Update: Week of May 11, 2009

GENERAL INFORMATION

Nutter: Philadelphia BRT board must go

The future of the Board of Revision of Taxes provoked a full fledged political battle yesterday, with Mayor Nutter asking board members of the maligned agency to resign. In the wake of a searing investigation by the Inquirer, which revealed a long tradition of mismanagement and flawed property-tax assessments, Nutter yesterday announced what he called the first in a series of steps to reform the BRT. Saying that he needed to "restore trust" in the BRT, Nutter called on board members to resign voluntarily. He also asked City Council to approve legislation that would strip board members of their salaries - between $70,000 and $75,000 a year for part-time work - and move much of the BRT budget under the authority of the city finance director. The BRT board pushed back hard against Nutter's request, saying that they intended to stay on the job, to work on improving the city's property-tax assessment system. Click here to visit the Board Revision of Taxes website.

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 5/8/09



Court ruling on sidewalk ramps could cost the state $820 million

PennDOT expects to spend $820 million over the next decade to rebuild 117,000 sidewalk curb cuts, the result of a lawsuit that argued existing ramps need to be easier to navigate. The state installed 117,000 curb ramps between 1992 and 1995, but in 2007 the U.S. District Court in Erie ruled that PennDOT must upgrade the ramps to new standards that comply with the Americans for Disabilities Act. Local municipalities could face the same problem, as local government officials have been notified by the Department of Transportation that they must abide by federal law and stay informed on design criteria. PennDOT plans to use $21.3 million in federal stimulus funds to upgrade ramps statewide, which must include a less-steep grade and include small bumps called truncated domes to aid the visually impaired and slow wheelchairs. According to bids received by PennDOT, each ramp could cost $4,000 to $5,000 and will be reconstructed as PennDOT performs roadway resurfacing.

Source: The Intelligencer; 5/6/09







BUCKS COUNTY



Tight budget for Neshaminy forces board to look for cuts

Neshaminy School Board officials continue to revise a potential budget for the 2009-2010 school year. With the district facing a $14 million deficit for the coming year, officials must either make significant cuts to the budget or raise taxes above the Act 1 limit of 4.1 percent. Possible cuts could include: eliminating 65 positions; imposing a “pay to play” policy for student activities; canceling the district’s summer work program; and consolidating schools. The district does expect to receive approximately $1.5 million in stimulus funds, but even implementing all the possible budget cuts combined with stimulus money, the district will face a $2.5 million deficit.

Source: Newtown Advance; 5/7/09



Yardley Council yet to vote for proposed Country Club development project

Talks continued at a recent Yardley Borough Council meeting about a proposed development project on a piece of the Yardley Country Club property off of Reading Avenue . Holding up the decision is a disagreement about a fee for stormwater management for a portion of the property. About 68,000 square-feet of the Country Club property is to be developed into two residential duplexes and one single home. Of the 68,000 square-feet, 11,000 square feet must be designated as open space.

Source: The Yardley News; 4/30/09



Morrisville district residents won’t see tax increase

The Morrisville School Board passed the $18.9 million preliminary budget on April 29 without a tax increase for the 2009-2010 school year. Even with the possible permanent closing or sale of M.R. Reiter Elementary School , the budget will not require a tax increase, as other expenditures were reduced. M.R. Reiter was closed earlier this year due to a furnace explosion. Without a tax increase, the school tax bill for the average assessed property of $18,000 would remain at $3,371 with the millage rate holding at 187.3 mills.

Source: The Yardley News; 5/7/09



Palisades homeowners should expect tax increase

Palisades School Board members voted to accept the $17.8 million proposed budget this week. The proposed budget includes a tax millage increase from 100 mills to 104.1 mills, and is less than a preliminary plan that would have included a school construction exception that would have raised the rate to 105.6 mills. On average, homeowners in Palisades can expect a tax increase of $141.27 unless they signed up for the state’s rebate program. In that case, residents could see an estimated $221.68shaved off their tax bills, an amount that would save the average homeowner $80.41 overall.

Source: The Intelligencer; 5/7/09





CHESTER COUNTY



Phoenixville school officials tighten budget

After being told by the Phoenixville Area School Board to make additional cuts to the budget, Superintendent Terry Mancini presented a plan that was characterized as "very tight." The budget, an increase of 3.14 percent from last year's spending plan, reduces the tax increase from 2.36 percent, or 0.69 mills, to 1.93 percent, or 0.5 mills. The administrators, both of whom are acting on an interim basis, also offered suggestions to further reduce the budget, although they emphasized they were not recommending them. After reviewing the suggestions and the changes to the budget, the board decided it would attempt to approve a preliminary budget at a May 14 workshop and make the budget available to the public within the mandated timeline for approval.

Source: Daily Local; 5/6/09



Upper Uwchlan looking to replace township manager

A seven-member committee, which has been tasked to find a new township manager after longtime manager John Roughan Jr. was fired in March, met for the first time last week. In addition, the township has hired Daniel Olpere of Local Government Management Services LLC to act as a consultant to the search committee, which is made up of township residents. The search committee will meet three times. The first meeting, which took place April 28, was to gather background data for recruitment. The second meeting will be to review applicants and the third will be to conduct interviews. There is currently not a set date for when the committee has to present its recommendations to the board.

