SOUTH WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — South Whitehall Township has a new 2023 budget that will not change the property tax rate but will increase water and sewer rates.
The property tax rate will stay at 3.31975 mills.
The township Board of Commissioners approved the budget after authorizing changes to the draft budget at their meeting Wednesday.
- South Whitehall Township's 2023 budget does not increase property taxes, but does increase rates for water and sewer
- Township Finance Director Tricia Dickert said the budget included the rate increases because the county public water and wastewater utility increased their rates
- Many sections of the budget had surpluses
Supervisors approved adding line items for overtime, seasonal staff, longevity pay and stand-by pay.
Township Finance Director Tricia Dickert said the total percentage change of the revisions to the general fund was 0.3%.
The budget includes a water rate increase of 11%, with a base charge increase of $5 per quarter, as well as a sewer rate increase of 20% with a base charge increase of $10 per quarter.
After Dickert first read the proposed budget, she said in an interview that the budget included rate increases because the Lehigh County Authority, a public water and wastewater utility, has raised its rates over the past few years.
Commissioners didn't pass along the increased rates to residents until last year, when they increased the water rate 7.1% and did not increase the sewer rate.
The general fund section of the budget has a surplus of about $84,000, which will go toward building the fund balance.
Many of the other sections of the budget also had a surplus, including the water fund, which has a surplus of about $750,000, and the sewer fund, which has a surplus of about $113,000.
Dickert said the surpluses for those funds will go toward increasing the fund balance so the township can be prepared for any potential emergencies with the water and sewer operation.
