Update: Week of June 8, 2009

GENERAL INFORMATION

Property tax rebate deadline extended

The deadline to apply for Pennsylvania ’s Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program for older adults and residents with disabilities has been extended from June 30 to December 31. The rebate program benefits eligible Pennsylvanians who are age 65 and older; widows and widowers age 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older. A 2006 program expansion increased the income limit from $15,000 to $35,000 (which excludes half of Social Security income) for homeowners and raises the maximum standard rebate for both homeowners and renters from $500 to $650. The program expansion also provides for supplemental property tax rebates of up to $325 - on top of the standard rebates - to homeowners in Philadelphia , Pittsburgh , and Scranton ; and to those in other parts of the state who pay more than 15 percent of income on property taxes. Property Tax/Rent Rebate claim forms (PA-1000) and information are available online at www.PaPropertyTaxRelief.com and by calling 1-888-222-9190. Forms and assistance also are available at Department of Revenue district offices (listed in the government section of telephone directories), local Area Agencies on Aging, senior centers and state legislators’ offices.

Source: Daily Times; 6/3/09



Urban Land Institute Philadelphia hosts “Urban Marketplace: Investing for Impact” forum

The Urban Land Institute will host a day-long forum convening the private, public and community development sectors of the region’s real estate industry to promote investment opportunities and development strategies to revitalize urban and suburban neighborhoods and corridors on Thursday, June 25 at the Union League. Visit http://philadelphia.uli.org/events.aspx for more information. Registration for this event is $175 for non-members before June 18.




BUCKS COUNTY



Palisades passes budget with $141 tax hike

Palisades school board members passed the final budget of $36.4 million for the 2009-2010 school year, which will include a property tax increase of $141 for the average property owner. The board voted unanimously to increase taxes from 100 mills to 104.1 mills. Residents who signed up for the state’s tax rebate program will see $221 reduced from their tax bills, saving an average of $80.

Source: The Intelligencer; 6/4/09



Pedestrian accessibility grants awarded to Chalfont

Chalfont officials report that the borough has received nearly $1.2 million in grants for pedestrian accessibility construction in the Route 202 area. New cross-borough sidewalks, crosswalks and curbing leading toward Pine Run Elementary School will be paid for with nearly $720,000 in federal Safe Routes to School funds. Another grant program, the Pennsylvania Community Transportation Initiative, offers $463,500 for two new parking areas, trails, and a pedestrian bridge connecting two parks in the southern part of town. Chalfont’s projects were among 50 “smart transportation” and 30 “Safe Routes to School” efforts statewide selected for funding, according to Gov. Rendell’s office.

Source: The Intelligencer; 6/3/09



Pennridge approves $98 tax increase

The Pennridge School Board passed a $109.1 million final budget for 2009-2010 which will raise taxes by about $98 for the average homeowner in the district. The property tax millage was increased by 2.53 percent – or 2.95 mills – to 119.55 mlls. For a home assessed at the district’s median of $30,400, annual property taxes would be $3,634. The 2009-2010 budget exceeds the 2008-2009 budget by about $1 million.

Source: The Intelligencer; 6/2/09



Perkasie and Quakertown join forces to seek stimulus funds for streetlights

Together, Perkasie and Quakertown hope to secure $1.5 million in grant money from the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority to save money on streetlights. The grant application outlines the boroughs’ attempt to replace the streetlight bulbs with energy-efficient LEDs. Perkasie plans to replace all 880 of its streetlights, and the state grant would cover 75 percent of the $969,674 price tag. Quakertown has about 1,200 streetlights, but borough officials doubt that Quakertown’s half of the grant money will cover every lamppost. The boroughs expects to save about 50 percent of their energy consumption, since the 175-watt lights that make up the majority of the lighting could be replaced by LEDs that only use 33 to 50 watts of energy to get the same brightness. Additionally, LED lights last longer than traditional bulbs; for streetlights, LEDs have a life expectancy of 20 years.

Source: The Intelligencer; 6/3/09







CHESTER COUNTY



Pennsbury to vote on open-space funding

Voters in Pennsbury will be asked to approve a 0.79 mill real estate tax for open space on the fall ballot. This would replace the 0.45 mill real estate and 1.88 percent earned income tax that currently support open space preservation efforts. Those with a home assessed at $100,000 would pay $34 toward open space. The mean real estate tax increase would be around $70. Meanwhile, the earned income tax rate would be reduced by 1.88 percent. As an example, those earning $50,000 would see that tax drop by $94.

Source: Daily Local; 6/1/09



Great Valley approves final budget

Residents living in the Great Valley School District will see a tax increase of 1.7 percent next year. In April, the board approved the preliminary budget at $76.1 million, which included a 1.8 percent increase over last year. Administrators and the finance committee worked to refine the tentative budget over the past two months. This is the lowest tax increase the district has seen in 25 years. A 1.7 percent hike would raise the tax rate to 18.22 mills, with one mill equal to $1 in tax for every $1,000 in assessed property value. An average taxpayer with a home in the district assessed for tax purposes at $228,900 would therefore generate a school property tax bill of $4,171 — an increase of $69 over the prior year. Residents with approved homestead exemptions will be eligible for tax credits from the state's gaming revenue. The rebate in Great Valley this year is $124 which is based on the 2009-10 gaming allocation released by the state on May 1, according to district officials.

