SOUTH WHITEHALL, Pa. — South Whitehall Township on Wednesday approved a $21.5 million budget with no planned increase to property taxes.
The township tax millage would remain at 2.85 mills, meaning owners of a home valued at $200,000 for tax purposes would pay $570 a year in property tax.
There will, however, be a 4% increase to sewer fees. The flat rate for sewer usage is set to increase from $87.50 to $91 per household, the metered rate from $4.79 to $4.98 per 1,000 gallons and the base charge from $35 to $36 per quarter.
The township expects revenue of $20,881,474.37 to its general fund in 2025, and the deficit is set to be solved by carrying forward money from its 2024 surplus.
The most expensive line item on the budget is the new water reservoir, expected to cost $5 million.
According to the township documents, it involves building a new water reservoir on Brickyard Road to accommodate future development and ensure a reliable water supply for residents and commercial properties.
It would provide a storage capacity of 6 million gallons.
In the budget, the township cites Nestlé's factory operations in the area as being the main driver of the need for a new reservoir.
The second most expensive budget item is related one — water pumps.
The new pumps are expected to cost $500,000 and include a plan to replace all four pumps at the Springhouse water station: two booster and two fire pumps.
The budget says they're "crucial" for pumping water from the south end of the township to the reservoir and ensuring efficient water distribution, after current pumps have become obsolete.
Vistas Park, sewer upgrades, police vehicles
Another project in the budget is building of a pickleball court, walkways, "nature play areas," ADA access, fencing/shade structures, and other site improvements at Vistas Park.
This project is slated to cost $530,000, with $200,000 from state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources grants.
Another ongoing project aims to address sewer issues identified in the township's previous Klines Island Corrective Action Plan.
It includes repairs and upgrades to the sewer system to reduce infiltration and inflow. According to the budget, the project will continue over the next seven years, and $350,000.
The budget also calls for replacing some police vehicles that have aged to the point where they are no longer reliable. The budget calls for newer police duty vehicles with more contemporary equipment, such as communication tools and better visibility features.
"Acquiring three new patrol vehicles to replace aging units in our fleet represents a crucial investment in both operational efficiency and public safety," the budget document reads.
"As our current vehicles continue to age, they are increasingly prone to maintenance issues and higher repair costs, which can detract from their reliability and performance."
The new vehicles and equipment are slated to cost $275,000, though the costs are not exact, according to the budget, because 2025 prices aren't yet available.
Street cleaner, sewer meters
The township also plans to add a second 1998 Elgin Regenerative Street Sweeper to supplement the township's lone vehicle, which was bought in 2019.
The budget states that the current one has been operated for nearly 7,000 hours, and has "extensive rusting issues to the undercarriage area."
Getting an identical one would mean the township wouldn't need to stock different types of parts for repair.
The budget also mentions the appeal of such a sweeper, as it "is the kind of sweeper that will vacuum the fine silt up that gets into the storm pipes and creeks."
The budget lists its cost at $126,917, with an option to finance it for three years.
The township also plans to buy six new meters for its sewer system — a total cost of $122,791.65.
The new meters are set to replace the current six and serve as part of the Klines Island Sewer Plant Corrective Action Plan. A third-party engineering firm came up with the recommendation to replace the existing meters.
The budget sets aside $65,813 to demolish two houses "no longer in good shape" that the township owns on Brickyard Road.
According to the budget, there are "no future needs for these buildings," and they want to clear up the space for potential future use.
The original planned cost was $5,983, but there is an added 10% for "contingency," which brings the total to $65,813.
Tilghman sewer line relocation
The township has set aside $60,000 for the final stages of a project to relocate several sewer lines off the Tilghman Street Bridge, and $41,176 for a Ford Explorer SUV.
The SUV would be used as a township vehicle when employees need to go to events, such as training sessions.
In partnership with Salisbury Township, South Whitehall plans to buy a $100,000 used John Deere bulldozer for projects including grading streets and baseball fields, and moving supplies and dirt at the municipal stockyard.
The townships would split maintenance costs for the dozer.
The township has set aside $45,000 per year until 2029 for 47 new model of Tasers for South Whitehall Police.
Also, $30,000 is set to be spent on new water meters for the township.
The budget says current water meters have "gone bad," and needing replacements. It says new meters can produce more accurate readings for accurate billing and monitoring.
