Falls Twp. Keeps Tax Rate Steady

The Falls Township Board of Supervisors aren’t afraid to admit they have the lowest tax rate as compared to Lower Makefield, Bensalem, Northampton, Lower Southampton, Middletown and Bristol townships.

And they plan to keep it that way in 2017.

On Monday evening, the Supervisors approved an $81.8 million budget for upcoming year. The budget will keep at millage rate has been 7.22, which means property owners will pay $216.60 on an average assessment of $30,000.

The upcoming budget year will see the township spending roughly $15 million on its new building and a large investment in infrastructure.

From a township press release:

With an eye on constantly improving motorist travel, the spending plan also earmarks more than $2 million for a variety of roadway and intersection improvements, as well as construction.
Full-depth road reconstruction is planned for Walton Drive (from Elbow Lane to Lions Drive) while engineering and design work is budgeted for some township roads in Hedgerow Woods. The project also includes milling and overlay of Mill Creek Parkway eastbound, Makefield Turn, Laura Way, Lesha Drive, Andrew Drive and Rice Drive (from Lesha Drive to Andrew Drive).

In addition, the budget provides $40,000 for mill and overlay projects on Virga Avenue, Beverly Avenue and Oak Lane. The township will save approximately $150,000 on intersection improvements at Levittown and Mill Creek parkways thanks to a matching PennDOT Green Light GO grant.

Pension costs for Falls will rise to $2.6 million in 2017, doubling since 2012.

Township Finance Director Betsy Reukauf said the 7.22 millage rate is the lowest rate property owners have had to pay since the 1992 budget was passed.

“The last time Falls Township raised taxes Bill Clinton was President, a gallon of gas cost $1.05 and the average cost of a new home was $122,500,” a press release states.

The department with the largest budget is police, which is on track to invest in new vehicles, computer equipment and firearms training and supplies next year.

LED lights in the township has saved money over the past year. The money that would have been spent on street lighting will be redistributed to the park and recreation department, officials said.