The Bristol Township Council voted to approve its $66.7 million 2023 spending plan recently. Total expenditures will come in just about $4 million less than the 2022 budget with some fees increased.
The millage rate will remain at 23.98. with the average bill projected to rise little more than $53.00 from 2022, officials said due to rising township garbage and lighting costs.
Due to increasing electric costs and needed repairs, street light assessment fees will increase from $27.50 for residential and $62.50 for commercial real estate to $30.25 and $68.75 respectively, officials said in township documents.
In the fifth and final year of their waste removal deal with Waste Management, costs have increased and the township is raising the rate by $23 per year, totaling $340 per residence.
“This increase is to assist in offsetting the anticipated increase with a new contract price for 2024,” Township Manager Randee Elton and Finance Officer Francis Phillips said in the budget proposal.
Township officials said in the initial proposal that they expect municipal revenues to come over $4.6 million largely in part to fees associated with new development, a little more than 1 million in American Rescue Plan Act Funds and earned income proceeds.
The township expects to spend money on several capital projects, including grants to the volunteer fire companies, heat at the public works garage, replacing police body-worn cameras, upgrades to police in-car cameras, and $5.7 million will be put toward storm and sanitary sewer maintenance, repairs, and upgrades.
With a number of retirements the Bristol Township Police Department hired 13 new officers in 2022 and promoted others to fill vacant slots.
We will continue to evaluate costs and expenditures in the light of increasing calls for police services. Once back at full strength we will begin to assess the need to hire additional officers,” said Elton during the last Council meeting.
Officials said the township plans to use $2 million from its $5.2 million budget surplus to pay down its debt service and $100,000 to refresh its blighted property fund.
Pay increases for Bristol Township employees of a little more than four percent, Elton said.
Its not only to remain competitive with other municipalities “…but also to express my appreciation for the hard work and dedication this team exhibits daily,” she said.
Elton also announced there are plans in the works for her to add an assistant township manager job to the manager’s office. Its a position she previously held, but has been left vacant since she became manager of the county’s second largest municipality population wise in 2020.
Overall Elton proudly said Bristol Township hasn’t raised taxes in 10 years and is pleased with the overall financial health of the municipality. A municipality that only years ago was faced with millions in “unfunded debt.”
The community can review the 2023 Bristol Township spending plan here and review budget presentation slides here
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