Municipal officials don’t often get to oversee an unexpected windfall in cash, but Bristol Township Council and Township Manager Randee Elton are getting to do just that.
Elton recently laid out the township’s plan to spend the millions of dollars that ended up in its bank account courtesy of the federal government.
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With the stroke President Joe Biden’s pen earlier this year, the American Rescue Plan sent $15.8 million to Bucks County’s second-largest community. The bill, which Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick voted against saying there was “purely partisan augmentations,” was intended to send billions and billions to state and local governments as the country heads toward a recovery from COVID-19.
Elton said the funds have “substantial flexibility” to allow the township to respond to COVID-19, impacts from it, and other needs.
In her recent briefing to council members and the public, Elton said the funds will be used to cover a $2.4 million revenue loss caused by the pandemic last year. The township passed a spending plan late last year without a tax increase, but noted it was impacted by revenue loss in 2020.
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The township will commit $150,000 to the Community Alliance for Progressive Action. The group works with nonprofits and the school district to provide education and arts-based after-school programs for kids in the township.
Elton said the $150,000 is seed money for the group, which aims to get additional funding from the school district and other sources in the future.
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In addition, the township’s five volunteer fire companies will split $418,000 each year over three years. The two rescue squads – the Bucks County Rescue Squad and Levittown-Fairless Hills Rescue Squad – will split $92,000 per year for three years. The money, according to Elton, will hold off on any potential tax increases for the fire and rescue squad funds.
The township will invest $11.6 million that will be split between improvements to the sanitary sewer and stormwater systems, which have been facing problems.
Elton said the large investment is needed to upgrade the systems. The money will work alongside the township’s ongoing improvements to the system.
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“We have a lot of infrastructure improvements,” she said.
The sanitary system is facing problems with storm water infiltrating its pipes and pouring into the treatment plant in Croydon, while the stormwater system is facing problems with sinkholes.
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Elton said the township will look at other related capital improvements.
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