The Chester County commissioners adopted a $513 million budget for 2012 that does not contain a property tax increase for the third straight year, but will include the first employee salary increases since 2009. The budget, approved unanimously by the three commissioners, calls for cuts in departmental expenditures of an average of 4 percent, although some mandated service areas such as the county court system will see expenses rise slightly. Under the budget, the county will levy a property tax of 3.695 mills. The median taxpayer in the county would thus see a county tax bill of $657.85 for a property with an assessed value of $165,915. A mill is worth $1 for every $1,000 in assessed value. The millage rate, while stable, will bring in significantly less revenue than in past years because of changes in the county’s property assessment levels. In the 2011 budget, the millage rate was supposed to bring in more than $158 million; preliminary estimates show that it will raise $5 million less in 2012. The full 2012 budget publication will be completed and on line by mid-next week on the county home page at www.chesco.org.

Source: Daily Local; 12/1/2011

Coatesville officials bracing for budget cuts

Coatesville City Council received input from various city department heads on its current budget crisis and will next decide where expenses should be cut. City Manager Gary Rawlings previously reported to council that the best way to make nearly $2 million in spending cuts is to reduce the size of the city police department through attrition and early retirement. Council also questioned the codes department about ways to cut costs. Codes Director Damalier Molina said he recently lost an employee in his department and is not looking to fill that position. He said the best way to balance the budget is to increase revenues through the instant ticketing program he has often suggested to council. Council has asked for a realistic estimate for how much the program will cost to implement and how quickly that cost could be offset. Molina was also questioned about why code violations are continually being thrown out of the Chester County Court of Common Pleas.

Source: Daily Local; 11/28/2011

No tax increase in Kennett Square’s budget

Kennett Square Council‘s 2012 proposed budget keeps the tax rate at 4.85 mills. The borough increased taxes by one mill last year after facing a deficit of $240,000. Half of a mill was set aside to fund a new public works building. The $55 per quarter trash fee residents pay should generate about $280,000 in revenue. In the past three years, the borough has eliminated a $610,000 deficit in the general fund and this year’s budget makes accommodations to restore reserves in the fund.

Source: Daily Times; 11/29/2011

Oxford Borough Day

Oxford will hold a day of activities on Dec. 5 from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Oxford Borough Hall, 401 Market Street and the Oxford Police Station, 57 N. 4th Street. Residents will be given the opportunity to review the budget, get up to date on the Borough code, and be a part of the visioning process for the community. This is an opportunity for residents to bring concerns, questions, and suggestions to members of the borough council, mayor, police chief, borough manager and employees. For more information call Betsy Brantner at: 610-932-2500, ext. 302.

Penn Township buys Red Rose Inn

Penn Township has reached a settlement to purchase the Red Rose Inn property through eminent domain at the cost of $1.7 million. The agreement includes the payment of $33,500 in back taxes. Once the township has title to the property, it will move forward with plans for the building. The plans include fixing the intersection to make it safer for travel and utilizing the building for municipal and community purposes. The township historic commission will seek to have the inn placed on the state register of historic places.

Source: Avon Grove Sun; 11/24/2011

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Coatesville City Council approved a proposed budget that includes a tax increase of approximately a half mill. The proposed budget includes about $8.4 million in expenditures and revenues. The proposed increase would take the property tax rate back to the levels in the city from just a few years ago, according to City Manager Gary Rawlings. The proposed budget makes cuts from various departments, including police, to make it balance; however, Rawlings said the specific line items that will be cut have not been decided. In other words, the proposed budget puts all of the expenditures at the levels they need to be to balance the budget, but how those numbers are achieved has yet to be decided. Originally, the proposed budget had included taking $400,000 from the city’s trust fund for an equipment fund, and an increase of the city’s trash bills to create a capital projects fund.

