Upper Dublin 2013 Draft Budget Raises Taxes by 3.4 Percent

In the 2013 draft budget for Upper Dublin township made public this week, residents would see a 3.4 percent tax increase, according to a report in the Ambler Gazette.

"The proposed $30,814,930 budget raises millage from 5.231 to 5.409 mills," increasing the average real estate tax bill in the township $35, to a total of $1,055.

The Township Board of Commissioners will meet for an all day hearing on Dec. 1 to go through the budget line-by-line and make any possible cuts to the budget.

Township Manager Paul Leonard said he expects most of the cuts for come from the capital budget which has a lot of roadway and culvert projects.

Of the proposed 3.4 percent increase, "1.9 percent of the tax increase would cover police contractual and pension obligations, 1.2 percent is for the non-uniformed pension fund and 0.3 percent is for a proposed new laborer in the parks and recreation department."

An all day budget hearing is scheduled for Dec. 1 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., an additional budget hearing is scheduled for Dec. 4 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and a budget decision is expected on Dec. 11 with a meeting beginning at 6:45 p.m.