Newtown Township Supervisors Approve Preliminary Budget

NEWTOWN TOWNSHIP, PA — Despite opposition from local residents, the Newtown Township Board of Supervisors voted Wednesday to approve a preliminary 2021 budget that raises property taxes by about 133 percent.

Supervisors voted 4-1 to advertise the budget, with supervisor Kyle Davis voting against the measure. If the budget is adopted in December, the average homeowner in Newtown Township can expect to pay about $193 more in property taxes to the township next year.

During Wednesday's meeting, a group of residents presented a petition that has received nearly 400 signatures as of Friday morning calling on supervisors to reconsider the tax increase. Addressing the board during public comment, Jonathan Seamans, of Newtown Grant, wondered if the township hadn't considered all of their options to reduce expenditures.

Without enough reserve funds available, Supervisor Chair Phillip Calabro said not raising taxes would come at the expense of losing public employees.

"We could not pass anything tonight, or we could cut a few police officers or firefighters," Calabro told one resident. "God forbid if something were to happen, they won't be able to come help you."

Supervisor Dennis Fisher said much of the township's recent financial woes date back to 2015, when Lockheed Martin closed its Newtown facility.

"We have had a structural deficiency over the past several years since Lockheed left," Fisher said. "We have a hole in the budget that really hasn't been addressed."

The board is expected to vote to adopt the final budget at its Dec. 22 meeting.

You can view the 59-page budget document online.