In a room packed with firemen, ambulance personnel, and interested citizens, the Washington Township Board of Supervisors reorganized on Monday, January 5th.  Recently elected Supervisor Matthew McCluskey took his seat and immediately requested that the previously advertised and adopted budget for 2026 be opened and reviewed.

            A newly elected supervisor has the right to open the previously adopted budget with the acquiescence of the board of supervisors.  A simple majority is necessary.  Supervisor Tom Powanda voted not to open the budget.  However, Supervisor Romnie Long agreed to open the budget for review. 

            Long had voted "No" on the budget at prior supervisors meetings because she stated the recently enacted emergency services tax would place an unfair burden on property owners.  Those property owners with a large property would pay more in taxes than someone with a small property.  Additionally, in the past, Long stated she did not want to enact a new tax. 

            Powanda questioned whether Long ever objected to a Berks County or school district property tax, both of which are not equally applied.  Powanda remarked that Washington Township has not raised taxes in over 10 years.

            Once the budget was opened, McCluskey quickly proposed that the recently enacted emergency services tax structure be amended.  Long agreed.  Powanda strenuously disagreed. 

            A resident of the township asked Long and McCluskey if their oath of office covers the protection of township citizens.  The resident implied that a reduction in the emergency services tax would adversely affect township citizens.  The oath of office swears allegiance to the Constitution of the United States of America.

            Long proposed the .5-mill fire tax to benefit the all-volunteer Eastern Berks Fire Company and the .5 mill to benefit the Bally Ambulance remain in effect. However, she suggested the current township real estate tax of 1.85 mills be reduced to 1.45 mills.  The .4 mills difference would come out of the township highway and general fund.  Approximately $105,709 would be taken from the general fund. 

            It is estimated that by 2029 a reduced real estate tax of 1.45 mills would place the township in the position where it would be necessary to raise taxes.  In 2030, with the real estate tax remaining at the current 1.85 mills, taxes would have to be increased.  The reduction of the highway fund and the general fund would eventually create a hardship for the township to meet its expenses, particularly road maintenance costs. 

            Powanda noted that the road tax that assists the township in repairing its roads decreases every year.  He noted there is not enough state highway aid to repair township roads.  Unexpected equipment repairs can greatly reduce township funds.

            McCluskey explained that he requested to amend the budget because he does not like to increase taxes.  However, he noted he would like the supervisors to study the budget over 2026 because he realizes the necessity to assist emergency services.

            There are 16 municipalities that are adjacent or near to Washington Township in Berks, Bucks, Lehigh, and Montgomery counties, all of which have adopted an emergency services tax that ranges from .5 mills to 1.3 mills.  The municipalities are Bally, Bechtelsville, Cumru, District, Douglas (Berks County), Douglas (Montgomery),  Exeter, Leesport, Lower Milford (Lehigh), Marlborough, Milford (Bucks), Pennsburg, Red Hill, Trumbauersville, Upper Frederick, Upper Hanover, and Wyomissing.

            The state of Pennsylvania requires municipalities to make emergency services available to its citizens.  However, the state provides no financial assistance for any volunteer organization, such as a fire company.  Counties in Pennsylvania provide virtually no monetary assistance to volunteer organizations that serve the public.  Municipalities in the region recognized that without volunteer fire companies, the cost to maintain a paid fire company is enormous.  Potentially, a paid fire company can cost a municipality approximately $9 million per year.  That is money most municipalities cannot raise through revenue.  A dedicated tax to benefit emergency services enables a volunteer organization such as the Eastern Berks Fire Company to show a guaranteed income to a lender should it be necessary to borrow money for equipment.

            If Washington Township had not agreed to enact a tax of .5-mills for the Eastern Berks Fire Company and .5-mills for the Bally Ambulance, the state permits a volunteer fire company to charge for its services when a municipality declines to offer financial assistance.  The volunteer fire company cannot charge for volunteer manpower, but it can charge for all of its expenses.  It can amount to a substantial fee should the municipality not offer some sort of aid to the fire company.

            Now, a new budget must be advertised for at least 10 days so that taxpayers can review it.  The state mandates that a new budget must be adopted by February 15.