Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
Residents of Middletown Township can expect a slight increase in their taxes in the coming year.
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The Board of Supervisors voted last week to approve a $48.8 million budget for 2024, which includes the township’s first real estate tax increase since 2010.
Under the new budget, the millage rate will rise from 17.570 to 19.025. The adjustment translates to an estimated $43 increase for the average homeowner.
The aim of the 1.455 mill increase is to enhance the township’s fire protection services, supporting both volunteer fire companies and professional firefighters, according to officials.
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Stephanie Teoli Kuhls, the township manager, emphasized that the budget is designed to address spending and provide a “high-level of service to our residents.”
Anna Payne, the supervisors chair, along with supervisors Mike Ksiazek and Dawn Quirple, acknowledged the reluctance to implement even a minimal tax increase. However, they emphasized its necessity for funding public safety services.
The township, which last raised real estate taxes in 2010, relies on its earned income tax that was introduced in 2014. The EIT tax has been a major contributor to the general fund, which officials note has suffered a structural deficit due to expenditures outpacing revenues.
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Despite the tax hike, fees for trash and recycling services will remain unchanged at $401.
The 2024 budget includes strategic allocations for the Middletown Township Department of Fire and Emergency Management. A total of 75 percent of employee costs for daytime operations will be funded from the Fire Protection Fund. Additionally, a new Fire Apparatus Fund is being established for vehicle purchases for the paid fire department and the township’s four volunteer fire companies.
A significant portion of the budget, 52 percent, is allocated to police protection.
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Middletown Township’s financial stability is partly maintained by a $40 million investment fund, originating from the 2002 sale of water and sewer facilities. Interest earned from this fund aids in financing various expenditures and capital projects.
For 2024, capital projects are budgeted at $6.9 million, ranging from HVAC upgrades in the municipal building to the acquisition of new technology and vehicles, including new guns for police officers, improvements to the public works facility on Veterans Highway, and enhancements in parks and township-maintained roads.
Officials said they will seek grant funding to cover some of the capital expenses.
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