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Politics & Government

Budget Approved; Public Comment Lively

Residents gave their take on the change of power coming to the board next year.

The unanimously approved a $26.35 million dollar budget for next year during Wednesday night’s meeting.

Residents of the township will not be facing a tax increase under the approved budget for next year.

The final budget figures are down about $450,000 from the $26.8 million dollar budget that was . The figure was lowered after it was discovered the township is expecting to receive increases in the amount of money it brings in from earned income tax and real estate taxes.

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The majority of next year’s budget will utilized by the general fund.

“There will be no anticipated change in service levels,” Township Manager Bob Pellegrino said.

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Pellegrino pointed out that Northampton came in under budget so far in this year and he hopes to do the same next year.

The public comment portion of the meeting was filled with both praise and condemnation for the current Republican controlled board. Come January, from a 3-2 Republican majority to a 3-2 Democratic majority as Kimberly Rose replaces Vincent Deon.

Many of the residents who lashed out at the board said they were soured by the recent for the proposed at Leehurst Farm on Hatboro Road which will cost the taxpayers more than $2 million in improvements to the sewer pipelines and pump station. Residents felt the cost should be put on the Toll Brothers as has been done in the past with other developers.

“I don’t know how you can sit up there at justify it,” resident Bill O’Neill, of Holland, said of the Toll Brothers approval.

O’Neill called it a “backroom deal” and said he was excited to see what will happen when the Democrats gets control of the board come next year.

Deon received both cheers and jeers for his firm stance to have residents in the of the township connect to the public water system.

Other residents and board members Chairman George Komelasky and Secretary Eileen Silver, both Republicans, thanked Deon for his six years of service to the community and asked him to keep an active role in the township.  

Also approved at the meeting was the use of township funds to be spent to begin work connecting 107 homes to the in the Traymore Manor section of the township. The money the township spends will be reimbursed up by the DEP.

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