No tax increase for next year

            The Marlborough Township Supervisors spent last Wednesday's monthly meeting preparing for the new year, including passing a 2021 budget that will not require a tax increase.

            Township Manager/Secretary/Treasurer Marybeth Cody informed the in-person public meeting that the 2021 budget will feature an anticipated carryover of $480,000 plus an unexpected additional $50,000 to start the year.

            Cody attributed the surplus to "a very slight increase in revenue due to the transfer tax and conservative spending and a mild winter."

            Money will be moved to capital reserves and public works for projects such as bridge work and refurbishing park sites.

            Total revenues of $2,024,522 are anticipated from taxes, permits, rents, royalties and a transfer of funds from capital reserves.

            Marlborough anticipates that the biggest expenses in 2021 will include a new heater for the maintenance shop, a new computer server and "possible renovation of the barn at Finland Road Park."

            All uniform and non-uniform employees will be receiving raises, and the health insurance contribution from the police has been eliminated.

            Cody projects that over $195,000 will carry over into 2022.

           The manager/secretary/treasurer did sound a note of caution despite the rosy budgetary outlook.

            "As I always do, I do have concerns because each year the budget expenses seem to exceed the revenue and that, sometime in the near future, the township will find themselves with a deficit."

             The supervisors also voted to the keep the real estate tax, the real estate transfer tax and the earned income tax at the same levels as 2020.

            Cody reported on the outcome of an investigation by Bursich, the township's engineers, into a water flow problem on Geryville Pike that is affecting several property owners.

            Runoff from a stormwater basin in the Wooded Ridge development was thought to be the problem, but the investigation, during a heavy rain in late October, found that the basin was functioning as it was supposed to.

             Cody has contacted the Montgomery County Roads & Bridges Department to investigate and advised the complainant "that it would be up to the county" to take action.

            Supervisors Billy Hurst, Brian Doremus and Bill Jacobs unanimously voted to send the proposed Nuisance Ordinance for professional review and voted to advertise the Institutional Overlay Ordinance as a prelude to voting on it in February.

            The 2021 meeting schedule was approved with one significant change from last year. The supervisors Work Sessions will begin at 6 p.m. instead of 7.

Marlborough police responded to 316 total calls in November and made four adult arrests.

            The Harleysville Area Emergency Medical Services ambulance was dispatched 81 times in November with 63 of the calls requiring Advanced Life Support.

            The next supervisors meeting will be held on Monday, Jan. 4 and will feature the annual organization meeting followed by the regular monthly meeting.

            The township's elected auditors will organize on Tuesday, January 5 at 4 p.m. in the township building.