Skippack Budget Approved; No Tax Hike

Skippack Township Supervisors approved the 2012 budget with a unanimous vote Thursday, Dec. 29, shortly after 9:30 a.m.

, the vote was delayed to the late December date. Due to heating troubles in the meeting room on the main level, the meeting was moved to Community Room B on the lower level.

Supervisors Mark Marino, Bill Parkins and Mary Beth LaBelle, along with Township Manager Ted Locker Jr. and Solicitor Jill Zimmerman were in attendance. Supervisors Jeanene Friel and Timothy Moran were absent.

The budget has "no big changes, other than an inclusion of projects" such as a pedestrian bridge on Collegeville Road, the electronic signs on Routes 113 and 73 and bathrooms at , said Supervisors Chairman Mark Marino.

The biggest expenses included covering health care and some pay increases for township employees. However, residents' taxes are not increasing.

The budget is currently available for immediate review at the township building. (A PDF version is included in this article.)

In other news, the supervisors said some portions of the township website have been redesigned, and they are trying to obtain content management from the website company. At the moment, content is handled by the website's company. Residents have complained that the website's information is insufficient and out of date.

Towship officials also clarified that the content for the Route 73 and 113 electronic signs will be managed within the township building.
“Somehow content will be managed, but it will not be a ‘free for all,’” said Marino.
Messages will include information such as safety notices and announcements for upcoming events, such as the Fourth of July parade.
"If it’s a banner, it can be a sign," LaBelle added.