Politics & Government

Mayor's Proposed Budget Cuts Homeowner Grants to $100

Finance manager said grants needed to be cut or taxes raised.

 

Bensalem Mayor Joseph DiGirolamo recently proposed a 2012 budget to township council without a tax hike for property owners. That’s good news, right? Maybe not.

The $65 million spending plan would cut the popular -funded homeowner assistance grants from $300 to $100. This move will likely not be very popular.

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According to Bensalem finance manager Jack McGinley, the township had to reduce the grants or find another way to pay for them, which could have included a “tax increase.”

“There are 15,000 homeowners in Bensalem,” the finance manager said, noting township is saving about $3 million by reducing the grants. The township receives $11.1 million from the casino, McGinley said.

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The mayor could not be reached for comment Monday, but he told PhillyBurbs that raising taxes didn't make sense.

“Why would we take people’s money just to give it back to them?," he asked.

McGinley told Patch the township has seen jumps in operating expenses including contractual increases particularly in the police department. He said the township as also been cutting expenses in every department.

McGinley said the proposed budget would maintain the current tax rate of 19.5 mils. He explained that the average Bensalem home, assessed at approximately $22,000, would continue to pay a little more than $400 in municipal tax. Local market values are about 10 times assessed values, McGinley said.

 If you have comments or questions regarding the budget, a public hearing is planned for Dec. 5 at 7:30 p.m. in the council meeting room at Bensalem Municipal Complex, 2400 Byberry Road.

The mayor’s proposed budget is attached to this story as a PDF document.


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