Horsham Holds Line on Taxes

The Horsham Township Council, , on Wednesday approved a 2012 spending plan that keeps taxes flat.

The $13.5 million budget maintains the current 1 mill tax rate, meaning the owner of a home assessed at the township average of $178,128 would pay $178.13 in real estate taxes.

Township Manager Bill Walker said the township will carry roughly $1.7 million into next year to cover the first few months of the year until taxes start being paid in April. Whatever is left of that money, he said, would be transferred to the capital reserve - a fund that in recent years, covered a new police station, the and upgrades at the fire department.

The governing body also approved reappropriating unexpended funds into its general fund. Walker said those monies would be distributed to accounts that have been overexpended, including the highway fund.

Last winter's caused Horsham to spend more money than had been budgeted.

"We weren't going to let our roads fall apart," Walker said.

The last unknown factor for 2012 is any additional costs associated with , which is still in limbo as officials await a decision from an arbitrator. Walker said money could be moved from the capital reserve fund, if necessary, to cover any added expense beyond what has been budgeted.