SOUTH WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — South Whitehall Township residents might see an increase in their water and sewer rates for next year.
But the property tax rate would not change in the proposed budget, township Finance Director Tricia Dickert said.
Dickert gave the first reading of the municipality's proposed 2023 budget to the township's Board of Commissioners on Wednesday.
- South Whitehall Township's proposed 2023 budget includes rate increases for water and sewer
- Director of finance for the township Tricia Dickert said the budget included the rate increases because the county public water and wastewater utility increased their rates
- Many areas of the budget had surpluses
- Residents can view the proposed budget on the township's website or at the municipal building
The proposed 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. The property tax rate will stay at 3.31975 mills.
Dickert said the proposed rate increases come as 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.
“It's not something that any one of us wants to do, especially since we are all feeling this squeeze everywhere," Dickert said. "But the truth of the matter is, if LCA continues to raise the rates, I don't feel like we have any choice but to pass that on to the residents.”
“I know that could be a burden for some people, but it was, in the board's opinion, the most responsible thing to do for the health of those funds [in the] long range for the township.”Diane Kelly, president of the Board of Commissioners
Commissioners President Diane Kelly said the board didn't want to increase the rates, but felt it was the right thing to do.
“I know that could be a burden for some people, but it was, in the board's opinion, the most responsible thing to do for the health of those funds [in the] long range for the township,” Kelly said.
“We have to balance the effect on the homeowners and residents with doing what's right overall from a fund perspective.”
Budget surplus
The general fund section of the proposed budget has a surplus of almost $85,000, 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 had a surplus of almost $750,000, and the sewer fund, which had a surplus just under $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.
Kelly said after the meeting that she was glad that the overall budget had a surplus and not a deficit.
“Our expenditures are within our revenues, and it's a balanced budget," she said. "And I'm very happy to see that.”
The general fund section of the township’s 2022 budget had a deficit of almost $173,000.
A link to the proposed budget is now available on the South Whitehall Township website, and a copy will be available for the public in the reception area of the municipal building.
There will be a second reading of the budget at the Nov. 16 commissioners meeting.
Dickert said this year’s budget will look different than previous years because the township is using a new budget platform that has more line items to increase transparency.
This story was updated to include the exact rate increases and a link to the proposed budget.
