After nearly an hour of heated debate, the board of supervisors approved the $12,216,757 preliminary general fund operating budget for the 2018 fiscal year beginning Jan. 1.
The proposed package, which was approved in a 3-1 vote at the Nov. 21 meeting, includes a slight property tax hike of one mill to help pare down a projected $1,350,000 deficit by the end of the next fiscal year.
Voting to formerly advertise the 2018 preliminary budget were: Chairman Kyle Davis, along with Supervisors Jennifer Dix and Phil Calabro. Supervisor Gerry Couch voted against the budget because it contained the tax hike. Supervisor Ryan Gallagher did not attend the meeting.
The board’s action now allows the preliminary budget to be advertised for the 20-day minimum, as required under state law, so that a final package can be approved on at the supervisors’ Dec. 23 meeting. Of that proposed one mill property tax hike, .55 mill would be expressly assigned to the Newtown Ambulance Squad and raise about $150,000 for the non-profit group. Originally, $120,000 was earmarked for the squad from the general fund. The remaining .45 mill would bring in roughly $185,000 and be dedicated for fire hydrant maintenance in the township.
Such millage assignments for certain municipal services are allowed under state law.
Like the rescue squad, the fire hydrant funding was to have come from the general fund before the board had opted to designate them to a specific millage rates. With funding for both resources now coming from property taxes, it frees up money in the general fund for other township items. More...http://bit.ly/2AwoEmK ;
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