Source: Daily Local, 5/7/09



Mushroom hearings continue to attract crowds in London Grove Township

An ongoing conditional-use hearing for a large-scale mushroom-growing facility on the 115-acre White Horse Farm off West London Grove Road in London Grove Township continues to attract standing-room-only crowds. About 70 to 100 people have attended each of the six hearings over the last five months, during which details of the new facility proposed by Superior Growers LP were discussed. The next hearing is scheduled for May 21. Eventually, township supervisors will decide whether to allow the new facility and under what conditions.

Source: Avon Grove Sun; 5/7/09









DELAWARE COUNTY



Billboard battle enters Haverford front

Thursday marked Round 1 of the Bartkowski versus Haverford Township billboard battle, held before the Haverford Township Zoning Hearing Board at Lynne wood Elementary School . A crowd of about 150 to 200 residents turned out from neighboring communities as well as Haverford. With two proposed billboards at 600 and 658 Lancaster Ave. in Bryn Mawr, Lower Merion Township has taken a stand against the supersized signs, and authorized attorney William Kerr to participate in the hearing. In addition to the Lancaster Avenue locations, the Bartkowski Investment Group wants to develop three more billboards at 2040, 1157 and 1330 West Chester Pike in Havertown. The double-face signs would measure 672 square feet and range in height from 52 feet to 77 feet. The company is also attempting to construct additional billboards in Marple, Springfield and, most recently, in Morton. The hearing will resume at 7:30 p.m., June 4 at Lynne wood.

Source: Daily Times; 5/8/09



Franklin Mint plan unveiled in Middletown

A conceptual plan for development of the 150-acre former Franklin Mint property was shown for the first time to Middletown Council’s Land Planning Committee. The proposed lifestyle center concept to be considered is similar to the community plan that was developed by the charrette process, a week of meetings with residents and the business community that took place in August 2008. Although the new plan “has been refined,” according to Victor Dover of Dover Kohl & Partners, facilitators of the charrette, the proposed density is unchanged. The plan to be filed by the development team has been downscaled to show 980 residential units, 230,000 square feet of office space, 798,000 square feet of commercial use and a 225-room hotel. The focus of development would be Mint Hill, with the fronts of buildings facing West Baltimore Pike. Residents are invited to an Open House at the Mint, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on May 20 to examine the proposed plan and talk one-on-one with the developers. More information also is available at www.planningfranklin.com.

Source: Daily Times; 5/5/09



Southeast Delco approves budget draft

The Southeast Delco school board approved its proposed final budget for the 2009-10 school year, which calls for a 1.7 mill tax increase. The hike would add about $119 to the school tax for homes assessed at $70,000. Despite this year’s increase, the tax bill for next year will still be $169 lower than their 2006 tax bill because the state will disburse gaming funds at the same level as last year, said district business manager Rick Henderson. The final budget will be voted on at the board meeting on May 28.

Source: Daily Times; 5/5/09



Radnor to approve 3.9 percent tax hike

The Radnor Township Board of School Directors on Saturday expressed satisfaction with a proposed final budget of $74.5 million that would carry a 3.9 percent real estate tax increase for the 2009-2010 fiscal year.

The 3.902 mills per one hundred dollars of assessed valuation increase would bring the millage rate to 20.2731 mils for the 2009-10 fiscal year from its current rate of 19.5118 mils. While expenditures are healthy and on target, revenues are not, according to school district officials. In January, school board members said that they wanted a budget that carried no more than a 4.1-percent tax increase, so the administration has since gone on a cost-cutting effort that includes eliminating late-day busses at Radnor's high school and middle school. Click here to access the final budget presentation.

Source: Main Line Suburban Life; 5/6/09






MONTOGMERY COUNTY



Souderton refinances to the tune of $675,000 in savings

The Souderton Area School Board voted to approve two measures to refinance two bond issues, saving the district $675,000 in interest payments. One action was for $14.4 million worth of bonds that restructured the debt service on bonds issued through 2001 and 2004. The second measure was for $8.2 million that restructures the debt on a series of 2003 bonds. These measures, combined with earlier debt restructuring measures by the board, will save the district close to $2.5 million.

Source: The Intelligencer; 5/7/09



Hatboro-Horsham hears recommendations for school closures

The Hatboro-Horsham School Board held a meeting this week to hear recommendations on how it should deal with declining enrollment and whether schools should be closed. Faced with declining enrollment, the board must make decisions based on population trends, enrollment patterns, building capabilities and other factors. Previous discussions have included the possible closing of Pennypack Elementary School in Hatboro, which educates 266 students in kindergarten through fifth grade. There are five elementary schools in the district that were involved in a study to determine possible solutions, and a separate study is being conducted for Keith Valley Middle School . To date, the district has only decided to close Limekiln-Simmons School in Horsham, which houses about 130 kindergartners.

Source: The Intelligencer; 5/4/09



Residents, officials attend Routes 611 & 263 corridor open house

The Delaware Valley regional Planning Commission hosted an open house at the Upper Moreland Township Building this week that highlighted a two-year study aimed at improving the Routes 611 & 263 corridor. Community residents in attendance were given a sticker to place on the project they deemed most important; there were approximately 15 projects on display. The Willow Grove Redevelopment Project received the most stickers. According to the Willow Grove Redevelopment Board, the project improvements are projected to cost upwards of $500,000 and include updating the area surrounding the train station, and possibly relocating the train station. The multi-municipal effort included Upper Moreland, Hatboro, Abington, Jenkintown and Cheltenham , and ultimately aims to revitalize the corridor.

Source: The Public Spirit; 5/7/09