The township government of North Whitehall plans to raise taxes on residents in the upcoming year in order to make up for inflation, growing expenses, and expanded fire department requirements.
The township's 2025 municipal budget, which was announced at the Board of Supervisors meeting on Monday, includes a 0.45-mill fire tax and a 0.15-mill increase in general property taxes. The current tax collection, which is $780,000, according to municipal officials, only has roughly 85% of the purchasing power of the tax levy from 2011, the year of the township's last property tax increase.
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According to Township Finance Director Seth O'Neill, North Whitehall will be able to invest in the township to the same extent that it did prior to the last tax hike as a result of the tax increase. "With this [current] tax rate, we are not able to buy what we used to be able to buy," O'Neil remarked. The township's health insurance provider hike, debt service for renovating the municipal offices, growing expenses, and the termination of American Rescue Plan Act financing were among the specific reasons given by officials.
Notable appointments included those in public works, finance, and zoning, as well as the township's ongoing expansion. Township Manager Randy Cope stated, "I will say, in 17, 18, years of local government, this is certainly one of the hardest budgets we have worked on for a lot of reasons." In 2025, there would be a 0.65 mill general property tax, with an additional 1.2 mills for the agricultural preservation and fire taxes. Compared to the previous 0.5 mill general property tax and 0.1 mil agricultural preservation tax, that is an increase of more than 100%.
A $236,000 median-value household would see an annual tax rise of almost $140 as a result. According to O'Neil, the township's property tax levy is lower than that of neighboring South Whitehall, which is 2.85 mills, and on par with or less than that of other nearby townships including Weisenberg, Lower Milford, and Lowhill.
In addition, the township levies a $52 yearly local services tax, a 0.1 mill farmland preservation tax, and a 1% earned income tax, the proceeds of which are divided between the township and the Parkland School District.
During public discussion, planning commission member Brian Horwith stated, "I think we have underinvested."
"We have realized that if we do not address this now, it will only become worse. If we do not make the necessary investments, in five years we will be in much more of a hole and will not be able to fund things." The supervisors also agreed to publicize a codified version of the street light assessment, which currently costs $45 annually for residential properties situated within 250 feet of a street light.
The budget presentation states that it is expected to raise $250,000 in general fund revenue for the township, permit the hire of a township planner, and boost the amount contributed to the township capital investment funds. A $280,000 general fund surplus is budgeted, and according to O'Neil, that amount will go toward the equipment fund for upcoming fleet purchases that will be necessary.
Sixty percent of the general budget is set aside for payroll taxes, benefits, insurance, and wages. The supervisors' meeting on November 4 is scheduled to approve the budget. In its initial year of implementation, the fire tax is expected to generate $187,000 for the township's emergency services capital fund.
Authorities cited a Lehigh County order requiring fire departments to modernize their communications systems. Speaking at the meeting, representatives of the fire department stated that the new tax was necessary since both the improvements and the county's impending need for new fire engines will be expensive for them as it moves toward a modern digital system.
Other towns, including Upper Milford Township, have also struggled to find the money to support their fire services due to a reduction in volunteers and a lack of donations. Numerous localities made the decision to impose some kind of fire tax. According to Jim Steward, chief of Neffs Fire Company, only roughly one in four homes presently makes donations to the local fire companies.
According to O'Neill, the additional funds would also help with the anticipated hire of a township fire inspector.