Easttown Faces Fee Hikes In Addition to Taxes

Easttown Township Supervisors have voted for the smallest tax increase in recent memory for 2012, amounting to a 1.53 percent increase in property taxes.

But residents are getting hit with fee increases in addition to hgher taxes.  Assistant Township Manager Bike Brown tells Patch that sewer rates went up 2.5 percent this year and trash rates went up by 4 percent.

Public Works Re-worked?

Additionally, Brown said that no decision has been made about the possibility of laying off three public works employees in favor of using contractors for snow removal.

"We're still negotiating with the bargaining unit over that aspect of the contract," he said.

Something this year's budget does differently than in previous years is that it will begin setting aside money for use in future capital equipment replacements, Brown said. Brown hopes that set asides will help strengthen the township's financial situation over time. Until now, that has only been done as necessary, but "the board has recognized that it's important to do for the township's longterm financial health," Brown said.

New Year, New Board

Monday's was the last scheduled meeting of the Easttown Board of Superviors this year. The new board will be seated during a special organizational meeting of the Board of Supervisors. It will be held Tuesday, Jan. 3 at 7:30 p.m..