Politics & Government

Horsham 2014 Budget to Keep Taxes Flat

Horsham intends to tackle road paving, park upgrades and more in 2014.

Even with a budget that is proposed to be $1 million more than last year, the Horsham Township Council is poised to hold the line on municipal taxes for 2014. 

Township Manager Bill Walker this week presented the governing body with an overview of the $15.1 million spending plan, which maintains the township's 1-mill tax rate. 

For the owner of a single family home assessed at the township average of $177,000, that amounts to $177 in taxes. 

Aside from raising municipal taxes in 2002 as part of a voter-approved referendum to fund the Horsham Library, the township has not raised taxes since 1989. 

Walker said elected officials are "doing what residents expect us to do" in terms of maintaining infrastructure, services and fixing roads. 

For 2014, Horsham expects to:

  • Complete its long-awaited Kohler Park project, which included a new playground, new pavilion and new restrooms
  • Switch 83 street lights on Route 611, in Meetinghouse Village, Woods Edge and Hidden Creek Estates to LED lights
  • Replace three police vehicles
  • Complete the purchase of police firearms
  • Replace the police department server
  • Pave the Oak Terrace development, Cedar Hill Road (from Squires Road to Horsham Road, Park Valley Road (Valley View Estates to County Line Road) and Virginia Lane
  • Carry out a storm sewer project on Cedar Hill Road
  • Replace a 10-ton dump truck
In terms of projects that Horsham is looking to carry out, Walker said replacing the repeater for radio system, electrical upgrade and connectivity to its garage, repairs to Kohler Park's hockey court and the replacement of the pond aerator in Kohler Park are proposed.

Other projects include renovating the limestone trails, instaling al trail behind Horsham Fire Co. firehouse to Kohler Park, adding security features at the township building, replacing the ADA ramp at the township building, moving forward on the Route 611 corridor plan and an update of Horsham's zoning ordinance.

For 2014, the township anticipates a 9 percent increase in the real estate transfer tax, as well as a 9 percent increase in the earned income tax, according to a power point presentation that Walker presented. Horsham is also anticipating a 7 percent increase in building permits for the coming year. 

Those potential revenue increases will help to offset a 10 percent hike in health care, as well as a 65 percent increase in workers compensation insurance, according to the presentation.

In addition, Walker said Horsham will begin paying the $6,000 cost for modems in police cars and another $6,000 toward Horsham's share of a SWAT team consortium. Previously, those costs were covered by the county and the Department of Homeland Security, respectively.

"We're still in a slow recovery," Walker said, adding that Horsham businesses are "watchful and cautious."

Horsham's 2014 budget is slated for adoption on Dec. 11.


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