- South Whitehall Township's proposed 2024 budget does not include a real estate tax increase nor an increase of water and sewer fees
- The township is projecting expenditures and revenues to be equal in the general fund
- In other news, the South Whitehall Police Department has a new sergeant
SOUTH WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — South Whitehall Township residents may not have to pay more in township taxes or fees next year.
Township Finance Director Tricia Dickert read the 2024 proposed budget at Wednesday’s Board of Commissioners meeting.
It includes no real estate tax increase nor an increase of water and sewer fees, even though Lehigh County Authority may increase its rates.
The township is projecting expenditures and revenues to be equal in the general fund, meaning there would be no deficit or surplus. Both would be about $19.79 million, an 11% increase from 2023.
Township Commissioners President Diane Kelly praised township staff for presenting a budget that is easy for residents to understand.
“The narrative and summaries of departmental priorities and fund summaries that had been included in the front of this are very readable, and they're very understandable,” Kelly said.
The proposed budget will be published on the township website Thursday morning.
Budget specifics
Lehigh County Authority has proposed rate hikes, but they would not affect South Whitehall residents because the township would cover those costs in the proposed budget.
Dickert said the township was able to do that because it increased water and sewer fees last year.
“We feel from what we did last year, we can absorb whatever increases they bestow on us next year,” Dickert said.
Most of the various funds in the budget, including water, sewer, fire and refuse, are projected to be in a surplus by the end of 2024. But the State Highway Aid Fund and the Open Space Fund are projected to have deficits of $80,730 and $111,567, respectively.
Dickert said the deficits will be covered by the balances left from 2023.
“I read that figure when we first got our budget packets, and I almost fell over."Commissioner Jacob Roth
The township gained about $995,000 in new grant funding from the fourth quarter of 2022 to the fourth quarter of 2023, according to the proposed budget.
Commissioner Jacob Roth thanked township staff for their work to get the new funding.
“I read that figure when we first got our budget packets, and I almost fell over,” Roth said. “It’s quite impressive.”
The township has about $674,000 in remaining American Rescue Plan Act funds, which has to be spent in 2024.
There is a proposal to use those funds for a new camera system for the South Whitehall Township Police Department, which commissioners will vote on at a later date.
A new sergeant
Commissioners voted unanimously to promote township police Officer Derek Marouchoc to the position of sergeant.
Marouchoc attended the Lackawanna College Police Academy in 2015 and served in various other municipal police departments before being sworn in as a South Whitehall Township police officer in April 2019, Chief Glen Dorney said.
Marouchoc has served in the department as a bicycle officer, an extra jobs coordinator, a commercial motor vehicle inspector and a certified field training officer.
In September 2021, he received commendations for bravery and merit at the Lehigh County Chiefs of Police Association Commendation Ceremony.
Other news
Township Manager Tom Petrucci said the township has ordered temporary speed humps for Trexler Boulevard and Highland Street, following a recommendation from the Public Safety Commission.
He said they likely will be installed this month.
Commissioners approved a change to the interest rate assumption for the township pension plans from 7.625% to 7.5%. That is because of poor market performance, Petrucci said, and he wants to make sure the township does not underfund or overfund the plan.
“It doesn't mean necessarily that it has to be written in stone; it can be changed in the future. But here's the target. This is where we're headed."Commissioner Brad Osborne
Commissioner Brad Osborne thanked Petrucci and the township Pension Board for creating what he thinks is the township’s first pension policy with targets that are documented and available to the public.
“It doesn't mean necessarily that it has to be written in stone; it can be changed in the future. But here's the target. This is where we're headed,” Osborne said.
Commissioners also adopted the 2023 South Whitehall Township Comprehensive Parks & Recreation Plan, a guide to short- and long-term park and recreational goals for the community.
Petrucci said there are a number of vacancies on various township boards and commissions, and he has not received new applications since advertising the positions.
Township staff are now considering holding an open house to explain these positions to residents.
