From the BCCT.
Council reviews drainage project
By: JAMES MCGINNIS
Bucks County Courier Times
Township officials say the Eddington section needs a drainage basin because its storm system is old. A Democratic activist blamed area flooding on overdevelopment.
At Monday night's Bensalem Council meeting, engineers outlined an early stage plan for a soccer-field-sized drainage basin that could reduce flooding in the Eddington section.
Carroll Engineering representative Thomas Crawley said a 10-foot deep basin located on school property behind Cornwells Elementary School could reduce the flood risk for as many as 850 homes. The basin would be located closest to Cornwells Avenue and Hulmeville Road.
Crawley said it was too early to estimate the cost of the project.
Bensalem would need to first secure the land from the school district. The council took no immediate action Monday night.
Mayor Joseph DiGirolamo said the school board was currently reviewing the plan. DiGirolamo, who ordered the engineering work, said the Eddington basin "is a major project for a major problem."
Carroll Engineering attributed the flooding in the Eddington section to the age of the neighborhood.
Democratic activist Joe Kraher also said part of the problem can be tied to overdevelopment.
Members of council rejected that argument.
Councilman Joseph Szafran and Kraher got into a heated debate over the politics of flooding and development in Bensalem. The argument ended as Council President Ed Kisselback hollered, "Stop! Stop! Stop right now!"
Councilman Bryan Allen, the lone Democrat on the township council, questioned why plans for the Eddington basin were available on the Web site of the Bensalem Republican Executive Committee but not on the township's Web site.
The plans are public information and were offered to the public during a recent school board meeting, Kisselback said. Township officials said they would try to put the plans on the government Web site soon.
April 14, 2009 02:00 AM
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Slots Payoff
From the BCCT.
$200 tax break for Pa. homeowners
Bucks County Courier Times
Pennsylvania homeowners will receive nearly $770 million in property tax relief in 2009 under the latest installment from the historic Taxpayer Relief Act, Gov. Ed Rendell announced Monday.
Almost 2.7 million households' taxes across the state were lowered last year because of gaming revenues and, this year, the average statewide reduction is expected to be nearly $200 again.
That's good news for some local school districts, including Bristol Township, officials said.
"If we are at, or near, what we had last year, I am happy about it," said that district's school board president, W. Earl Bruck. "It will be a big help to taxpayers. I'm encouraged by it."
All Pennsylvania homeowners in 66 counties can receive reductions in the school property tax bills they will receive this summer. The state Department of Education in early May will provide the final figures, which will vary by district depending on how many homeowners signed up for their share of relief.
Other Lower Bucks school administrators, though, said they're hoping the rebate increases.
"Since it is possible that people who had not signed up for the homestead/farmstead exemption previously have now signed up in the past year + the amount of rebate to a taxpayer could be less than last year as we divide our total amount among more taxpayers eligible for the tax relief," said Robert Schoch, director of business administration in Council Rock.
The 2006 Taxpayer Relief Act created the Property Tax Relief Fund as a way to use gaming revenue to reduce property taxes for homeowners, specifically seniors.
Approximately 110,000 Pennsylvania seniors will pay no school property taxes again this year because of the tax relief, and many more will receive rebates of up to $975 in addition to the property tax relief that all homeowners receive. Nearly 580,000 seniors will be eligible for additional relief through the state's expanded Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program.
But many seniors said they'd still like to see more relief.
"Property taxes are the biggest hit seniors on a fixed income take," said Bill Kennedy, a Washington Crossing resident and president of the Bucks County Coalition of Senior Communities. "If you look at the millions taken in from gambling, $200, if we get that, is not very much."
In addition to delivering property tax relief to Pennsylvania homeowners, the law enacted the state's first-ever limits on school boards' ability to raise property taxes. Already this year, more than three in four school districts have reported they are going to keep any property tax increase at or below the rate of inflation. That includes Council Rock.
"In spite of the economic downturn, we are able to maintain the same level of property tax relief in the coming year that homeowners are receiving right now," Rendell said. "That is due in large part to the speed with which many of our venues were launched and their competitiveness with other states."
The act also dramatically expanded Pennsylvania's Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program. Before the expansion, approximately 310,000 older Pennsylvanians benefited from the program.
Now older families with incomes up to $35,000 are eligible for rebates of up to $975, including additional relief for seniors who pay a large share of their income in property taxes or who live in high property-tax areas.
Those eligible have until June 30 to sign up for the program by calling 1-888-222-9190.
