Newtown Borough Votes To Advertise Proposed 2024 Municipal Budget

NEWTOWN BOROUGH, PA — Newtown Borough residents will see a one-mill increase in their municipal tax rate next year under a proposed 2024 budget.l scheduled for adoption in December.

The borough council this week voted unanimously to advertise the spending plan for final action at its December meeting.

The increase would equate to an additional $45 a year in municipal taxes on a property assessed at the borough’s average of $40,000.

The proposed budget will boost the tax rate by a quarter of a mill for the Newtown Ambulance Squad and three-quarters of a mill for the Newtown Emergency Services to fund the future purchase of new fire apparatus.

Over the next several years, the fire company will be looking to replace two trucks - a ladder and an engine - at a cost of about $2 million. The company is considering several options including the
purchase of separate trucks or one truck with multiple uses.

“You have to order it several years early and we would like to start putting money aside for the borough’s portion. We would be contributing along with Newtown Township to purchase fire apparatus,” said Council President Tara Grunde-McLaughlin.

The borough will also allocate $43,000 in the budget to pay for workman’s compensation insurance for the firefighters and $23,000 in annual contributions to the fire company.

In other action at this week's meeting, the council:

• Approved an ordinance that will institute a municipal tax credit for volunteer firefighters living in the borough. Firefighters who meet the eligibility criteria would be eligible for a tax credit of up to $1,000 on the earned income tax. The tax credit is part of a broader effort to encourage more residents to consider joining the local fire service as a volunteer.
• Voted to close the borough hall from Dec. 26 to 29.
• Voted to make a conditional offer of employment to Kallie Amber Kohnow as a part-time non-civil service police officer with the condition that she passes a physical and psychological exam. Kohnow is a resident of Bucks County and a 2020 graduate of Pennsbury High School. She graduated this year from the Bucks County Community College with an associate’s degree in criminal justice and from the Temple University Police Academy.
• Approved the appointment of Samantha McGraw to the Environmental Advisory Council for
  the remainder of a three-year term through Dec. 31, 2025.
• Approved the re-appointment of Bob Walker to the Newtown Bucks County Joint Municipal Authority for another five-year term through Dec. 31, 2028.
• Approved the town's annual tree lighting ceremony sponsored by the Newtown Experience Group and the Newtown Historic Association. The event will take place on Friday, Dec. 1 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Newtown Fire Association located at 14 Liberty Street. Santa is scheduled to arrive around 7 p.m. to light the tree. There is no rain date.