Upper Macungie Twp.'s 2023 budget does not include tax increase

UPPER MACUNGIE TWP., Pa. — Upper Macungie Township residents won’t have to pay more real estate tax next year under a newly approved 2023 budget.

But the budget includes a $15 increase to the municipality's refuse and recycling rate, which is similar to previous years and in other communities, as well.

Upper Macungie's Board of Supervisors approved the 2023 budget Thursday. It will keep the property tax millage rate at 0.64.

• Upper Macungie Township’s newly adopted 2023 budget does not change the real estate tax
• It includes a $15 increase to the refuse and recycling rate
• The budget has a net surplus of $1 million

Board President James Brunell said in an interview after the budget was proposed 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.”

The 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 budget has a net surplus of about $1 million.

Almost 28% of the proposed operating budget goes to sewer operations. Township Finance Director Bruce 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’s 2022 budget had $39 million in expenditures and $32 million in revenue.