If adopted as introduced, Falls Township will maintain its current municipal tax rate in 2025, while continuing the same high-quality services residents have come to appreciate.
During Monday’s meeting, the Falls Supervisors introduced a preliminary 2025 budget. As proposed, the 2025 spending plan would hold the line on the current 8.97 millage rate.
Under the tentative spending plan, property owners would continue to pay $269.10 for an average assessment of $30,000 under the township’s 2025 budget. The owner of a similarly assessed Bristol Township property, by comparison, paid $1,059.40 in local taxes for 2024, while the owner of a similarly assessed Northampton Township home paid $1,415.
Unlike neighboring communities, Falls residents are not assessed for trash and leaf pickup.
Even with keeping taxes flat, the township is planning several upgrades in 2025. Falls has earmarked $100,000 to replace the 15-year-old slide at Pinewood Pool and $70,000 for improvements at Elderberry Park and Mill Creek Manor Park.
Supervisor Vice Chairperson Erin Mullen and Supervisor Jeff Boraski agreed that additional funds should be allocated to the parks and recreation department. However, Mullen proposed initiating a 1-mill tax increase, while Boraski suggested reallocating a portion of the $318,943 for police vehicles and $361,000 for a public works department dump truck to the parks and recreation department to fund additional park upgrades.
“I don’t think we need to spend $700,000 on vehicles when the amenities in parks and rec need so much attention,” Boraski said.
Both Mullen and Boraski’s motions failed. After two attempts to introduce the budget failed, the board took a brief recess to contact Supervisor Brian Galloway, who was home sick. Galloway joined the meeting via Zoom. The third attempt to introduce the 2025 budget was approved by a 3-2 vote with Mullen and Boraski voting no.
The 2025 spending plan, as introduced, reduces the reliance on host community fees from $16.8 million in 2019 to $7 million for 2025, according to Finance Director Betsy Reukauf.
Mullen, prior to casting her initial “no” vote, said the budget “clearly illustrates” the township’s dependency on host community fees.
“Please consider protecting our residents through responsible tax adjustments,” Mullen said.
Chairman Jeff Dence said residents have gotten “too comfortable” with the board not raising taxes.
“There probably is a need to raise taxes,” Dence said, adding that the 2023 EIT enactment helped to shore up funds without impacting senior citizens.
Reukauf said $10 million is estimated to be collected in 2025 from the EIT.
For decades, Falls officials have worked hard to do more with less. For every $1 paid in taxes, Falls Township receives just 4 cents. Yet, year after year the township sees spiraling pension contribution increases. Over the last decade, the township has seen its pension obligation nearly triple. Pension contributions surged from $1.3 million in 2012 to $2.6 million in 2017, with nearly $3 million projected for next year, all while the state contributions have remained relatively flat.
Even with holding the line on taxes the township is planning a number of capital projects for 2025, including culvert improvements at South Olds Boulevard, Rice Drive and Falls Township Community Park. In addition, repairs are planned for Martins Creek, as well as drainage upgrades at Briaroot Lane. Mill and overlay projects planned for next year include Cedar Lane, Corbin Lane and East Tyburn Road.
In all, $48,871,695 is projected to be spent in 2025.
The community can review the budget through Dec. 17 at the township building, at Fallsington Library, as well as on the township website at www.fallstwp.com (under the finance department section of the site). The 2025 budget will be considered for adoption during the Supervisors’ Dec. 17 meeting.
