Falls Township plans to hold the line on taxes for 2024.
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The proposed $78,821,601 budget keeps the millage rate at 8.97.
The township’s new earned income tax (EIT), which went into place in 2023, will bring in $7 million.
The landfill impact fees will bring in $9 million, permits will generate $1.3 million, resource recovery fees will provide $950,000, the real estate transfer fee will bring in $900,000, the local services tax will generate $650,000, and the cable TV franchise fee will put $550,000 into the township’s coffers.
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In the proposed budget for 2024, the average homeowner in the township will pay $269.10.
Officials noted this is cheaper than other surrounding municipalities, including Bristol Township, where the typical property owner was billed $1,069.40 in local taxes in 2023.
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Additionally, unlike nearby towns, those living in Falls Township don’t face extra fees for garbage and leaf collection services. Those services are provided by Waste Management as part of the landfill agreement.
The township budget includes the $34.7 million municipal campus project, a one-time cost, and $2.47 million for road repair and maintenance.
According to township officials, the projects included in the roads plan include Amesbury Road drainage improvements, the South Old Boulevard culvert, the Rice Drive culvert, the culvert at Falls Township Community Park, repairs at Martins Creek, and drainage improvement along Briaroot Lane.
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The township has earmarked $500,000 for construction of a new playground with wheelchair accessibility at Falls Township Community Park. The new playground equipment, designed for children aged 2 to 12, will replace the current setup and is inclusive for all children, especially those with disabilities and those on the autism spectrum, ensuring accessible play for everyone, officials said.
The township will budget for a new blight remediation program named Falls Cares. The township will have a social worker to assist with the program.
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One of the largest costs in the budget is police services, and the township plans to spend $470,000 on four new police vehicles, computer equipment, firearms training and supplies.
Falls Township will look to spend $469,700 to replace seven aging pieces of equipment in the Public Works Department.
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Township officials said for every $1 paid by residents in taxes, the township gets just 4 cents. The rest of the money goes to the school district and county government.
Falls Township Finance Director Betsy Reukauf said the township’s pension obligations have been growing and have nearly tripled. The contributions jumped from $1.3 million in 2012 to $2.6 million in 2017, with nearly $3 million projected for next year.
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Reukauf said state aid for contributions hasn’t grown at the same rate and will total about $700,000 in 2024.
The Falls Township Board of Supervisors will vote on the 2024 budget at the December 19 meeting.
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