Upper Darby Township Council held two meetings relating to preliminary discussions of the 2025 budget. Mayor Ed Brown said he wanted to shift the township budget to one that considers strategic priorities to ensure effective resource allocation and community well-being. Upper Darby chief administrative officer Crandall Jones gave an overview of the current state of the township that included challenges relating to staffing shortages. For 2025, the proposed budget includes $98.74 million in projected revenue, which includes a decrease in property tax collectability and assessments. Amrinder Singh, director of the Licenses and Inspection Department, said his department is planning to put together videos that will help residents understand how to be in compliance with local ordinances. The department will upgrade its software, so there will be new online forms and faster turnarounds for inspection reporting. The department is also suggesting updates to the code — including an update of the property maintenance code. The department’s 2025 budget requests include the hiring of a new position — a right of way inspector, who will be responsible for streets, sidewalks and trees, as well as stormwater management issues. The new inspector will allow for code enforcement inspectors to focus on rental property inspections and resale inspections. The department also plans to review fees and services to ensure that they are in line. Singh noted that he would like to see the creation of a demolition fund to clear some of the blighted properties in the township. The full videos of the meetings can be found here and here.
Source: Upper Darby Township; 9/27/2024