 would pay an additional $25, or about $1,900. The budget is slated for adoption at the Dec. 21 meeting.

Source: Daily Times; 12/16/2011

 

Radnor board approves budget increase

The Radnor Township Board of Commissioners approved a 2012 budget that will increase property taxes by 0.11 mills, which equates to 3.02 percent. The sewer-service charge will be $5.74 per 1,000 gallons of water.

Source: Main Line Suburban Life; 12/14/2011

Montgomery County

Montco budget raises taxes 17 percent

In the first unanimous vote of a tumultuous four-year term, the Montgomery County commissioners approved a 2012 budget that will increase county property taxes by 17 percent. The tax increase is the first in ten years. The average homeowner with a property assessed at $168,000 will pay an additional $77 in taxes for a total bill of $530. A proposed budget unveiled last month would have cut spending by $14.6 million and called for the elimination of the planning commission and parks departments drawing outrage from county residents.

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 12/22/2011

 

County bond rating upgraded in error

Moody’s Investment Services recently announced that it erred when it released information that upgraded Montgomery County’s Aaa bond rating from “with negative outlook” to “stable.”  Moody’s had downgraded the Aaa bond rating of many state and local government agencies in August while it reviewed the impact the federal government’s financial situation may have on these governments. Moody’s released a list last week that upgraded many of the state and local governments under review but the list erroneously reported that Montgomery County’s rating was “stable.” The county had a “negative outlook” prior to August because county commissioners have continued to dip into cash reserves to balance the budget. Therefore, Moody’s has continued the “negative outlook” for the county bond rating.

Source: The Intelligencer; 12/14/2011

 

Horsham budget passed

Horsham council unanimously adopted a 2012 budget that will not increase taxes for property owners in the township. The property tax rate will remain at one mill, with a mill being a tax of $1 for each $1,000 in assessed property value. A home assessed at the township average of $178,128 will pay $178.13 in township property taxes. Of the one mill township real estate tax, 0.47 goes to support the library, 0.31 mills to the fire company, and 0.22 for parks and recreation.

Source: Public Spirit Willow Grove Guide; 12/16/2011

 

Abington adopts 5.37 percent tax increase

The Abington Township Board of Commissioners adopted the township’s 2012 budget with a 5.37 percent tax increase. The average home assessed at $150,000 can expect a tax bill of $588, a $30 increase over last year. The additional revenue from the tax increase will be used on a $2.7 million bond issue for drainage projects throughout the township. The 2012 budget is $780,000 less than the 2011 budget, with employees agreeing to a pay freeze to aid in the reduction of overall spending.

Source: Glenside News; 12/20/2011

 

Upper Dublin hikes taxes

In a 6-1 vote, the Upper Dublin Board of Commissioners adopted the 2012 budget, which includes a 5.91 percent tax increase. The township’s tax rate will rise to 5.231 mills and a home assessed at the average $195,000 can expect a township property tax bill of $1,020.05, about $56 higher than 2011.

Source: Ambler Gazette; 12/15/2011

No tax increase in Lower Salford

Lower Salford supervisors unanimously approved a 2012 budget that includes no tax increase for the first time in three years. The township property tax rate will remain at 2.524 mills with one mill equal to a tax of $1 for each $1,000 in assessed property value. The board implemented many cost-cutting measures over three years including wage freezes, layoffs and health insurance restructuring. In other news, the Lower Salford Board of Supervisors is looking for letters of interest from residents interested in serving on the Planning Commission, Park Board or Recreation Authority. Find out more at www.lowersalfordtownship.org.

Source: Souderton Independent; 12/16/2011

News briefs for the week of December 19, 2011

Philadelphia gets second chance with PA tax board

The City of Philadelphia is getting a second crack at submitting data on 2010 property sales to an obscure state tax board to avoid the potential loss of millions in property-tax revenue for the city and school district.  A decision on the city's appeal based on the new data, which the city is still assembling, is expected soon from the State Tax Equalization Board. The city over several decades had turned in data that masked the city's inequitable and inaccurate assessments.  This summer the managers of the city's new Office of Property Assessment had submitted "very good data" for 2010 sales, but the data resulted in a shift that could potentially open the door for thousands of appeals by property owners and cost millions in reduced property taxes. At issue is the relationship between the assessed value and the market value of real estate in the collection of property taxes. In Philadelphia, the assessed value is set at 32 percent of the market values used by the city, which have long been inaccurate for thousands of residential and commercial properties. Every year, the tax equalization board uses sales data submitted by county officials to check the accuracy of the counties' assessment ratios. The process can have significant financial implications for municipalities. If the ratio calculated by the tax board differs by more than 15 percent from the county's predetermined ratio, then the board's ratio must be used when a taxpayer appeals a tax assessment. That can result in a lower tax bill. In July, the board's calculated ratio for Philadelphia came out at 18.1 percent, far below the city's predetermined ratio of 32 percent.

