Politics & Government
Commissioners Delay Vote on Budget, Tax Rate
The Marple Township Board of Commissioners are scheduled to pass the 2013 budget on Dec. 20 at 8:30 a.m.
BROOMALL–The Marple Township Board of Commissioners tabled votes concerning budget appropriations, the real estate tax rate and the fee
schedule for 2013 at a commissioners meeting on Monday night.
Fifth Ward Commissioner John Longacre said Joe Rufo, 1st ward commissioner, did a lot of research on all of the budget line items and "nobody felt comfortable passing a budget tonight."
The commissioners had been scheduled to vote on budget appropriations
for 2013, the real estate tax millage rate for 2013, and the 2013 fee schedule on Monday night, but all three items were tabled unanimously with 7-0 votes.
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Commissioners will meet again on Dec. 20 at 8:30 a.m. at which time they will vote on tabled items from Monday night's meeting and pass a budget, said Board of Commissioners President Michael Molinaro.
The budget is comprised of four separate funds: the Sewer Fund, Paxon Hollow Golf Course Fund, the Refuse Fund and the General Fund.
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Seventh Ward Commissioner Daniel Leefson said the commissioners have a little bit more time to pass the budget, according to the law, and are going to use the time to get the budget in order.
"We're working on the budget," Leefson said. "We don't have it yet. It's 7.2 (percent proposed tax rate increase). It's getting smaller and smaller..."
At a Nov. 13 meeting, Marple Township Finance Director Ed O'Lone recommended a 7.2 percent tax increase for 2013, which would increase the average Marple homeowner's tax bill by $48.30 for the year.
