North Union property tax income to remain same during 2003
NORTH UNION TWP. – Supervisors approved a 2003 budget that does not contain a tax increase, the 43rd year that residents have not seen a rise in their property taxes. But residents will be forced to shell out more monthly for maintenance and payment for their streetlights.
The $2.2 million budget does not include a tax increase, but the rate will be lowered to 0.447 mills for the general fund and 0.17 mills for the hydrant fund.
The rates came down after the countywide property reassessment increased the township’s assessed value.
Supervisor Tom Kumor said the new rate will give the township the exact same amount of revenue, right down to the penny.
He said the township’s assessed value rose to almost $383 million after the reassessment was completed last month.
Supervisors kept all tax rates the same, with the exception of the monthly rates charged to residents for standard or non-standard streetlights. Kumor said an increase was necessary this year because the street light account had been underfunded for several years.
He said supervisors are paying almost $4,700 a month for streetlights for the township, totaling $52,000 annually, but only $41,000 is taken into the account every year.
The shortfall is usually made up by using delinquent tax payments and transfers, but Kumor said those solutions are not solving the problem.
Homeowners currently pay $24 a year for standard wooden streetlights and $6 a year for vacant properties, while the charge is $30 a year for non-standard streetlights and $7.50 a year for vacant properties.
According to the resolution adopted Tuesday, residents will now pay $42 annually for non-standard lights and $36 annually for standard streetlights.
The charge for vacant properties will be $9 a year, regardless of the type of light.
Kumor said the new rates will give the township an additional cushion, especially if electricity rates rise in the next few years.
“I hope the streetlights don’t overshadow the fact that we haven’t raised taxes in 43 years,” he said.
“We have continually held the line on real estate property taxes.”
In other matters, supervisors discussed the construction of a new maintenance building to replace the current structure, which is 100 years old.
Kumor said the building is in poor condition and has outlived its use, but an addition to the building done in the 1970s is still able to be used.
He said the township will work with engineers to look at what type of building is suitable for the site and what plans could come forward next year.
Before adjourning, the supervisors also conducted the following business:
– Voted to make revisions to the township’s road specifications and guidelines to include a stipulation that a permit be required for any road to tie into a township road. A fee of $20 per permit was also added to the stipulation, which supervisors said was an effort to control development in the township.
– Voted to reject bids received for a 1985 Ford 4×4 truck with attached snow plow, which they felt were too low and voted to sell the truck to Nicholson Township for $3,000.
– Heard from Bill Show, who asked supervisors to put a stop sign along Oak Street to control traffic. Kumor said he would investigate the intersection and would come back with a recommendation in a few months.