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 12/14/2011

 

Flood Insurance update

On December 7, the US Senate passed another extension of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) that would keep the program funded through May 31, 2012. The measure awaits action in the House. The current extension expires in one week, on December 16. While the new extension provides more time, it is imperative that a longer term measure is passed to remove uncertainty in the market. Congress should hear from all REALTORS® that the 5-year measure approved by the House earlier this year must be passed by the Senate and signed into law. The flood insurance Call for Action is still active.

Bucks County

Middletown budget balanced with creative revenue solutions

Middletown Township’s proposed $14 million proposed budget for next year does not include any program cuts or tax increases, but has wiped out the contingency fund and will use $1 million of the township’s $40 million nest egg. The $40 million savings was proceeds from the sale of the township water and sewer systems, with the account to remain untapped except during emergencies. Middletown has posted the proposed budget at www.middletowntwpbucks.org. The impact of the recession is clearly seen in the budget figures, interest income has dropped from $4.3 million to $1.5 million and real estate transfer tax revenue has dropped $400,000 over three years, a decrease of 34 percent. The township is in the process of negotiating the collective bargaining agreements for township employees, but earlier this year the union agreed to health care coverage changes that saved the township an estimated $866,000 in health care costs. The budget is set to be finalized on Dec. 19 at 7:30 p.m.

Source: Courier Times; 12/9/2011

Falls Township finances go user-friendly

Falls Township supervisors recently approved new financial reporting requirements that will “more clearly” show how reserve funds are being used. The new reporting requirements are known as GASB 54 and were developed by the federal Governmental Accounting Standards Board. Currently, the township savings account has funds listed as either “reserved” or “unreserved.” The new form includes categories of non-spendable, restricted, committed, assigned and unassigned to help make municipal finances more transparent. The designations will be in place for the approval of the 2012 budget.

Source: Courier Times; 12/8/2011

Lower Southampton taxes remain steady

Lower Southampton supervisors unanimously approved the 2012 budget that will keep the current property tax rate of 14.08 mills. The average home in the township assessed at $24,916 can expect a property tax bill of $350. A portion of real estate tax revenue will be used for debt service requirements and sewer rates will remain unchanged.

Source: Courier Times; 12/8/2011

Upper Makefield to consider public comment policy

In an effort to cut campaign rhetoric and make public meetings “more effective,” Upper Makefield supervisors will consider enacting a written policy on public comment at board meetings. The move is a response to election-driven public comments made during supervisor meetings earlier this year and aims to bring Upper Makefield more in line with neighboring municipalities that have policies governing public comment. The proposed guidelines will include an option to submit queries in advance of a meeting to allow time for board research, and two defined public comment periods per meeting; one for agenda items and the other for general public comment. The township solicitor is working on the guidelines and the board is expected to vote on the proposal during the Dec. 21 meeting.

Source: Courier Times; 12/9/2011

Silverdale maintains current tax rate

The 2012 draft budget for Silverdale maintains the current 2.75 mill tax rate but increases trash rates by $5 per quarter. The increased trash rate comes with curbside recycling pickup which was previously not offered in the borough. A home assessed at the borough average of $30,000 can expect to pay $82.50 in property taxes next year if the budget is approved. The budget is set to be finalized at the Dec. 19 council meeting.

Source: PhillyBurbs.com; 12/8/2011

Chester County

Easttown Township sewer moratorium

Easttown Township is currently under a PA Department of Environmental Protection-mandated Capacity Management Plan (CMP), which effectively precludes adding new or expanded sewer connections. Several updates need to be made to the sewer system in the township before the CMP will no longer be active.  In order for that to happen, there needs to be an upgrade to the Valley Creek Trunk Sewer; six sewer pump stations in Easttown need to be replaced or refurbished; and the township must continue removing clean water (inflow and infiltration) from the system. The projects should take approximately three years to complete.

