Hilltown Township's open space program referendum will not appear on the November ballot, after officials discovered that the deadline to add it had already passed by the time the township solicitor looked into the timing. The three-member board of supervisors wants to revive the dormant program, which would require reinstating a local earned income tax — suspended since 2016 — to fund land preservation. The idea was raised by Supervisor Joseph Metzinger due to heavy development pressure on the township. Rather than resuming the program unilaterally, since voters had already approved it two decades ago, supervisors want to put the question to today's electorate again, with Supervisor Caleb Torrice noting the current population differs from the one that originally backed the tax. In the meantime, the board plans to use the roughly $2.1 million already set aside for open space to review and update the program's rules — particularly the acreage requirements — since many large parcels once targeted for preservation have since been developed or protected. Supervisors are considering lowering the minimum acreage and adding a valuation analysis so smaller properties with environmental, historical or strategic value could also qualify, with a new referendum possible as early as next year.
Source: Bucks County Herald; 9/9/2026