Township taxes static

There will be no hike in township taxes for Abington, as the board of commissioners adopted the 2011 municipal budget early on Dec. 10.

The general fund is up about 5.4 percent over last year, bringing it to $33.9 million, but according to Abington Township Manager Tom Conway, a home assessed at $150,000 will continue to pay $470 in township taxes.

In fact, township taxes in Abington have remained static for 18 out of the last 19 years, save for a 2 percent increase last year, according to Conway.

Projected revenue stays about the same, as well. The township is looking at about a 0.15 percent increase in real estate tax revenue, brining the figure to about $12.4 million; earned income tax is projected to increase by 6.4 percent brining it to $6.7 million; and business tax revenue is projected to decrease by 0.2 percent, bringing the figure to about $5.2 million.

Conway said because of the tax increase last year, township officials started looking at the 2011 budget as early as April 2010.

The township was never close to layoffs, he said.

Cut were a part-time parks and recreation position, as well as a part-time library position. Hours at the police records room in the township building were also pared down — there will no longer be Sunday hours.

Also, Conway said, the township increased the employees' contribution to their health insurance. According to a memorandum to the board of commissioners from Conway, health insurance costs are up 9.3 percent for 2011. All employees contribute between $600 and $1,200 to their insurance premiums. And co-pays for doctor visits and prescriptions will be increased.

The senior bus was also scrapped due to low ridership and dwindling state and county funding, Conway said. Fifteen years ago, the bus loop had about 15,000 riders, he said; now, it has about 3,000 riders. Cutting the bus will save the township about $62,000.

Sewer rates for 2011 will be up 7.4 percent. This means an increase of $4 for a household using 52,200 gallons annually, bringing the figure to $278.

But, the $4 increase is offset by the 400 pennies saved at the trashcan. For 2011, residential refuse rates for each size of trash container will be down by $4, bringing the annual rates to $192, $220 and $247 for 35-, 65- and 95-gallon containers, respectively.

Conway credits the lowered rates to the efficiency of the relatively new automated trash system.