First Suburbs honors Coatesville official, Gerlach

The Southeastern Pennsylvania First Suburbs Project was formed approximately four years ago to address major challenges facing inner-ring suburbs such as housing, infrastructure and education finance reform in Delaware, Bucks, Chester and Montgomery counties. The regional coalition consists of municipal, education, faith and civic leaders.  The coalition recently presented the Jonathan T. Schmidt Visionary Leadership Award to Coatesville Assistant City Manager Kirby Hudson. Hudson said he believes the coalition has helped his city improve housing issues. The Most Powerful Federal Legislator Ally of the Year award went to U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach (R), and the Most Powerful State Legislator Ally of the Year award went to state Sen. Ted Erickson (R), of Newtown.

Source: Daily Local; 12/12/2011

Chester County residents to see tax increase in U-CF

Residents in the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District will see an increase in next year’s tax bills in Chester County, while Delaware County residents will see a slight decrease. The administration presented a preliminary budget for the 2012-13 tax year which will set spending at $71.6 million. That figure means an increase in millage rates of 3.87 for Chester County residents and an 0.60 percent decrease for Delaware county residents. A mill is a tax of $1 for every $1,000 of assessed real estate value. In Chester County, the millage rate goes up from 24.68 mills to 25.48, a 3.87 percent increase over 2011-12 rates. In Delaware County, the millage rate drops from 21.82 mills to 21.69 mills. The preliminary budget is scheduled for adoption at the Jan. 23 school board business meeting.

Source: Daily Times; 12/14/2011

Anti-eminent domain language eyed for regional land plan

In light of a recent plan to take by condemnation the Ludwig's Corner Horse Show grounds, a Chester County commissioner has recommended that a proposed regional open space plan include language that specifically opposes using eminent domain to acquire park land. Commissioner Ryan Costello attended an East Vincent Township Board of Supervisors meeting Wednesday to make that recommendation. East Vincent is the lead municipality for the parks, recreation and open space plan being developed by the Federation of Northern Chester County Communities. The plan, two years in the making, is nearing completion and is expected to be approved in February, according to Township Supervisor Christine McNeil, who also serves as vice president of the federation. When complete, it will define a vision for parks, open space and recreation for nine Northern Chester County townships: East Coventry, East Pikeland, East Nantmeal, East Vincent, North Coventry, South Coventry, Warwick, West Pikeland, and West Vincent.

Source: Daily Local; 12/9/2011

Delaware County

Delaware County Council approves 2.3 percent tax increase

Delaware County Council approved the final 2012 budget Tuesday with a 2.3 percent tax hike. The $324 million general fund spending package is about $8 million more than the 2011 budget. The 2012 budget includes a millage rate of 5.304, which represents a 2.3 percent tax hike. An average taxpayer with a home in the county assessed for tax purposes at $130,000 would therefore generate a county property tax of $689 — an increase of $16 over the prior year.

Source: Daily Times; 12/14/2011

Chester Heights mulls new local services tax

To generate funding for a variety of pending expenses, a majority of Chester Heights Borough Council members recently voted to move forward with adoption of a $52 per year local services tax (LST) on all borough workers. Chester Heights is one of the few Delaware County municipalities that does not currently have an LST. Formerly known as an Emergency Municipal Services (EMS) tax, the levy applies to every person who works in the borough, including those who are self-employed. Under state law, an LST can only be used to fund emergency services, public safety, road improvements, or property tax relief. In Chester Heights’ case, the proposed tax could help finance all of the above. Faced with a property tax increase for the first time in 42 years, borough officials feel that an LST will help keep a proposed 0.36-mill tax hike (already a 164 percent increase) from getting any larger. Borough council estimates that an LST could provide approximately $30,000 in annual revenue.

Source: Daily Times; 12/14/2011

 

Thornbury adopts budget for 2012

Thornbury Supervisors unanimously adopted a 2012 general operating budget totaling $1.846 million. Unlike other municipalities, the township does not impose a municipal real estate tax, and therefore no millage rate exists. According to Supervisors Chairman James Raith, the township relies on an earned income tax imposed on those who are employed as well as additional fundraising methods to avoid the imposition of a real estate tax. The approximately 1,000 residents who utilize the sewer system will continue to pay $130 per quarter.