Who will benefit
Revenue from slot-machine gambling money will benefit:
? Homeowners and farm owners (outside Philadelphia):
Less than $200 average reduction per household on school property tax bills for 2009-10 school year.
Home and farm owners must complete and return an application to the county to receive a reduction.
? Philadelphia residents:
2010 wage tax rate remains at 3.93 percent, a 5.7 percent reduction from 2008 rate of 4.169 percent.
? Philadelphia nonresidents who work in the city:
2010 wage tax rate remains at 3.5 percent, a 5 percent reduction from 2008 rate of 3.685 percent.
? Low-income elderly:
Seniors with income $35,000 or less can get rent or property tax rebates of up to $975.
Source: Rendell administration
April 14, 2009 02:00 AM
$200 tax break for Pa. homeowners
Bucks County Courier Times
Pennsylvania homeowners will receive nearly $770 million in property tax relief in 2009 under the latest installment from the historic Taxpayer Relief Act, Gov. Ed Rendell announced Monday.
Almost 2.7 million households' taxes across the state were lowered last year because of gaming revenues and, this year, the average statewide reduction is expected to be nearly $200 again.
That's good news for some local school districts, including Bristol Township, officials said.
"If we are at, or near, what we had last year, I am happy about it," said that district's school board president, W. Earl Bruck. "It will be a big help to taxpayers. I'm encouraged by it."
All Pennsylvania homeowners in 66 counties can receive reductions in the school property tax bills they will receive this summer. The state Department of Education in early May will provide the final figures, which will vary by district depending on how many homeowners signed up for their share of relief.
Other Lower Bucks school administrators, though, said they're hoping the rebate increases.
"Since it is possible that people who had not signed up for the homestead/farmstead exemption previously have now signed up in the past year + the amount of rebate to a taxpayer could be less than last year as we divide our total amount among more taxpayers eligible for the tax relief," said Robert Schoch, director of business administration in Council Rock.
The 2006 Taxpayer Relief Act created the Property Tax Relief Fund as a way to use gaming revenue to reduce property taxes for homeowners, specifically seniors.
Approximately 110,000 Pennsylvania seniors will pay no school property taxes again this year because of the tax relief, and many more will receive rebates of up to $975 in addition to the property tax relief that all homeowners receive. Nearly 580,000 seniors will be eligible for additional relief through the state's expanded Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program.
But many seniors said they'd still like to see more relief.
"Property taxes are the biggest hit seniors on a fixed income take," said Bill Kennedy, a Washington Crossing resident and president of the Bucks County Coalition of Senior Communities. "If you look at the millions taken in from gambling, $200, if we get that, is not very much."
In addition to delivering property tax relief to Pennsylvania homeowners, the law enacted the state's first-ever limits on school boards' ability to raise property taxes. Already this year, more than three in four school districts have reported they are going to keep any property tax increase at or below the rate of inflation. That includes Council Rock.
"In spite of the economic downturn, we are able to maintain the same level of property tax relief in the coming year that homeowners are receiving right now," Rendell said. "That is due in large part to the speed with which many of our venues were launched and their competitiveness with other states."
The act also dramatically expanded Pennsylvania's Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program. Before the expansion, approximately 310,000 older Pennsylvanians benefited from the program.
Now older families with incomes up to $35,000 are eligible for rebates of up to $975, including additional relief for seniors who pay a large share of their income in property taxes or who live in high property-tax areas.
Those eligible have until June 30 to sign up for the program by calling 1-888-222-9190.
Who will benefit
Revenue from slot-machine gambling money will benefit:
? Homeowners and farm owners (outside Philadelphia):
Less than $200 average reduction per household on school property tax bills for 2009-10 school year.
Home and farm owners must complete and return an application to the county to receive a reduction.
? Philadelphia residents:
2010 wage tax rate remains at 3.93 percent, a 5.7 percent reduction from 2008 rate of 4.169 percent.
? Philadelphia nonresidents who work in the city:
2010 wage tax rate remains at 3.5 percent, a 5 percent reduction from 2008 rate of 3.685 percent.
? Low-income elderly:
Seniors with income $35,000 or less can get rent or property tax rebates of up to $975.
Source: Rendell administration
April 14, 2009 02:00 AM
Agenda Meeting Reminder
Morrisville School Board agenda meeting:
7:30 p.m., large group instruction room of
Middle/Senior High School,
550 W. Palmer St.
To set agenda for next week’s regular meeting. 215-736-2681
7:30 p.m., large group instruction room of
Middle/Senior High School,
550 W. Palmer St.
To set agenda for next week’s regular meeting. 215-736-2681
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