No tax hike in Union 2020 budget

The township supervisors approved a $2.3 million budget for 2020 with no tax increase.

Union Township residents will continue to pay 3.65 mills in real estate taxes, costing a homeowner with a property assessed at $100,000 $365 yearly.

In other business at the Nov. 18 meeting , the board learned that 115 Geigertown residents will have more time to connect to their new sewer system, and that their townships — Union and Robeson — will have extra time to pay the principal on the $3 million Penn-VEST loan that funded the new line. Geigertown residents will now have until June 1 to connect, and the townships will have until Aug. 1 to make their first loan payment.

The original agreement would have required residents to hook up as early as the end of this year, and the townships to make their first payment by Nov. 1.

The new agreement struck by state and township officials comes after utility companies pushed the project’s finish from June to November.

Because of an intervention by residents, as well as township and state officials, the extension for connections and the loan payment was granted.

The state’s Department of Environmental Protection initiated the controversial $6 million project to pump sewage 6 miles to Birdsboro due to failing and antiquated on-lot septic systems.

The townships obtained a $3 million state grant, leaving the balance to be paid with the state loan.

Supervisor Nelson Ott said he will be resigning from the Geigertown Area Joint Sewer Authority now that the system is set to go online.