Radon is found in 39% of PA homes, report says
A new report from the Pennsylvania branch of the American Lung Association states that radon — an odorless gas that can enter homes through cracks in floors, basement walls and foundations — has been detected in about 39% of homes across the commonwealth. If left unaddressed, radon can pose a serious health threat. It’s responsible for 21,000 lung cancer deaths a year nationwide, and it is the leading cause of lung cancer in people who have never smoked. Because January is National Radon Action Month, Lung Association officials are urging Pennsylvanians to get their homes tested for radon.
Source: Pennsylvania Capital-Star; 1/9/2023

Suburban county tax rates in 2023
County taxes in Bucks, Chester and Delaware counties will remain even in 2023, but Montgomery County property owners will pay more. Property tax rates are measured in millage, with one mill being worth $1 for every $1,000 of assessed property value.

• Bucks County: Bucks County commissioners approved the county’s $458 million operating budget for 2023. The budget reduced expenditures by 3.6% and was balanced with no new or increased taxes. This marks the third year in a row without a tax increase. Click here to view the county's final 2023 budget.
• Chester County: Taxpayers in Chester County will see no increase in their property tax bills to fund county government in 2023, the second year in a row that the millage rate has stayed the same. County commissioners unanimously approved the $670.7 million spending plan, which represents a $17.6 million decrease in spending from 2022. County taxes will stay at 4.551 mills.
• Delaware County: Delaware County Council passed a $361 million spending package for 2023, which includes no county tax increase. The total county tax levy is 2.999 mills, meaning that a property assessed at $100,000 would be taxed about $300. It is the ninth-year county taxes have not risen.
• Montgomery County: Montgomery County commissioners voted 2-1 to approve a $530.7 million general fund operating budget with an 8% property tax increase. The tax hike will bring the millage rate from 3.923 mills to 4.237 mills. Owners of an average single-family home with a $430,400 market value will pay $722 — $53 more than last year. For more information about the 2023 budget, visit the county finance webpage.

In addition to county taxes, properties are also taxed by their municipalities and the school districts, with the latter typically representing the largest annual bill.

Bensalem holds the line on taxes for 30th consecutive year
Bensalem Township supervisors approved a $53 million budget with no property tax increase for 2023 — the borough’s 30th year in a row without a tax hike. Residents are not only paying the same amount of municipal taxes, but some are getting money back, as well. In October, Mayor Joseph DiGirolamo sent a letter to Bensalem homeowners announcing that he was delivering on a budget promise to provide $300 as part of the Homeowners Assistance Grant Program. The program is funded through Parx Casino host fees. According to the adopted budget, the township projects casino revenue at $12 million, which makes up 23% of the township's total revenue. Nearly 70% of the budget spending is devoted to the police department, Council Chairman Joseph Knowles said. "We are the 10th largest community in Pennsylvania," Knowles said. "We have 140 acres of open space and a new park in Trevose. I'm really happy that we're getting through a bad situation with the economy, Covid, and interest rates."
Source: Bensalem Patch; 12/28/2022

Falls planning commission denies proposed 976K-square-foot warehouse
The Falls Township Planning Commission — an advisory committee to the township supervisors — voted against a proposal for a 976,300-square-foot warehouse with 60,000 square feet of office space along the Delaware River. Stalwart Equities, the developer was asking for preliminary approval for the plans and requested several variances, including for wetlands, woodlands and stormwater management. Stalwart owns the former Solvay and part of the Rogers Foam Corporation tracts along East Post Road and Biles Creek at 2300 Pennsylvania Ave. in the Morrisville section of the township. Those properties would be where the new logistics facility would be constructed. The supervisors last year changed the zoning for the properties. The warehouse proposal has been on the books since 2020, but it has moved slowly as the developer has reworked the plans. The facility would be next to the Delaware River and require destroying some existing wetlands, but the developer pledged to double the amount of wetlands by adding them to other sections of the property. Water management and truck traffic through the borough were among the concerns of the planning commission.
Source: Levittown Now; 12/29/2022

Another Yardley Borough Council member resigns
Yardley Borough Council unanimously accepted the resignation of Councilmember Matt Ross at the Jan. 3 meeting. Ross, a Democrat, did not attend the meeting. He had served on council for five years after first being elected in 2017 and reelected in 2021. The council is planning to appoint Ross’ replacement within the next month. Whoever is appointed would serve through 2023 but would have to run and win in this year’s election to retain the seat. Ross is the fifth council member to resign in the past four years, including David Bria and Chris Campellone in 2022. The surge of resignations was cited by resident Earl Markey and others as one of the main reasons they successfully petitioned to get a referendum on the Nov. 8 ballot to reduce council’s size from seven to five members. A smaller council would mean fewer resignations and be less disruptive, they said. The referendum was defeated.
Source: Bucks County Herald; 1/5/2023

