A scaled-back plan to eliminate the bridge on Route 29 in Pennsburg could lead to seven to eight months of traffic detours. The news appeared to leave council President Diane Stevens speechless.

            "I have no words," she said during a virtual meeting Wednesday afternoon to discuss the project.

            Work to remove a deteriorating bridge near the intersection of 10th Street in the borough could commence in December or January 2023, according to Nathan Parrish, a project manager with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. He said during the meeting that the work would lead to the closure of Main Street between 10th and 11th streets.

            Stevens, appearing somewhat incredulous over the new timeline, asked why the project would take so long considering its reduced scope. She asked the PennDOT representatives to include funds for overtime pay during the construction to expedite the process. The council president expressed support for an idea proposed by Vice President Patrick Suter to ...

            Approval of Upper Perkiomen School District's 2022-23 proposed final budget includes a tax hike. Last week, the school board voted unanimously to impose a 2.5 percent millage rate increase.

            President Judith Maginnis described the increase as necessary to cover the costs of the addition of six new positions. She described those expenses as continual following the May 12 regular meeting.

            The members will rely on a transfer from the district's fund balance to cover the remaining deficit, according to Maginnis. The $72.361 million budget, which includes a 1.34 percent tax increase, is expected to cost the median Montgomery County property owner an additional $54.47. Similarly, Berks County property owners will owe an extra $41.78, according to Dan Direso, the district's business administrator.

            According to Maginnis, the additional real estate revenue is necessary to cover the long-term expense of creating the new positions, estimated at $460,148 in salaries and benefits. After the meeting, she expressed hope that consensus will remain among the members approving a hike included in the draft budget. The district's finance committee has directed administrators to continue to fine-tune the projected expenses.

            "We're all very cognizant about raising taxes," the board president said. "We're going to need that money on a continual basis."

            The district's millage rate has remained at its current level since the board voted to approve a 2.8 percent increase as part of the 2019-20 budget. The following year, approval included a 3.48 percent tax increase facilitated by the State Tax Equalization Board (STEB) ratio. The 2021-22 budget held the line on the tax and millage rates.

            The proposed budget calls for the addition of ...