Source: Daily Times; 12/13/2011

No tax increase in Middletown

Middletown Council unanimously adopted a $3.53 million operating budget for 2012 that maintains the current property tax rate at 1.6 mills. Balancing the budget with no tax increase means that a homeowner with a typical $194,000 assessment will continue paying $310 in taxes to the township next year. However, sewer rental fees for 2012, as set by Middletown Sewer Authority, will increase by $25. The current $250 residential fee will be $275 next year. The annual fee for commercial and industrial users will increase from $300 to $350. Township Manager Bruce Clark noted that township property taxes have increased only twice in the past 17 years.

Source: Daily Times; 12/14/2011

Delaware County residents to see tax decrease in U-CF

Residents in the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District will see an increase in next year’s tax bills in Chester County, while Delaware County residents will see a slight decrease. The administration presented a preliminary budget for the 2012-13 tax year which will set spending at $71.6 million. That figure means an increase in millage rates of 3.87 for Chester County residents and an 0.60 percent decrease for Delaware county residents. A mill is a tax of $1 for every $1,000 of assessed real estate value. In Chester County, the millage rate goes up from 24.68 mills to 25.48, a 3.87 percent increase over 2011-12 rates. In Delaware County, the millage rate drops from 21.82 mills to 21.69 mills. The preliminary budget is scheduled for adoption at the Jan. 23 school board business meeting.

Source: Daily Times; 12/14/2011

Montgomery County

No tax rebate in Lower Merion

Lower Merion Township will have close to $7 million in “unexpected and unbudgeted” business tax revenues for 2011 thanks to a settlement of disputed business tax obligations. The revenues have increased the undesignated fund balance for the 2012 budget from $10.6 million to $17.5 million and have township commissioners and administrators coming up with ideas on saving, spending and even refunding the money to taxpayers. Commissioner Jenny Brown suggested a property tax rebate that would reduce the property tax bills of Lower Merion homeowners by $0.0009 for each dollar of assessed value, or about $324.90 for the average property assessed at $361,000. The measure was not embraced by the majority of the board of commissioners, who have decided upon a more deliberate process to determine how best to use the tax windfall. Other ideas included debt reduction; replenishing monies to the equipment and capital reserve funds for future projects; and even refunding back the 10.8 percent property tax increase from 2011.

Source: Main Line Times; 12/8/2011 & 12/14/2011

 

Collegeville taxes steady

Collegeville Borough council adopted a 2012 budget that will retain the current 4-mill property tax rate. The average home assessed at $150,000 can expect a property tax bill of $600. Property tax revenue in the borough has been reduced by $5,000 for 2012 and the total budget figure of $955,000 for real estate tax revenue is in jeopardy due to an expected assessment appeal of the Acme shopping center. Real estate transfer tax revenue is stagnant and will remain at $50,000.

Source: The Mercury; 12/11/2011

Pottsgrove School District prepares early budget

The Pottsgrove School District has started the budget process early because it intends to apply for Act 1 exceptions that will allow the district to raise school property taxes above the index set by the state. By state law, if a school district is applying for Act 1 exceptions a complete preliminary budget must be in place by Jan. 5, even though the budget does not have to be finalized until June. Under the Act 1 cap, Pottsgrove would be limited to a 2.2 percent property tax increase, which would amount to a $92 school tax increase for the average property. The district is investigating applying for special exceptions that would add an additional 1.26 percent to the Act 1 cap, amounting to $53 more in school property taxes for a total increase of $145 for the average homeowner. The proposed tax increase would still leave an $864,000 budget deficit.

Source: The Mercury; 12/11/2011

 

Cheltenham Township invites resident participation

The Cheltenham Township Board of Supervisors has extended an invitation to residents of the township to apply for positions on various citizen advisory boards, commissions and committees in 2012. Registered voters in Cheltenham Township who are interested should mail requests to Cheltenham Township Manager David G. Kraynik, 8230 Old York Road, Elkins Park, PA 19027 by Dec. 21. Please visit www.cheltenhamtownship.org for more information about the committees via the “Government” link. Openings are available on a wide variety of citizen committees including: historical commission, human relations commission, library board, planning commission and more.

Source: Glenside News; 12/13/2011