East Rockhill holds tax rate for 2013

East Rockhill homeowners can HxSHFW WR SDy PRUH WR flusK WKH WRLlet, but the same amount in township property taxes next year.

“There’s no proposed tax increase in the draft budget,” East Rockhill Township Board of Supervisors member David Nyman said.

The proposed 2013 budget, which was discussed during a work session immediately preceding the board’s regularly scheduled Oct. 9 meetLNJ, wLOO EH RIfiFLDOOy SUHsHNWHG NHxW PRNWK, wLWK fiNDO DSSURvDO FRPLNJ in December.

During the Oct. 9 meeting, it was agreed to increase the sewer bills for properties hooked up to the public sewer system from the current $100 per quarter, totaling $400 per year, to $110 per quarter, $440 for the year.

The last time the sewer rates were increased was in 2010, township offiFLDOs sDLG. 7KH FuUUHNW UDWHs DUH OHss than in neighboring towns, Marianne Morano, township secretary/ treasurer, said.

The increased sewer rates are necessary to prepare for when sewer system replacements are needed, Nyman said.

“We could have some big expenditures someday in the future if we don’t start putting money away,” he said.

The current property tax rate in East Rockhill is 8.135 mills, equaling about $325 on a home assessed at the township average, according to township information. Each mill equals $1 of tax per $1,000 of assessed property value.

The 8.135 mill rate, which comes after an 8.68 percent tax hike for this year’s $3.5 million budget, includes 5.225 mills for the general fund, 1 PLOO IRU WKH fiUH WDx, 1.26 PLOOs IRU East Rockhill’s portion of the mort- gage on the $2.3 million Pennridge Regional Police station and 0.65 mills to repay a loan to be taken out for the planned Rockhill Road bridge replacement. The mortgage on the police station is split evenly between East Rockhill and West Rockhill, the two townships patrolled by the regional department. The portion of the tax bill for the police station and bridge replacement are temporary taxes that will be removed when the loans are repaid.

Board member Jim Nietupski said he’s concerned that income projec-

tions for next year’s budget may be more than will actually be received, but Nyman said income is projected to be the same as this year or less in most categories.

“The bottom line is we’re projecting $80,000 less in revenue than we budgeted this year,” Nyman said.

The draft budget also has $52,000 more income than expenses, he said.

That money is needed to repay funds the township has used for other expenses over the years, but which came from capital reserves, the sewer fund and open space funding, he said.

“At some point in time, we have to put that money back and it’s a lot more than $52,000,” Nyman said. The total borrowed from those funds is closer to $400,000, he said.

The draft version of the budget also cuts the amount allocated by East Rockhill for its portion of the Pennridge Regional Police operating budget for next year.

This year, $882,000 was budgeted by East Rockh- ill; next year’s number is $710,000, Nyman said.

Under the current budget, East Rockhill and West Rockhill each pay the same amount for police coverage and receive an equal amount of patrol time. In the past, however, Nyman has criticized the 50/50 cost split because there is more police activity in West Rockhill than East Rockhill.

The payments are based on the number of units of police protection purchased, he said following the Oct. 9 meeting.

“vou pay for what you can afford, and we’re saying we can only afford $710,000,” Nyman said.

More discussion between East Rockhill and West 5RFNKLOO RIfiFLDOV Rn WKH SURposal will likely take place at the Pennridge Regional Police Commission meeting Oct. 24, he said.

In another budget-related matter, as they did this year, each of the three East Rockhill board members agreed to not accept their salary in that position next year. In other matters: • BRE 3RUDPER, RI WKH Pennsylvania Municipal Retirement System, attended the meeting to answer questions from the board following a PMRS recommendation that the township switch from its current GHfinHG EHnHfiWV SHnVLRn plan to one in which a definHG DPRunW LV SuW LnWR the pension fund, but there LV nR GHfinHG SDyPHnW DW retirement. Current employees would continue to KDYH D GHfinHG EHnHfiW. 7KH change would only be for new hires.

Board members said there’s no need to act immediately because there aren’t expected to be any new fulltime hires in the near future, but they plan to make the change.

“We’re just following the trend that everybody else is doing. Pensions are expensive,” Nietupski said.

• 6HWWOHPHnW Rn WKH WRwnship’s purchase of the 18.05acre Moore property is scheduled for Oct. 16, Patrick Armstrong, township solicitor, said.

The property

connects the site on which the townVKLS’V RIfiFHV Rn 5LGJH Road are located with Willard H. Markey Centennial Park.

At the Oct. 9 meeting, the board formally approved payment of the $325,000 purchase payment and acceptance of $122,647.80 in Bucks County open space funding for a conservation easement protecting 13.05 acres of the tract from ever being developed.

7KH RWKHU fiYH DFUHV wLOO be set aside for municipal uses, Gary solovnik, board chairman, said.

“We feel this is an opportunity for the township because of the location,” he said.

An opening will be made from the park to the property, he said.