Source: Daily Local; 6/4/09



South Coatesville looking to fill Planning Commission vacancy

The South Coatesville Planning Commission is looking for resident candidates who might like to be appointed to this board. The Planning Commission members meet on the second Monday of each month at 6:30 P.M. to conduct their business. Interested persons may submit their resume to the Borough of South Coatesville at 136 Modena Rd , Coatesville PA 19320.

Source: Daily Local; 6/2/09



Unionville-Chadds Ford to adopt budget

The Unionville-Chadds Ford School Board plans to adopt its final budget for the 2008-2009 fiscal year at the regular public meeting on June 15, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. in the Gymnasium of Pocopson Elementary School, 1105 Pocopson Road , West Chester , PA. The proposed 2009-2010 budget includes revenues of $69,579,003 and expenditures of $70,049,336. Real estate tax rates supporting this proposed budget are 23.91 mills in Chester County and 20.97 mills in Delaware County . A copy of the proposed 2009-2010 budget is available for review on the District's website at www.ucfsd.org .







DELAWARE COUNTY



Marple Newtown budget calls for 4.1 percent hike

The Marple Newtown School Board recently approved the proposed final budget for the 2009-2010 school year. The board voted 6-2 in favor of the $58.2 million budget and 4.1 percent increase, raising the rate from 14.5367 to 15.1327 mills. Based on the previous year’s average assessment of $249,218 for homes within the district, the typical tax bill would be $3,771, an increase of $148. Many homeowners would have slightly lower bills due to the rebate provided by the Homestead Act.

Source: Daily Times; 6/3/09



SEPTA ready to renovate its regional rail stations

SEPTA will be making major renovations to 17 Regional Rail stations in Delaware County as more than 50 of its 151 stations in the region will be replaced, repaired or repainted in the next five years.

The total cost is about $240 million, of which $37 million will come from federal stimulus money while the remainder will be funded by state and federal aid. The Villanova R5 Station historic reconstruction project will be the most costly — $21.8 million earmarked for station rehabilitation and high platforms. Enhancements to the Wayne R5 Station in Radnor will include historic preservation and a high-level platform to improve accessibility. The Secane Station project in Upper Darby involves completely renewing the facilities. Pre-cast continuous high-level passenger platforms and stairs and ramps compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act to access the high-level platforms will be constructed. On the inbound side, a station building with a canopy will be installed. On the outbound side, a passenger shelter will be built and improvements will be made at the existing grade crossing at Providence Road . The SEPTA board also approved rehabilitating and painting the Morton and Clifton-Aldan R3 stations on the Media-Elwyn line. Other stations that will see improvements are the Primos R3, Folcroft R2, Clifton-Aldan R3, Morton R3, Marcus Hook R2, Eddystone R2, Crum Lynne R2, Ridley Park R2, Prospect Park R2, Norwood R2, Glen Olden R2, Sharon Hill R2, Curtis Park R2 and Darby R2.

Source: Daily Times; 5/30/09



Garnet Valley School Board approves proposed final budget

The Garnet Valley School Board approved the proposed final budget for the school district. The proposed budget includes a tax increase of 2.37 mills which equates to about $73 for residents of Concord and Chester Heights and about $77 for residents of Bethel . The final adoption of the budget is scheduled for the June 23 meeting of the school board. The proposed fiscal spending plan is available on the web at www.garnetvalleyschools.com or by visiting the district administration office.

Source: CountyPressOnline; 5/27/09








MONTGOMERY COUNTY



Commissioners choose county economic director

Current Rendell administration official Kenneth Klothen was chosen by the County Commissioners out of a pool of 30 candidates for the county position of economic development director. Klothen, currently the state deputy secretary for Community Affairs and Development, could be approved at the June 11 commissioners’ meeting, which would put him in the position of “lead deal maker” for Montgomery County revitalization projects. The job would include leveraging deals that will transform the aging commercial areas such as Norristown ’s Lafayette Street Corridor. Last month, commissioners approved economic development guidelines for the first year of the $105 million plan that calls for spending $20 million on revitalization programs in 2009. A total of $14 million would go to the Renaissance Fund for major redevelopment projects in Norristown and Pottstown , with most of the money coming from loans. The plan also includes a Central Business District Fund to improve other downtown areas in the county, and a Business Location Fund to attract new businesses to areas slated for revitalization. Additionally, a Workforce Fund would train workers and help them secure jobs in the region.

Source: Times Herald; 6/1/09



Pottstown seeks stimulus funding for bus depot

As part of the federal stimulus bill, Pottstown became eligible for $1.1 million in transit funding, $600,000 of which went toward the purchase of two new buses for the Pottstown Area Rapid Transit, or PART. The borough wants to use the remaining money for a project that would transform the little used area adjacent to the old Reading Railroad station platform and tracks into the borough’s new bus depot. Borough Council must approve the funding application, a vote that will likely take place on Monday, June 8. Currently, PART’s five bus lines use the intersection of High and Hanover streets as their hub, but residents have complained about the traffic congestion it brings.

Source: The Pottstown Mercury; 6/5/09



Ardmore Station public meeting scheduled in Lower Merion

In person visits from the township manager and project developer have kicked-off the next phase of the Ardmore Station and downtown redevelopment in Ardmore . Developer Carl Dranoff, of Dranoff Properties, presented several options for the redevelopment plan on June 4. The options can be found on the Lower Merion Township website www.lowermerion.org. The presentation includes pros and cons of each parking option. The public will have a chance to comment at the second meeting scheduled for June 10 at 6 p.m. in the Board Room of the Lower Merion Township Building , 75 E. Lancaster Ave. , Ardmore .