No tax increase has been proposed for the 2017 fiscal year in Middletown.
Township Manager Stephanie Teoli Kuhls presented the proposed budget to the board of supervisors and to the public earlier this week after the township held three separate public budget workshops to gather input from township staff and the board.
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The budget, which was formatted to consolidate line items, created a more user-friendly budget that was more transparent and helped the public to better compare yearly appropriations. To view the 2017 proposed budget, click here.
Teoli Kuhls highlighted significant township improvements as part of her budget proposal, including the paving of 45 miles of township roadway which has been conducted as part of the road improvement program, and the plans for $1.5 million being dedicated to road paving during 2017. Proposed capital expenditures, which include road improvements, storm sewer projects and vehicle replacements, will total nearly $6 million. Total operating expenditures amount to just under $30 million.
The township tax millage rate will remain at 17.570.
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Police protection in the township remains its largest general fund expenditure, according to the proposed budget. Police, accounts for 51 percent, followed by employer paid benefits at 18 percent, public works at 8 percent and administration/finance at 8 percent.
The township’s proposed budget plan notes that the municipality will aggressively seek additional grant revenue to aid capital expenses and improve services to residents. Currently, the township’s portion of the real estate tax accounts for 9 percent of the Middletown residents real estate tax bill, with the remainder going to the county and school district; while the Earned Income Tax (EIT) generated 36 percent of the revenue in the general fund.
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Teoli Kuhls explained recently to LevittownNow.com that a small portion of the real estate tax will be reallocated to help fund the Penndel-Middletown Emergency Squad and the volunteer fire companies. The reallocated funding equals about 3/4 of a mill and will be in addition to the fire services tax.
The Earned Income Tax (EIT) is expected to bring in about $6.8 million in 2017. Following Bensalem and Yardley implementing an EIT, Middletown will lose some of the EIT revenue.
Currently, Middletown has about $41 million in its reserve account.
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The upcoming township meeting on December 5 will offer the first opportunity for the board to consider the final budget.
Publisher/Editor Tom Sofield contributed to this story.
