UPPER MACUNGIE TWP., Pa. — Residents in Upper Macungie won’t have to pay more real estate tax next year if a new budget proposed Thursday passes.
But the proposed 2023 budget includes a $15 increase to the refuse and recycling rate, which is similar to previous years.
At a meeting of the township Board of Supervisors, township Finance Director Bruce Koller presented a budget that would keep the property tax millage rate at 0.64.
Board member Kathy Rader said the last time the township raised the rate was in 2011.
- Upper Macungie Township’s proposed 2023 budget does not change the real estate tax
- It does include a $15 increase to the refuse and recycling rate
- The proposed budget has a net surplus of $1 million
- Residents can review the proposed 2023 budget on Upper Macungie Township’s website
Board President James Brunell said in an interview that he was glad the township has revenue sources other than its residents to pay for services.
“The really, really good part about our township is under $3 million of that total budget comes from our residents,” Brunell said. “So having a mix of both residential and quality business in our township allows us to have the police, the fire, the parks and rec.”
Koller said in an interview that because of the revenue the government gets from the commercial and residential development, the township has not had to raise taxes.
“We have substantial reserves that we can tap before we go to raising real estate taxes,” Koller said.
“We have substantial reserves that we can tap before we go to raising real estate taxes."Bruce Koller, finance director for Upper Macungie Township
The proposed budget has just over $42 million in expenditures, and just over $39 million in revenue. It also includes $4 million in cash reserves from 2022, meaning the proposed budget has a net surplus of about $1 million.
Almost 28% of the proposed operating budget goes to sewer operations. Koller said sewage treatment costs have gone up significantly, but the township did not pass those costs on to the residents.
The township will start sending its sewer bills quarterly in preparation for a change in how the sewer bill is calculated. Koller said the township plans to end the fixed-fee system in 2024 and charge residents different rates based on how much they use the sewerage.
Upper Macungie Township’s 2022 budget had $39 million in expenditures and $32 million in revenue.
Residents can review the proposed 2023 budget on Upper Macungie Township’s website.
