Politics & Government
Township's Preliminary Budget Shows No Tax Increase
Lower Saucon Township manager Jack Cahalan provided council with total expenditures and revenues at a special budget meeting held last week.
Lower Saucon Township Manager Jack Cahalan announced at a special Oct. 26 township council meeting that there will be no tax increase in 2012 if the $6,854,400 proposed 2012 budget passes.
The total budget represents a 6 percent increase from last year's budget.
“We have been frugal on spending only on essential items,” he told council. “We will continue to be prudent in spending moving forward. We will emerge from the recession and meet the needs of the people.”
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Cahalan went through an in-depth report of projected expenditures and revenues for the coming year.
He said there have been many budget challenges for the township since the start of the recession.
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“With the continued high unemployment rate and slumping real estate market, it may take several years to get us back to where we were in 2006-2007,” he said.
In addition to housing, energy and fuel prices have continued to increase. He also said building and zoning revenues have been “erratic.”
One of the biggest increases in forecast expenditures is a 23 percent increase in pensions.
Cahalan said he was surprised that the township's medical insurance premiums only increased by 2.5 percent instead of 10 percent, which was what he anticipated.
Due to , there will be a 7 percent increase in the allocation given to and council members may receive a slight raise in their pay. Council Vice President Tom Maxfield questioned why their pay would be raised and asked to revisit the topic at a future meeting.
Cahalan said Lower Saucon Township is in the process of negotiating two employment contracts, which means the numbers he is projecting in those areas may not be accurate.
Lower Saucon will also be funding several improvement projects to comply with the Americans With Disabilites Act.
The township will also have some new minor expenditures in the coming year, including:
- $4,000 for a fireproof cabinet for council minutes
- $2,500 allocated for a transcription service
- $15,000 for tax collection software
- $5,000 to repair the front door of town hall
The budget will be available for the public to view on the township’s website. A paper copy will also be available at .