The draft budget for Lower Saucon Township for 2017 was discussed by township council at a special meeting Wednesday night and it contained some good news for taxpayers. The budget, as presented, does not include a tax increase.
The millage rate will remain at 5.39 mills if the proposed budget is ultimately adopted.
According to a draft budget highlights summary provided by the township finance director, revenues are projected to increase “due to landfill receipts that offset projected revenue losses in the (Northampton County) Gaming Authority funding.”
Total expenditures will increase by 1.7 percent to approximately $7.6 million, due primarily to a combination of the following: employment contracts, health insurance premiums increasing by 16.6 percent, payments toward the principal owed on township debt, building and facility maintenance, vehicle replacement, roof and other repairs to several township-owned buildings and IT improvements to council chambers.
Channel 69 reported Thursday that Township Manager Leslie Huhn has recommended a temporary police hiring freeze because of uncertainty over the gaming grants that have been used to fund a full-time officer’s salary.
The article indicated that the officer’s position is guaranteed to be funded in 2017 in spite of the recent state Supreme Court decision regarding the legality of the gaming grants because another Lower Saucon Township police officer is retiring.