Source: Daily Local; 11/15/2011

Tredyffrin/Easttown board opts against spring-ballot EIT

The Tredyffrin/Easttown school board decided not to run a referendum for a one percent earned income tax (EIT). If passed, the referendum would have appeared on the April 2012 primary ballot. Two board members voted in favor of the referendum, while seven voted against it. Those who voted against the tax said that imposing an EIT would only add more stress to those residents affected by the declining economy. Board members also said that such a tax would not serve as a long-term solution to the district’s budget problems.

Source: Suburban Main Line Life; 11/17/2011

East Vincent supervisors divided over funding for Northern Chester County study

East Vincent Township supervisors are sharply divided over an issue concerning funding for a study being done by the Federation of Northern Chester County Communities. Two supervisors believe that the eight other municipalities in the Northern Federation should sign an agreement saying they will chip in funds for a Parks, Open Space and Recreation Plan if one municipality fails to approve it. The board voted 2-1 last month to withhold any additional township funds to pay for the study until such an agreement is signed. At issue is $106,000 in reimbursable funds to cover the cost of consultants who are developing the plan for the Northern Federation. For the past several years, East Vincent has taken the role as the lead township for a Chester County grant being used to fund the plan. The grant is structured so that the township funded $106,000 and will be reimbursed by the county in full after the plan is approved. The plan, which has been in development since 2009, will define a vision for parks, open space and recreation for nine northern Chester County townships: East Coventry, East Pikeland, East Nantmeal, East Vincent, North Coventry, South Coventry, Warwick, West Pikeland, and West Vincent. Each of those townships must incorporate the plan into a comprehensive plan once it is complete.

Source: Daily Local; 11/16/2011

The 155th District’s representative will step down after his current term

State Rep. Curt Schroder, who currently represents the 155th Legislative District in Harrisburg, announced that he will not seek reelection. Schroder, 49, of East Brandywine, will step aside after the end of his current term. Rep. Schroder was first elected to the 155th seat in 1994. He succeeded current U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach, R-6th, of West Pikeland, who had won election to the state Senate. He had briefly considered a run for Congress when Gerlach announced his decision to run for governor, but dropped that bid when Gerlach changed his mind and ran again for Congress. Since taking office, Schroder also has been instrumental in local issues in Chester County, winning road improvements along the Route 100 corridor from Upper Uwchlan to South Coventry, and helping out with revitalization efforts in Downingtown. He also played a major role in the effort purchase the Shryock property in East Brandywine to buffer Marsh Creek State park from planned commercial development.

Source: Daily Local; 11/11/2011

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Anyone hoping to build in Oxford has been waiting a long time for sewage capacity, but now they can get in line for a connection when one becomes available if they pay the tapping fee. Due to a sewage connection moratorium, only a few building permits have been issued in Oxford in recent years.  A waiting list exists for approximately150 projects that have already paid prior to 1994 for connections they can’t make, while around 1,000 projects are proposed but have not been paid for. Now that the Oxford Area Sewer Authority is preparing to start construction on a new storage lagoon, at least some connections could be available in less than a year. The time line for the new lagoon calls for completion in 270 days after groundbreaking. That can happen as soon as the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) approves the low bidder. It is the USDA that is providing the low interest loan for the project.

Source: Daily Local; 10/20/2011

Coatesville train station project advancing quickly

The Coatesville train station will be the first of a number of stations in Chester County to be renovated, according to officials involved in the project. Bob Garrett, an executive assistant with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, said the Coatesville project is officially ahead of projects in Parkesburg and Downingtown after a few months of hard work. The public is invited to learn more about the project’s progress during a meeting set for 5:30 p.m., Nov. 10 at City Hall. The project involves renovating the existing train station, building a new open station with a pedestrian crossover, streetscaping along Third Avenue and preparing for the possible future redevelopment of Fleetwood Street between Third and Fourth avenues. A new station is needed because the platforms must be wider to comply with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, and wide platforms cannot be constructed in the current station because it is on a slight curve.

