It’s official. Bristol Township taxpayers will not see their municipal taxes rise in 2022.
Bristol Township Council approved the $70.6 million spending plan Thursday evening.
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The budget holds the tax rate at 23.98 mills, which equals about $450.82 in property taxes for the average assessed home.
The approved general budget calls for nine new police department vehicles, new vehicles for other departments and public works, the addition of a recreation center and renovations to the senior center, construction of a new fire station on Bath Road, the ongoing road repaving project, grants for fire companies, a new playground for the park at Indian Creek, upgrades to township buildings, and improvements to several traffic signals.
The township is receiving grant funds for several projects.
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The American Rescue Plan Act has brought $15.8 million to the township, which has been allotted to aid a community nonprofit, the fire companies, rescue squads, and needed improvements to the sanitary sewer and stormwater systems.
The township’s multi-million dollar upgrade to the sewer plant is Croydon is expected to begin after a delay in the new budget year, officials said.
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In November, Township Manager Randee Elton said keeping the tax rate steady came due to “sound budgeting and healthy reserves” that helped the community withstand uncertainty caused by COVID-19.
In a budget memo, Township Finance Officer Francis Phillips wrote forecasting for the future has been made more difficult due to the pandemic and rising inflation.
“The inflation in the housing market over the past twenty-two months has distorted the pattern of steady growth and has made circumstances look rosier than can be sustained in the long term. Past results are no guarantee of future outcomes so even when expectations are increased they are within an already established range of results,” Phillips wrote.
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Elton said that the township may have to consider raising taxes in future years to keep up with costs. She noted it has been more than a decade since taxes last increased.
“It will be highly evaluated for next year,” she said. “We need more personnel. We’re growing. We have more businesses and growth – which is wonderful – and we need more staff.”
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What Elton called the “hidden financial crisis” is the cost of post-retirement employee benefits for past township workers. The cost is weighing down the municipality’s budget and is due to previous labor contracts.
Council Vice President Cynthia Murphy commended the staff for the budget.
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