2008 BUDGET MESSAGE

The approved 2008 budget allocation of real estate taxes is as follows:

                                                   General Fund:                 3.85 Mills

                                     Road Machinery Fund:                 .40 Mills

                                                                 Total:              4.25  Mills

The 2007 year held a new challenge for us in the form of a Curative Amendment.  By now, we are confident that everyone is aware of this process.  We do plan to defend our Zoning Ordinance and keep our Industrial Zoned property in tact.  It will not be an easy or quick process.  In fact, it will probably take years.  With your support and patience, we will continue on the path our residents want. 

The 2007 year also brought a unique opportunity for Upper Mount Bethel Township.  If you have visited the Municipal Building in the last few years, you have seen that we are bursting at the seams.  As the Township itself has grown, so has the services needed and supplied by the Township.  The availability of the old Eastern Industries property was something we needed to consider.  By purchasing the property, we are able to utilize existing buildings rather than erecting new buildings.  We can revitalize this site and not disturb some other forested and beautiful site.  We are also giving the property a new use and life.  This will be one less commercial/industrial site that sits empty and becomes an eyesore in our community.  This property also contains an immense amount of material we will be able to make use of, saving us $100,000.00 or more on needed road material.  The size of the property will allow us to plan for our current municipal needs and for needs in the years to come.  We have begun the search for a consultant to help us evaluate what our current municipal resources are, what they should be and what resources we will need in the future.  We are looking to plan now in order to make the best use of our dollars.  The land presents many opportunities for many uses – open space, active and passive recreation, fishing, hiking, education, inter-municipal cooperation projects – the list goes on.  All avenues will be explored and taxpayer input is vital to the success of the property and all of our resources. 

There has been no relief for costs for the administration of the Township.  Fuel and road supplies continue to increase at a pace that is staggering.  We continue to concentrate on the most economical ways to achieve our goals.  Comparison pricing, grant sources and working with neighboring municipalities are standard and essential in order to provide the best services possible at an affordable cost.  Even with these philosophies, it is time for our services to grow.  This, in turn, requires our staff to grow.  The bookkeeper position has been increased from part time to full time.  New roads require the addition of another CDL Licensed road department employee.

Our Capital Reserve Fund, which was instituted in 2004 for the purchase of capital improvements, is vital to the growth of the Township and to provide the services required.  Some items included in this fund are for recreation, a new municipal building, emergency services, municipal waste removal and road related items.  Over the last few years, we have put aside funds for the possibility of a Regional Police Force.  Since our residents have told us they prefer to remain with Pennsylvania State Police coverage, we have decided to return some of the funds set aside for police services to our general fund, enabling us to reduce the amount of real estate tax dollars needed for the 2008 year.  The importance of a reserve fund remains significant and we anticipate the balance of the Capital Reserve Fund to be $680,000.00 by the end of 2008.

A few of the major expense items included in the 2008 budget are as follows:

Defense of Marshfield Village Curative Amendment       $ 100,000.00

New Property Mortgage                                                             150,000.00

Additional Building Maintenance                                                    43,000.00

Municipal Resource/Property Planner                                 20,000.00

Additional Employment                                                     92,600.00

Increase in Fuel Costs                                                                    30,000.00

                                                            Total:                            $ 435,600.00

Our Recreation Board continues to work had to provide programs and meet our growing needs.  They are dedicated to maintaining their costs and have increased fundraising as a tool to aid with this very difficult task.  The first annual Community Park Fundraising Picnic was held in 2007 and enabled us to place more than $12,000.00 into our Community Park Planning & Implementation Fund, to be used for the 90 acres.  This is in addition to the $15,000.00 the Recreation Board included in their 2007 budget. 

Financial aspects of the floods of 2004, 2005 and 2006 remain with us today.  We expect FEMA/PEMA funds for recently completed projects in addition to the one remaining project we hope to complete in the 2008 year.  The Operating Reserve Fund we instituted in 2006 remains in tact, should it be required.  These funds are limited to 5% of revenues of the general fund in the current fiscal year.  This fund will provide invaluable financial protection should we be faced with catastrophic emergencies that we just can not anticipate. 

As is our practice, grant applications will be at the top of the priority list.  The expansion of the bookkeeper position will enable us to increase our grant efforts to obtain as many as possible.  Cooperation with our neighboring municipalities is growing.  This is another way we are working to keep your taxes down.

We look forward to a successful and productive 2008.

Maureen Sterner

Township Manager