Proposed tax increase to address borough needs

Final budget to be approved on Dec. 21

The Bechtelsville borough council approved a preliminary budget at its meeting on Nov. 16. The budget calls for a property tax increase of 0.5 mill.

Borough secretary, Valerie Moll, explained this equates to an additional $50 increase per $100,000 property value assessment. Or if a property is appraised at $100,000, the old tax bill would have been $450 annually. With the tax increase, the new tax bill for the same property goes to $500 annually.

The increased tax is needed to fund road projects and an unfunded federal environmental mandate, Moll said.

The borough is part of the Swamp Creek watershed. The MS4 permit has requirements to reduce sediment in stormwa-

ter runoff,” she said. There are engineering costs associated with this that the tax increase will cover.

There are also two road projects planned which are currently in the preliminary stages – West Chestnut and Franklin streets. These are the two most dire needs, Moll said. Chestnut street needs a retaining wall repaired and a portion of Franklin needs repaving.

She noted a big portion of Bechtelsville’s annual budget, $140,000, covers the contract with Colebrookdale Township which provides police coverage.

The budget is expected to be approved at council’s next meeting on Dec. 21.