SOUTH WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — Raising taxes to fund open space preservation in the township soon may get on the ballot.
South Whitehall Board of Commissioners on Wednesday heard a presentation of the status of South Whitehall Landscapes, a months-long study of how the township can preserve its natural, historical and agricultural resources.
One of the updates presented was a plan to put a referendum to create an open space tax on the May 20 primary in 2025.
“We want to reach as many people as possible."Township Manager Tom Petrucci
Township Manager Tom Petrucci said the township has not decided yet what amount that tax would be. But staff previously suggested the approved referendum could raise the township’s earned income tax 0.15%.
The township previously considered putting it on the November 2024 ballot, but needed more time to do community outreach, Petrucci said.
“We want to reach as many people as possible,” Petrucci said.
Township staff plans to present a final version of South Whitehall Landscapes at the board’s Aug. 21 meeting, with a potential adoption at its Sept. 18 meeting.
Other open space taxes
Other municipalities in Lehigh County have imposed taxes for open space preservation programs.
In neighboring North Whitehall Township, voters approved a Farmland & Open Space Tax in the 2019 primary election.
The referendum increased the assessed property tax 0.1 of a mill, generating about $140,000 in revenue annually, according to the township website.
In Lower Macungie Township, voters in November 2021 passed a referendum to increase the earned income tax 0.15% “for the limited purposes of purchasing open space and paying off debt for open space.” Some of the funds also are to be used to maintain the spaces.
In the South Whitehall referendum, open space is defined as “greenways, active recreation areas and passive open space used to preserve forests, parks, urban gardens and other green places.”
Lower Macungie Director of Planning and Community Development Nathan Jones said previously that some of the funds are going toward buying agricultural land then leasing it to farmers.
Most recently, Whitehall and Heidelberg Township townships passed open space taxes in this year's primary election.
