Township Taxes to Stay Level; Garbage Fees to Drop

South Whitehall Township Commissioners are expecting to adopt a budget next month that will not increase any taxes or fees.

In fact, township residents can expect their garbage bills to go down in 2014, from $344 per home to $280, thanks to a new three-year agreement with trash hauler J.P. Mascaro, said Township Manager Jon Hammer.

The new trash agreement even provides for more service for residents, providing for curbside pickup of grass clippings during mowing season at no extra charge. This year, residents had to buy $3 stickers to have grass clippings collected, Hammer said.

“We think it’s a good deal for all the residents,” Hammer said.

Commissioners have held three budget sessions, starting with a plan that called for drawing down funds from the capital reserve budget to balance an operating budget with a deficit of more than $500,000.

In October, Hammer cautioned commissioners about continuing to draw down the reserve fund and suggested they consider borrowing to pay for capital expenses in the future and consider adopting a fire tax to pay for fire company equipment.

No new fire tax will be levied in 2014.

“There will be no tax increase in 2014,” Hammer said.

Dale W. Daubert, who chaired Wednesday night's commissioners meeting in the absence of Christina Tori Morgan, asked him to repeat that statement—twice.

The township will be advertising the new budget for adoption at its Dec. 18 meeting, Hammer said. A resolution approving the new lower garbage fee will be on the agenda of the next township commissioners meeting on Dec. 4, he said.