Bristol Borough Approves 2016 Budget

Taxpayers in Bristol Borough will not see a tax increase not directly approved by voters in 2016.

The 2016 budget was discussed at a number of special budget meetings prior to Monday night’s vote in favor of the roughly $5 million spending plan. The budget features no earned income tax and no local service tax. The only increase comes from a voter-approved referendum which increases funding to the Bucks County Rescue Squad.

According to Harry Crowe, a borough resident and longtime medic, the ballot question to raise the tax for the rescue squad passed by 518 votes in the November election.

With the rescue squad funding increase, borough taxpayers will now pay 57.89 mills. Each mill is equivalent to $72,000 of revenue for Bristol, according to officials.

The police department of 14 full-time and two part-time officers currently takes up roughly half of the borough budget. By the end of the year, it is estimated the police department will exceed their budget by $185,000, according to borough documents.

The borough last raised taxes in 2013.

The proposed budget includes a list of borough salaries:

Publisher/Editor Tom Sofield contributed to this report.

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