Source: Daily Local; 10/21/2011

T/E School District Tax Study Group to host earned-income-tax presentation

The Tredyffrin/Easttown School District Tax Study Group will present the pros and cons of an earned income tax (EIT) for T/E residents and the School District at two public meetings on Nov. 3 at 1 p.m. at the Tredyffrin/Easttown Administration Offices (940 W. Valley Road, Suite 1700), and again at 7 p.m. at Valley Forge Middle School (105 W. Walker Road). The T/E School District is beginning the budget development process for 2012-2013. One budget strategy is to determine the impact of an EIT. All community members are encouraged to attend one of the presentations in order to make an informed decision in the event that an EIT question is placed on the primary election ballot in April 2012. To facilitate this analysis, the School Board formed a Tax Study Group consisting of community volunteers. For more information on the Tax Study Group, visit the T/E School District Web site at www.tesd.net.

Source: Main Line Suburban Life; 10/19/2011

Coatesville finance director put on leave

City of Coatesville Finance Director Stacy Bjorhus has been placed on paid administrative leave and a decision on the future of her employment will be decided in November. Manager Gary Rawlings said he would not disclose why Bjorhus was placed on leave, citing it as a personnel matter. He further said he would not disclose what his recommendation to council will be, and said he needs to have discussions with Bjorhus before making his final decision. Bjorhus’ leave comes in the midst of a difficult budget process for the city. Recently, council approved a withdrawal from the city’s trust fund of up to $2 million to cover both overdue pension fees and pay regular bills, including payroll.  Bjorhus is also the finance director for the city’s redevelopment authority. The authority is also facing a budget crisis. Currently, the authority is facing an expected $117,000 shortfall for this year. The authority also has yet to make any payments to city for its loan of about $7 million.

Source: Daily Local; 10/21/2011

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Pope John Paul II Regional Catholic Elementary School Gymnasium

2875 Manor Road (Route 82)        West Brandywine, PA 19320
9am-12 noon
Half-Price Sale Starts at 12:30pm

Children’s and teens’ fall and winter clothing, coats, boots, Halloween costumes, girls’ purses and accessories, baby and kid furniture/accessories, toys, video games, sports equipment, bicycles, sleds, skates, children’s books, CDs, DVDs, maternity clothing and more!

For more information, please visit www.popejohnpaul2sch.org for more information.

Proceeds from this sale benefit the students of PJP II
Sponsored by the Office of Development

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Money Magazine lists West Goshen as No. 25 among America’s 100 best small towns for 2011. It is the highest-ranking Pennsylvania town named on the top 100 list. This year’s write-up on West Goshen boasts its good access to jobs, citing the area’s proximity to Route 202 as a way to connect residents to employers such as Siemens, Vanguard and IKON. The magazine highlights QVC as one of about 1,000 businesses within the 12-square-mile township, and it lauds the area’s parks and recreation programs.

Source: Daily Local; 8/16/2011

New Garden’s White Clay Point Town Center project moving forward

After several years of relative inactivity, it appears as if the White Clay Point Town Center project along Route 41 in New Garden Township is moving forward again. The amended land-development plan for a mixed-use, village-style town center has been submitted to the township by the developer, PREIT (Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust). The overall scope of the project remains unchanged from the 2007 settlement agreement between the developer and township. The town center is the focal point of the project, but there will also be a multi-tenant retail center, a convenience store, and an age-restricted residential community.

Source: Chester County Press; 8/10/2011

Ex-Oxford council president says minutes are important

Oxford Borough Council discussed the possibility of having committee reports mentioned at council meetings. Former Borough Council President Randy Teel suggested that even though it may take too much time to read all of the committee minutes for the public at each council meeting, the committee chairs could mention highlights of what they are doing so that people would be more aware of local issues. Minutes from the council meetings are posted on the borough website, but committee minutes generally are not. Committee meetings are open to the public, but are often poorly attended. Often committees will consider the same issue for months at a time.

