Council Rock Tax Referendum to be Discussed at Public Forums

Council Rock School District is holding two public meetings about a November referendum that would eliminate the occupation assessment tax and replace it with an increase in the earned income tax.

If voters approve the measure, the earned income tax will increase from 1 percent to 1.17 percent.  Municipalities and the district currently split the earned income tax. 

Two first of public forums about the referendum will be on Oct 14 at 7 p.m. at Richboro Middle School. The second will be held Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. at Newtown Middle School.

In addition to those meetings, the administration will be meeting with other groups, including local political groups and the Wrightstown Board of Supervisors.

Superintendent Mark Klein said the groups contacted the district and requested a member of the administration attend an upcoming meeting to provide more information about the referendum.

Klein said the administration’s sole intent is to provide answers to questions and clear up misconceptions.  “We are not advocating for one side or the other,” he said.

Council Rock is the only school district in Bucks County that still has an occupation assessment tax, according to board member Bill Foster, a member of the district’s Finance Committee.

The occupation assessment tax, which is $40 to $320 per resident depending on their occupation, is outdated and a nuisance to collect, Foster has told Patch.

The proposed 0.17 increase in the school district’s portion of the earned income tax is based on comparison of 2009 levels of occupation and earned income taxes, according to Robert Reinhart, the district’s business administrator.

The district has an information page on the website regarding the referendum.