Property Assessment Appeals Deadline Nears in Tredyffrin Township

While Township officials discuss revenue and expenditure estimates for 2011, residents are already eagerly awaiting the outcome of their 2012 property assessments.

“August 31 is the deadline for people to submit appeals for the assessments,” said Township Manager, Mimi Gleason, during Monday’s Budget Workshop. “It isn’t usually until October before we get numbers from the County.”

Property assessment figures for 2012, collected by Chester County, will determine whether or not tax rates will increase for many residents.

“This is just a flat line version” of the 2012 budget, said Finance Committee member, John DiBuonaventuro.

Projections for 2012 are estimating 1% or $800,000 hike, in property tax, when the Township is expected to run a $660,000 deficit for the year.

Early estimates for FY2011 have shown that Tredyffrin Township is operating with a $373,000 drop in revenue. A slow real estate market over the summer months, compounded with an active winter season during 2011 when salt usage and road closure expenditures cost over $200,000 in unbudgeted supply costs, have left the Township with a gap to close.

“In the last two years Tredyffrin has not raised real estate taxes,” said Paul Olsen, Vice Chair of the Board of Supervisors. “Easttown in the last 2 years has raised real estate taxes 16%. Radnor raised it 20%.”

Board decisions will come into focus later in the fall during scheduled meetings in November, when the Board proposes the 2012 budget, and in December when it’s approved.

A second Budget Workshop will also be added to the schedule. During the first or second Saturday in October, the Board plans to meet to discuss further Capital Projects including Trout Creek Watershed, Devon Park Drive, Westover Park, the Cedar Hollow Spur, and a new library for Paoli.