Horsham Township Manager Shares ‘The State of Horsham’ Address

Horsham Township is doing the same - and in some cases more - with less money. That was the crux of the message that Township Manager Bill Walker communicated during Tuesday’s Greater Horsham Chamber of Commerce luncheon at the Horsham Township Community Center.

On tap for 2011 and beyond are road repairs, completion of the Power Line Trail, upgrades to parks and a possible revitalization of the Route 611 corridor from Blair Mill Road to Dresher/Meetinghouse Road, Walker said. The projects are being carried out with a $12.9 million 2011 budget that reflects $600,000 less in spending, he said.

“It took us back to our 2006 spending levels,” Walker said. “We’re stretching the dollar, stretching the money.”

Part of the township’s success in keeping taxes at the 1.00 millage rate, Walker said, is its adoption of a “pay-as-you-go” plan for more expensive projects, like the $6.5 million police department.

“We save our money for the project and when we have the money, we pay cash,” he said. “We don’t raise taxes for capital projects.”

The exception to this rule is the Horsham Township Library, which was built following a voter referendum to increase taxes, he said.

Horsham business campuses are between 85 and 95 percent occupied, he said. Prior to the meeting, Walker said a “few major employers” could locate to the township, but said he could not disclose more specifics.

About 80 people from various community businesses and nonprofit groups attended the chamber’s luncheon on Tuesday. Mary Dare, Greater Horsham Chamber of Commerce co-founder, said she was “extremely” pleased with the turnout, especially given the poor weather conditions earlier in the day. 

“Other people want to do events like this,” Dare said. “We try to keep our hands everywhere.”

JoAnne Zapata, also a chamber co-founder, encouraged those in attendance to get involved with the community.

“There’s plenty of organizations,” she said.