GENERAL INFORMATION
Education stimulus spending outlined
Under Gov. Rendell's proposal for spending federal education stimulus money, Philadelphia schools would stand to get $361 million in additional funding next school year, and suburban districts would get a total of $88 million in new funding. That money is part of $1.1 billion in stimulus money that Pennsylvania would spend on assorted education programs starting in July, according to a plan released by the state Department of Education. About a third of that money would go directly to a handful of programs targeted to low-income students and special education. Rendell wants to designate the rest of the money - totaling $728 million - to two broad programs. One would supplement the state's regular education funding, which otherwise could face cuts reflecting the poor state of economy. The other would represent new money that districts could use on a variety of programs, including classroom instruction, school renovations, and technology upgrades. It could also be used to make up for any lost school-tax revenue. Many districts around Philadelphia would not be in line to receive sizable funding increases from the infusion of stimulus money, however. Because most stimulus allocations would be weighted toward poorer districts, prosperous ones would not get much. About half of the 64 suburban districts, for example, would get less than $1 million. Click here to see the level of stimulus spending for local school districts.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 3/12/09
Galloway, Melio, Petri propose school tax convention
Legislation proposed by Rep. John Galloway, D-141, Rep. Tony Melio, D-140 and Rep. Scott Petri, R-178 takes aim at Pennsylvania ’s “ineffective and unfair” system of school taxes. The bill was introduced on Feb. 27 and proposes a constitutional convention in 2010 with the objective to “develop a statewide education funding system that supports the principles of equity, adequacy, efficiency, accountability and predictability” according to Galloway .
Source: The Intelligencer; 3/11/09
BUCKS COUNTY
Current economy yields more open space in Bucks
Bucks County planners have noted that the current state of the economy has resulted in more opportunities for open space preservation for municipalities throughout the county. As the economy has slowed, so has the demand for development rights, opening up possibilities for more open space. Plumstead Township recently purchased 59 acres for preservation for $796,500. With help from Bucks County and state preservation grants, the township has another 50-acre horse farm under agreement. Buckingham Township has preserved more than 1,000 acres in the past decade and has taken a proactive approach to open space preservation: the agricultural preservation committee sent out letters to landowners with 20 or more acres, inviting them to a meeting to learn more about land preservation. About 15 landowners responded, and nine attended the meeting. Countywide, the demand for new construction decreased 54 percent from 2007 to 2008, with just 826 housing units reviewed by the Bucks County Planning Commission in 2008, the lowest level since 1970.
Source: The Intelligencer; 3/10/09
Quakertown looks to cut athletic budget
In an attempt to decrease a $3.5 million budget deficit in the 2009-2010 preliminary budget, an Athletics Committee at Quakertown School District was commissioned to find ways to cut athletic expenses by 20 percent. The current athletic budget stands at about $650,000 and the committee, made up of administrators, teachers, coaches and parents will weigh all possibilities while striving to maintain opportunities for middle and high school students and ensuring their safety on the field. In February, the school board approved an $86.9 million preliminary budget that would increase taxes by 5.8 percent, or $211 for the average homeowner.
Source: The Intelligencer 3/13/09
Police in 14 municipalities to get over $457,000 in federal grants
Fourteen Bucks County municipalities are slated to receive grant money provided by the recently-passed American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, through the Department of Justice’s Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant for state and local law enforcement. Overall, the Recovery Act contains more than $4 billion for law enforcement and criminal justice activities. Bensalem will receive the largest grant in Bucks County - $77,549. Most police forces will use the grants for more officers, gang and drug crime prevention, technology upgrades and communications.
Source: The Intelligencer; 3/8/09
CHESTER COUNTY
Gas company pursues eminent domain for pipeline
Williams Transco, the natural gas giant who has a project to replace a seven-mile section of their pipeline in the county, has started condemnation proceedings against 36 property owners who have not accepted offers made for their land. The company will be filing a joint motion expressing its need for immediate access. The action was criticized by legislators who have sought to help residents whose property is being severely affected by the natural gas company's desire for additional right-of-way for the project. The county is crisscrossed with existing pipelines by eight different companies that bring natural gas, liquid gas or other petroleum products through 62 of Chester County 's 73 municipalities. Currently, at least three natural gas companies have new pipeline or pipeline expansion projects going on in the county.
Source: Daily Local; 3/11/09
East Vincent looking to keep growth in check
Due to an unforeseen zoning flaw, residential development was gravitating toward the areas most desirable for preservation, according to township officials. Last month, residents listened to a presentation on East Vincent's open space design option. Township Planner Ray Ott explained that this ordinance — updated in 2002 — was actually steering builders to areas zoned rural conservation and agricultural preservation.
The basic premise of transferable development rights, or TDRs, is to steer higher density development to targeted, desirable areas, while preserving farmland and open space in other areas. While several Chester County townships use TDRs as a planning tool, only New Hanover in Montgomery County has a current policy.
Source: Pottsmerc; 3/9/09
PASD's 'tightest budget' to get tighter
The school board voted for even deeper cuts in the budget. Dr. Terry Mancini, Acting Superintendent of the Phoenixville Area School District , had proposed a 2009-2010 total budget of $73,992,000, a 2.60 percent increase over this current year. That would have translated into a 2.36 percent budget-to-budget property tax increase (compared to 7.30 percent increase last year) and a proposed millage increase of 0.61 (compared to last year's increase of 1.45 mils), for a total proposed millage of 26.50. A mil represents an amount of property tax for every $1,000 of that property's assessed valuation.
