Falls Twp. Plans To Keep Tax Rate Flat

The facade of the current Falls Township municipal complex.
Credit: Amanda Burg/LevittownNow.com

When the Falls Township Board of Supervisors last raised taxes, it was 1992 and a gallon of gas cost $1.05.

At their meeting earlier this week, the supervisors passed a preliminary $38.5 million spending plan. The tax rate will remain at 7.22 mills.

Despite the increasing cost of doing business and rising pension costs, the township held the line on property taxes. The township’s coffers are buoyed by impact fees related to the large landfills in the municipality.

The average taxpayer is paying $216.60 to the township on the average assessment. Falls Township officials were quick to point out the average Bristol Township taxpayer pays five times more in municipal taxes.

In addition to keeping taxes low, there is no cost for trash and yard waste pickup due to their agreement with Waste Management, which operates the landfills in the township.

The resource fees charged to Waste Management for the landfills will bring $14.8 million to the general fund.

The township plans to spend $2 million in 2022 on road repaving and upgrades. The township will pay $61,000, with PennDOT picking up the rest of the tab, for intersection improvements at North Olds Boulevard and Trenton Road. The township will also complete adaptive traffic signal upgrades at Lincoln Highway, Tyburn Road and West Trenton Road with an anticipated cost of $160,000. Federal funds covering the other 80 percent of the signal upgrade costs.

The budget sets aside $1.1 million for five new police vehicles, firearms, training, and supplies, along with four new dump trucks for the public works department.

The township will pay $150,000 for an upgrade to the playground at Elderberry Park. The park upgrades will allow wheelchair access and add various amenities for children on the autism spectrum.

There will be $50,000 for tree trimming and removal of trees damaged by the emerald ash borer and spotted lanternfly.

Falls Township Finance Director Betsy Reukauf said pension contributions by the township have risen by $1.3 million in 2012 to $3.5 million in 2022. The state’s contributions have stayed relatively flat.

Looking at local tax bills, the township receives less than 4 cents per every dollar residents pay. Approximately 84 cents of every dollar go toward the Pennsbury School District and 12 cents goes to the county.