18 years running: Hanover Township’s proposed new year budget holds steady on taxes

HANOVER TWP., Pa. — The township’s proposed spending plan for 2025, balanced at $10.59 million, would mark its 18th consecutive year of stable tax rates if the plan is later approved.

“The proposed millage rate is 3.9 mills,” Township Treasurer Beth Bucko wrote in the proposed budget. “Taxes had remained flat since 2008 when there was a tax decrease.

“Included in the 3.9 mills is a fire tax of 0.5 mills, which is used for the purchase of Fire Company vehicles without financing.”

That millage rate means the owner of a home with a $200,000 tax assessment value would pay $780 under the proposed budget.

Larger revenues, expenditures

Some of the township’s largest general-fund expenditures are contributions to the Colonial Regional Police Department — which serves both Hanover and Lower Nazareth townships — for $2.67 million, residential waste collection at $1.04 million, employee benefits at $625,000 and Bethlehem Area Public Library contributions totaling $234,000.

Officials are expecting nearly $2 million in real estate tax revenue, $2.89 million in earned income tax (rates of 1% for nonresidents, 0.5% for residents and 0.5% for the Bethlehem Area School District), $400,000 from building permits and inspections and over $288,000 from the fire tax.

As far as the recreation fund goes, Bucko is projecting $1.04 million in revenue — with the bulk of that coming from $150,000 in children’s services, $120,500 in Community Center memberships and seasonal pool passes at $115,000.

The recreation fund also foots the park maintenance payroll line item, which tallies up to $200,000. Other broader expenses include pool staff wages at $90,000, township employee benefits totaling $55,000, and some Community Center staff wages — including children’s services staff at $90,000 and the recreation director at $74,500.

The township Board of Supervisors next meets at 7 p.m. Nov. 26 at the municipal building.