Source: The Phoenix ; 3/11/09
East Vincent to purchase part of Pennhurst site
For the price of $1, the township will likely purchase 72 to 74 acres of the former Pennhurst property for future use as open space. Future use will involve both active and passive open space, said Supervisor Christine McNeil. Buildings are not part of the township's purchase, she said. This agreement comes just over one year after a private group purchased a 111-acre portion of Pennhurst State School and Hospital from Pennsylvania . The commercial partnership, headed by Richard Chakejian, has not yet brought development plans to East Vincent.
Source: Daily Local; 3/10/09
DELAWARE COUNTY
Discounted flood insurance is available in Parkside
Borough Engineer Lisa Catania is urging all residents who live near Chester Creek or its tributaries to update their flood-insurance coverage, before new state-drawn flood plain maps go into effect. The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) will be adopting a new Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) this spring. Flood-insurance rates based on this map will then be adjusted accordingly. At-risk property owners would need to inspect the new map to determine whether a given lot will be inside or outside the designated flood plain. An enlarged copy of the revised FIRM will be hung in the hallway of the municipal building ( 22 E. Elbon Road ) for public inspection.
Source: Daily Times; 03/12/09
Rose Tree Media lowers proposed tax increase
The revised millage rate increase for Rose Tree Media now is 4.81 percent, which equates to an increase of $239.62 for a property assessed at an average $236,106. The preliminary budget adopted by the board Jan. 22 called for a 6.33 percent millage hike to balance. This meant $315.53 more in school taxes for the coming year. District Superintendent Denise Kerr indicated the millage increase could be reduced even more. She said town meetings on the budget will take place at Springton Lake Middle School and Penncrest High School , as well as in various retirement communities. There also will be a budget work session 7:30 p.m. March 23, which is open to the public. If a second session is necessary, it would be 7 p.m. April 16. A final budget won’t be put to a vote of the board until its June meeting.
Source: Daily Times; 3/11/09
Middletown residents express displeasure with new Mint plan
Middletown Council and the public got their first look at a conceptual plan for development of the former 150-acre Franklin Mint property Monday night. Victor Dover, of Dover, Kohl & Partners, the facilitator for the charrette planning process — a week of community discussions that took place in August 2008 — reported on the charrette and the plan that arose from it to a standing-room-only audience that overflowed into the township building vestibule and out into the parking lot. It drew mixed response. The concept for development has been scaled back from a previous Franklin Town Center plan presented by the development team in 2006. That plan showed 1,300 residential units, 230,000 square feet of office space, 1.4 million square feet of commercial space and a 300-room hotel. It was soundly rejected by council. The new concept is roughly two-thirds this size. It calls for 980 housing units, 230,000 square feet of office space, 798,000 square feet of commercial space and a 225-room hotel. Most people who spoke raised concerns about the impact of a modified town center on existing traffic and businesses in the township, including the nearby already struggling Granite Run Mall. Density was a concern as well. “There are many more meetings ahead before a plan is filed with the township. Councilman Mark Kirchgasser urged residents to contact their council representative with any questions.
Source: Daily Times; 3/10/09
Vacancy on Marcus Hook Borough Council
A vacancy exists for a council person at large in the Borough of Marcus Hook. Residents of the Borough interested in serving on the Borough Council should submit their letter of interest to Bruce A. Dorbian, Borough Manager/Secretary, 10th & Green Streets, Marcus Hook, PA 19061. This information must be received no later than the close of business on March 24, 2009.
Source: Daily Times; 03/12/2009
MONTOGMERY COUNTY
Upper Merion approved for highway grant
The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, the agency that distributes the federal stimulus funds for the region, has approved Upper Merion Townships Expressway ramps to receive a grant for $14.5 million. The project, which cost the township $2 million in preparation, could begin construction as early as this summer.
Source: Times Herald; 3/8/09
Upper Moreland eyes $11 million in stimulus funding for roadway improvements
Township Commissioners approved moving forward with an application for three road projects on Upper Moreland ’s wish list at a tune of $11 million. A $3 million project would add an extra lane onto the turnpike entrance ramp from southbound Route 611, which would require re-construction of the bridge over the ramp. A second proposal would widen and add a lane on Welsh Road between Twining and Blair Mill Roads at an estimated cost of $5 million. The third proposed project would widen the Terwood Road-Davisville Road intersection with an expected cost of $3 million.
Source: The Intelligencer; 3/10/09
Montgomery Township wants land appraisal for 13.7 acres slated for parkway
Officials in Montgomery Township are wary of recent offers from the state Department of Transportation for two parcels within the township slated for construction of the Route 202 parkway. PennDOT has offered Montgomery Township $137,000 for a 13.7-acre tract along Horsham Road , but township officials have ordered an appraisal to determine the land’s worth in today’s market. PennDOT has also offered the township $850,000 for six acres on County Line Road between Upper State and Stump Roads, a tract less than half the size of the Horsham Road parcel. In February, Montgomery sold two small parcels to PennDOT for $31,500, bringing the total right-of-way sales for the parkway to $257,000 since December 2007. The approximately nine-mile, $200 million parkway will connect Route 63 in Montgomery Township with Route 611 in Doylestown Township . The entire road is expected to be completed in 2011.
Source: The Intelligencer; 3/13/09
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