SANATOGA PA – Unless something changes before year’s end, Lower Pottsgrove (PA) Township property owners will face rare circumstances during 2012: a real estate tax increase may be headed their way.
The Board of Commissioners on Thursday (Nov. 17, 2011), quickly and without discussion, approved the township’s tentative 2012 budget; said they would advertise its availability for public inspection as of Nov. 23 (Wednesday), and added they would similarly advertise accompanying tax-enabling ordinances and resolutions.
Curiously, they didn’t officially state the tentative budget’s total amount, but it is estimated at more than $6 million. That’s up from about $5.4 million during 2011.
They did, however, note that under it taxes are proposed to increase 12 percent, rising one-quarter of 1 mill and – in terms most bill-payers can understand – adding about $31 in taxes to what they said is considered the “typical” township home with an assessed value of $120,000. Last year’s township-only tax bill for such a home amounted to $235; in 2012 it would rise to $266.
If the increase stands, it would represent the first time in several years that commissioners raised taxes to cover expenses of Lower Pottsgrove’s general fund budget.
Moreover, they said after the vote, the tentative budget relies on an infusion of $537,000 from the township fund balance to help lower the tax hike. Once that money is transferred from its savings accounts, if ultimately approved, board members claimed they would still have $1.512 million – about 22 percent of budgeted expenses – remaining as a cushion against unforeseen costs.
“We cut where we could,” commissioner and Budget Committee member James Kaiser said. “We tried to be fair and accurate.” Fellow commissioner and committee member James Phillips noted the budget numbers legally could change by up to 10 percent before final adoption during December.
Copies of the budget, when released next week, will be available at the township municipal building, 2199 Buchert Rd., Pottstown PA.
Related (to the Lower Pottsgrove 2012 budget):
- Township Tax Could Rise 12 Percent In Tentative Budget
- Township Schedules Another Budget Meeting Oct. 27
- We’ll Gladly Pay You In 2012 For A Truck Ordered Now
- Open Budget Meetings, He Complains, Not That Open
- Township Committee Planning Two Budget Meetings
- Thanks To Survey Input, Township Preparing Trash Bids
- Pottstown Library Asks Township For Higher Funding
Related (to the Lower Pottsgrove Board of Commissioners’ Nov. 17 meeting):
- Township Tax Could Rise 12 Percent In Tentative Budget
- Township Says It Won’t Reconsider Rejected Trash Bids
- Buchert Ridge Reps Expected At Township Meeting
It’s amazing how none of this was made public before the November election. It’s no wonder the LPT Commissioners did not want to release any budget information to Mr. Tom Troutman when he requested it.