Credit: Parx
Several Levittown-area towns won big this year with the annual casino impact grants that are administered by the Bucks County Redevelopment Authority (RDA).
At a recent meeting of the Bucks County Redevelopment Authority, $3.7 million in funds were distributed to fund projects in Bensalem, Bristol Township, Hulmeville, Penndel, Lower Southanpton and Middletown.
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Impact grants, also know as RDA grants, have awarded millions to local towns in the past and helped upgrade streetlights, emergency radios, gas pumps for township vehicles, SWAT team gear and more. According to state regulations, the Bensalem casino is required to give 1 percent of annual revenues to towns that are directly impacted by Parx.
“The authority considers the Municipal Grant Program a huge success for Bucks County, and I would like to commend the communities for their selection of the projects they submitted,” RDA Board Chairman Pat Bachtle. “We take seriously the awarding of the Municipal Grant Program, and it is rewarding to see the completion of all the projects that address infrastructure, safety and quality of life issues in each community.
The RDA Board reviewed close to 30 applications from towns, which totaled $6 million in requests.
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Earlier this year, the Pennsylvania Gaming Commission data showed Parx has brought more than $200 million to local towns and Bucks County since it opened in 2009. So far, roughly $150 million has been distributed in local share distributions and more than $50 million in property taxes.
“What I take the most pride in is that we’ve been able to provide such services as road paving, municipal building upgrades and providing equipment to our first responders without having to go back to the taxpayers for more money,” Republican State Sen. Tommy Tomlinson (PA-8) said. Tomlinson worked to put the grant program in 2008.
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Bensalem
Bensalem will receive $220,712 to fund emergency responder radio equipment, which had to be replaced this year when the county switched to a new radio system. Bensalem-led Towns Against Graffiti (TAG) also received $165,000 in funding that will go toward fighting spray paint vandalism throughout the lower end of the county.
Bristol Township
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The township will be able to fund traffic signal modernization at two intersections with $300,000 from the grant program. The police department will be able to purchase 25 in-car camera systems using $175,000 and $220,712 will be used to fund emergency responder radios.
Hulmeville
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The tiny borough will be able to purchase a new police vehicle using $42,405. Officials are giving a $50,000 check to neighboring Penndel to help renovate a small building into the new police station.
Lower Southampton
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The township is slated to get $281,000 to purchase new police, public works and medic vehicles. A generator will also be purchased using $34,000.
Middletown
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The township will get the $176,075 it asked for to buy police vehicles. Roughly $98,000 will be used to buy two public works vehicles and $24,400 will be allotted to purchase a new utility vehicle for the fire marshal’s office. More than $89,600 will be put toward 15 in-car computers for the police fleet. Also, Middletown will receive $321,000 to help pay for the new radios for first responders.
Bucks County
The county commissioners will received roughly $500,000 to fund the Lower Bucks Public Safety center in Bristol Township. Roughly $125,000 will help fund a public clinic in Bensalem. Also, a new county-wide police DNA database will be funded with $221,000.
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