SPRINGFIELD: Local government presents $3.327M budget, slight tax increase

By Amy Batista, Special Writer
   SPRINGFIELD — The Township Council introduced its 2013 municipal budget at $3.3 million, which calls for a nearly 2-cent increase in the municipal tax rate.
   The 2013 budget is proposed at $3.327 million. A public hearing on the spending plan is set for April 10.
   During a March 13 meeting, the tax rate for 2013 was proposed at 41.64 cents per $100 of assessed value. In 2012, the tax rate was 39.90 cents per $100 of assessed value, according to Township Manager Paul Keller on Tuesday.
   ”All existing programs, services and staffing will be maintained at current levels,” Mr. Keller said.
   However, he said, the township was ordered by the county Board of Taxation to have a revaluation of property values. It will fund that through an emergency resolution for $139,500, with one-fifth or $27,900, to be appropriated in municipal budgets over a five-year period beginning in 2014. That means the revaluation will take place this year, but the township won’t have to start paying for it until next year.
   The average township household, with homes assessed at $315,618, would see an annual increase of $54.58 from 2012.
   According to Mr. Keller, half the increase is due to the decline of the 2012 tax collection rate from 98.39 percent in 2011 to 97.31 percent in 2012.
   ”Because of this, the reserve for uncollected taxes appropriation has increased by nearly $41,000,” Mr. Keller said. “A 1-cent increase (in the tax rate) equals $44,010. Increases in health insurance, police pensions and property, liability and (workers’ compensation) insurance account for an additional budget increase of $36,000.”
   However, the proposed budget increase is not above the state-mandated 2 percent cap, Mr. Keller said.
   Resident Linda Lovenduski, of the Jacksonville section of the township, questioned the council about the revaluation and tax rate.
   ”Is there a percentage that you are not allowed to go over from what the rate was prior to?” Ms. Lovenduski asked.
   ”The overall tax levy can only go up by 2 percent per year,” Mr. Keller explained. “That’s the amount that’s raised in property taxes. The rate is going to be whatever it needs to be to continue to achieve that level of revenue in total.”
   He added the sluggish economy over the past several years resulted in lower property values, which led to recent successful tax appeals from homeowners.
   According to Mr. Keller, the effect of a tax appeal presents itself as a “force” to propel tax increases because the township has to make up what it loses in revenue.
   ”Has the township looked into revenues for the town other than our tax dollars?” Ms. Lovenduski asked, pointing to, perhaps, using solar energy to save money.
   ”We actually have someone right now reviewing our utility bills to see if whether we can turn to a program — not only with the township . . . but with some adjoining municipalities to benefit from some solar programs,” Mr. Keller said. “I haven’t gotten the report back from them yet.”
   In other business, the council unanimously approved renewing its contract with Township Engineer Dante Guzzi, which was not done in January, according to Mayor Denis McDaniel.
   In other news, a moment of silence was held at the beginning of the meeting for two residents who recently died and were involved in the community for a number of years.
   They are Sandy Miller, who worked for the Springfield Township School, and Pat Harrington, who was a coach and involved with sports for a number of years, according to Councilman Peter Sobotka.