With expenses outpacing revenue, the Yardley Borough Council at its Nov. 1 meeting voted unanimously to advertise a 2023 preliminary budget with a property tax increase of 1.34 mills.
The council has the option to make changes in the $1.88 million budget before voting to make it final at a meeting in December. The 1.34-mill hike is $37 for a resident with a property assessed at the borough average of $27,644.
“I do not want to raise your taxes at all,” said council member Matt Curtin, who worked extensively on the budget as chair of the General Government Committee.
“But we had a 2-mill gap that we’ve managed to work down to 1.34. Revenue is relatively static, but expenses continue to go up.”
As two examples, Curtin cited a $46,000 increase in police salaries this year and some projects that have cost dramatically more than originally forecast.
“We have an outstanding police service, but there’s a cost for that,” he said.
Resident Dawn Perlmutter claimed “there is mismanagement of money everywhere”, a remark council members did not respond to.
Council President Caroline Thompson said every cost saving option was considered and that she and fellow council members would be paying tax increases ranging from $17 to $88, depending on the assessments on their properties.
“We’re not bringing you a budget that has not been gone through with a fine-tooth comb,” Thompson said.
Unless it changes before the budget is finalized, total millage for 2023 will be 30.07, or $831 in annual property taxes for a resident with the average assessed property.
Millage is scheduled to be allocated as follows: 24 mills for general purposes; 0.85 for fire protection; 1.11 for street improvements; 0,85 for street lighting; 0.57 for ambulance and rescue squad; 0.69 for recreation; 2 for capital reserve.
Unlike most other Bucks County municipalities, Yardley Borough does not have an earned income tax.
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