Source: Daily Local; 8/17/2011

Coatesville RDA rejects lease extension

The Redevelopment Authority unanimously rejected a request from Comfort Care Inc. on Monday to extend its lease at 312 Fleetwood St.  Comfort Care was seeking to extend the lease to sometime between Thanksgiving and the end of the year but had not set a specific date, according to authority Chairman Joseph “Zeke” Disciullo. As it stands, the medical textile company has until Sept. 14 to vacate the property. The authority told Comfort Care and four tenants in apartments to vacate the site because structural engineering reports indicated the building’s roof had to be replaced and the authority said it could not immediately afford to make those repairs.

Source: Daily Local; 8/16/2011

Oxford increases water rates

Oxford Council approved an increase in water rates, which will go into effect with bills received Jan 1, 2012, or later. The base rate of $25.50 per quarter for the first 5,000 gallons of water or less will remain the same, but there will be a 2 percent increase for all additional water use. That means that for every 1,000 gallons over 5,001 up to 50,000, the rate will go from $6.48 to $6.60. The rate for every 1,000 gallons from 50,001 to 100,000 goes up from $7.08 to $7.22, and the rate per 1,000 from 100,001 to 150,000 jumps from $8.03 to $8.19. The highest rate for users of more than 150,000 gallons increases from $8.26 to $8.43 every 1,000 gallons.

Source: Daily Times; 8/17/2011

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Coatesville City officials say better enforcement of city codes could raise revenues to potentially close a $2 million budget gap. During a budget workshop, City Manager Gary Rawlings suggested implementation of the “Instant Ticketing Program,” which the city’s codes department has presented before to council. With the ticket system, city officials would notify violators that if a violation continues, they would receive a summary offense that in turn could be appealed to a city administrator. Currently, the city sends a violation notice then a ticket that can be appealed to District Court. Rawlings said the program could increase the city’s revenues from code violations. But council members said many violations are thrown out in court because the department does not properly record violations or because violations are simply not enforced.

Source: Daily Local; 7/31/2011

Private meeting between township supervisors may have been illegal

A recent private meeting between a quorum of both West Caln and West Brandywine supervisors may have violated the state’s Sunshine Act, according to an open meetings expert. Prior to the meeting, officials from both townships announced the boards would hold an executive session, or a private meeting, to determine which ambulance company would cover the two townships. All West Caln supervisors, two West Brandywine supervisors, the assistant manager of West Caln and the manager of West Brandywine were present at the meeting, according to multiple sources. The Sunshine Act has five provisions that allow for an executive meeting. The board can privately discuss matters relating to personnel, negotiate contracts with a union, discuss property acquisition, receive legal counsel or discuss issues that bring legally protected information to light. West Brandywine Supervisor Thomas McCaffrey said the boards were holding the session privately because the debate over which ambulance service to choose could get very heated and negative comments could be made about specific companies. West Caln will be expected to name its new provider during its Aug. 8 meeting. West Brandywine is expected to name a new company at its Aug. 4 meeting.

Source: Daily Local; 8//2011

EIT redux in Franklin

Despite protests from residents, the Franklin Township Board of Supervisors voted to put an open space earned income tax (EIT) proposal on the ballot. Residents voted down a previous referendum that would have included an EIT increase of 0.5% during the May primary by a margin of 67 votes, with 616 votes in favor and 679 votes against. The board felt that there was much misinformation circulating about the tax, and so they have put the question back on the ballot. The new EIT increase would eliminate the .5 mills from the municipal real estate tax dedicated toward open space. The EIT increase is expected to generate approximately $440,000 each year, while the .5 mills from the property tax generates approximately $160,000 annually. Presently, the money accumulated from the open space tax goes toward paying off a $3.5 million, 30 year loan to fund open space projects. The program has saved just under 2,000 acres of land to date.

Source: Chester County Press, 7/20/2011, Avon Grove Sun; 7/21/2011

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View the home for sale at 1400 Walnut St., Coatesville, PA 19320

• 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths
• 1996 interior square feet of living space
• impeccably maintained
• Almost half an acre, corner lot in Caln Township
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View Home for Sale at 770 Buck Run Road in Coatesville, PA 19320

• 3 bedroom/2 bath ranch style home on 1.6 acre lot!
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