Royersford Borough Council Predicts No Tax Increase in 2012

Royersford Borough Councilman John Kring gave an additional finance report at Tuesday night's regular meeting that could prove to be a pleasant surprise for local taxpayers.

"I just want to take a moment to give forward information to expect for the next meeting," Kring said. "We may have no tax increase this year."

Kring went on to say that the finance commitee started out with a $3.88 million requirement to start and panned that number back to the potential for no increases in taxes, which can be attributed to "significant clipping in terms of numbers."

"To do that, there are things that will take reductions," said Kring, who noted the street sweep, library and historical society to be among those to have reduced funding. "Some will get no increase."

In 2011, there was a tax increase, but Kring noted that the borough had done well in holding back income in anticipation for 2012. He also said there would be no increases in trash and sewer for 2012. The budget will be discussed more in-depth at the next meeting on Nov. 8 at 7:15 p.m.

In other news, the is tonight at 7 p.m. with a rain date of Thursday night. New Mayor John Guest said he would be there.

Guest also submitted his resignation from the counil in order to become mayor. There is now a vacant seat on council, which must be filled by appointment.

"The 20-plus years I spent on council has been mostly enjoyable in representing the borough," Guest said. "I will still be representing the borough, but now in a different way."

Guest also reported that Exelon donated $2,000 to the . Police Chief Kevin Schurr told Guest that the department would use the money to upgrade firearms for patrolmen.

"We appreciate the funding and support that Exelon has shown to smaller community law enforcement," Schurr said in an email to Patch.

Township Manager Michael Leonard gave the last word at the meeting, noting that in an effort to scale back monies spent for next year, the borough would only have the solicitor sit in on the first meeting of the month. The second meeting would be more geared toward committee reports.