No Tax Increase In Warminster Township 2023 Municipal Budget

WARMINSTER, PA —When Warminster Township supervisors meet Thursday night to adopt the 2023 preliminary budget, residents won't have to worry about seeing an increase in their municipal taxes.

At its Nov. 17 meeting, Finance Director John Ramey introduced a preliminary budget that "will continue to provide a high level of service with no tax increase.

The $15.7 million budget totals 24.06 mills with 14 mills devoted to the general fund and the rest divided up between public safety, ambulance and fire service, the library, parks and recreation, and debt service.

For the average homeowner with a home assessed at $26,500, that translates to an annual municipal tax bill of $638 or $53 a month.

Ramey outlined how municipal taxes stack up against county and school taxes for the Centennial School District.

Warminster residents pay a bill of $674 annually to Bucks County and $4,109 in school taxes.

County Taxes

• He said the county tax, which amounts to 12 percent of a resident's tax bill, covers courts, emergency services, human services, community college, and housing and community development.

School Taxes

• The school tax, which is 76 percent of a resident's tax bill, covers schools, transportation services, staffing and teachers, technology, and individual support resources.

Municipal Taxes

• The local tax, which also makes up 12 percent of a resident's tax bill, covers police, fire, ambulance, public works, the library, finance, administration, and parks and recreation.
• Broken down further, Ramey presented, is that $275.33 of the $638 municipal tax goes to public safety. Meanwhile, $92.81 goes to parks and recreation, $62.32 to the library, $53.56 for debt service, and $53.03 for fire services as highlights of some of the municipal expenses.

Township supervisors and the township manager said they were pleased with Ramey's efforts.

"It took years and years. We're making huge strides and have great, capable people," Supervisors Chairman Kenneth Hayes said. "I'm really pleased with the staff we've assembled. Everyone is rowing in the same direction."

"We've all tightened our belts," Vice Chairwoman Katherine Frescatore said.

"Our great department heads are diligent custodians of township money," Township Manager Tom Scott said. We'd be hard-pressed to survive without them."

Supervisor Judy Hoover said she wished more residents attended the supervisors' meetings to hear the good news.

"They really need to come out to the meetings," she said. "This is a very comprehensive budget."