Bristol Township schools superintendent kicks off chat-and-sip events
The new superintendent of the Bristol Township School District plans to meet with parents and the community at a new series of monthly events. Superintendent Michael Nitti will host his first “Tiger Chat and Sip” event on Wednesday, Jan. 18, from 10 to 11 a.m. at the administration building, 5 Blue Lake Road in Levittown. Coffee and light refreshments will be provided. “Attendees will talk with the superintendent, ask questions and learn about what’s going on throughout the district’s schools,” according to a district statement. The second event will be held Wednesday, Feb. 22, from 4 to 5 p.m. at the same location. Residents who plan to attend are asked to RSVP to Maryann Wagner at maryann.wagner@bristoltwpsd.org.
Source: Levittown Now; 1/5/2023

County explains purpose of voluntary assessment form
When a property is transferred to a new owner in Chester County, the county assessment office may send a form to the new property owner asking for specific information about the property. After hearing from Realtors who were concerned the form could be used for spot assessments, the Suburban Realtors Alliance (SRA) reached out to the county for more information. Chester County’s director of assessment, Jonathan Schuck, responded with a letter explaining the background and purpose of the form. Here are a few key points:

• The form is voluntary. The property owner is not required to complete and return it.
• It is sent only to some new owners after the county reviews all transfers for the month.
• The county's goal with the form is to provide accurate information to the state and ensure uniform property valuation.

The form is one intended to improve the sales data collected by the State Tax Equalization Board (STEB), which is part of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. “For those property owners who choose to complete the voluntary sales verification form, the information is used to ensure accurate sale validation codes are included when the Chester County Assessment Office submits monthly reports to STEB, as required by statute,” Schuck said. “The form is not, nor has it ever been, intended to be a catalyst for re-assessment of a client’s property.” Read the full letter on the SRA blog.
Source: Chester County Assessment Office; 1/10/2023

Coatesville benefiting from influx of redevelopment investments
As part of the ongoing revitalization in the City of Coatesville, nearly $200 million of public and private investment is completed or in the planning phase. “Combined with our aggressive economic development activity, including current and complete projects topping over $200 million dollars, we continue to improve our vision for a vibrant and healthy city with great businesses, new restaurants, outdoor events, and resources that meet the needs of our residents and stakeholders,” Coatesville City Manager James Logan said. Among the projects currently in development:

• nth Innovation Center, $5 million: Proudfoot Capital partnered with nth Solutions to renovate the former Lukens Steel administration building into the nth Innovation Center. The $5 million project included restoration of an existing 9,000-square-foot building and new construction of a two-story 20,000-square-foot engineering lab and manufacturing expansion.
• First Avenue and Lincoln Highway intersection realignment, $2 million: The project includes new signal patterns and equipment as well as improved pedestrian access across Lincoln Highway (U.S. 30).
• Downtown streetscape, $1.3 million: Downtown streetscaping from First Avenue to Third Avenue east on Lincoln Highway. The project will complete the streetscape master plan and include repaving, ADA-compliant sidewalks, ramps and crosswalks, new lighting, modernized traffic signals and signage and bicycle racks, benches, and trash receptacles.
• Former National Bank, $1.4 million: Planned adaptive reuse of 24,500-square-foot historic bank building into a steakhouse restaurant and bar.
• Gateway, $21 million: The project is currently in the planning phase for adaptive re-use of the former Cultural Society building into a performing arts center and bistro restaurant along with 20,000 square feet of new construction to accommodate retail and office.
• New train station, $65 million: A new station is being developed to provide ADA accessibility and improve station function and amenities while supporting station-area revitalization.
• National Sports and Event Center, $75 million: Proposed construction of a velodrome, sports and entertainment venue located on a 26-acre former Brownfield site.

For a full list of projects, click here for the Daily Local News article.
Source: Daily Local; 1/5/2023

North Coventry approves 6.5% tax increase
Taxpayers in North Coventry Township will see a 6.5% jump in their taxes as a result of the $5 million 2023 budget adopted by township supervisors. The increase comes on the heels of a 7.5% increase in 2022. The 2023 budget will close a roughly $200,000 deficit in the general fund with an even split of reserve funds and a tax increase. The millage rate will increase from 3.08 to 3.28 mills, which equates to approximately $47 more per year on a $250,000 home.
Source: Daily Local, 1/11/2023

Tredyffrin/Easttown officials agree to keep tax hike below 4.1%
The Tredyffrin/Easttown School Board adopted a resolution limiting any increase in property taxes for the 2023-2024 fiscal year to the Act 1 index of 4.1% or lower. As a result, the school board will not consider any referendum exceptions to the Act 1 index and will follow a timeline that has the final adoption of the 2023-2024 budget in June. The budget presented on Jan. 3 shows a deficit of $8.9 million that the school board and administration will work to close through a combination of increases in the property tax rate, expenditure reductions and the use of existing reserves.
Source: Daily Local; 1/11/2023

State grant will fund rail upgrades at Coatesville steel plant
Cleveland-Cliffs Coatesville, a steel production facility, was awarded a $1.4 million state grant to support the funding of rail improvements at the facility. The funds, approved by the State Transportation Commission, will support track rehabilitation at the Coatesville melt shop.
Source: Daily Local; 1/10/2023