For every dollar spent in Limerick Township in 2010, about $0.05 will have come courtesy of a proposed Costco development next to the outlet mall.
The $750,000 contribution from the developer is one of the large figures outlined in the proposed spending plan. All figures are subject to change until the Limerick Board of Supervisors formally adopts the budget.
No tax increases are requested for 2010, according to the proposal authored by Township Manager Dan Kerr.
The big picture
At $14,437,042, next year’s budget relies mostly on local taxes. Limerick will be tapping its reserve fund to the tune of $614,362 to balance the books.
Still, Kerr anticipates $900,000 in contributions from Exelon ($150K) and O’Neill Property Group.
O’Neill, doing business as Sanatoga Interchange Associates L.P., is the developer of the former Overstreet property next to the Philadelphia Premium Outlets off Route 422. By comparison, the outlet developers (Chelsea Property Group) gave $300,000, according to Kerr.
A Costco store would anchor this retail-residential mixed-use shopping center. Earlier this month, the supervisors discussed whether they demanded enough from developers over the years.
Construction trends
In his budget address, Kerr states that new development applications, construction permit fees, and real estate transfer taxes “all have been on a steady decline since 2006 which shows development was trending downward well before the current economic meltdown in late 2008.”
He continued, “This information shows that Limerick has matured to a degree and the benefits of high development fees realized over the past 15 years cannot be expected to continue.”
Kerr warns the board that relying on reserve funds to balance the budget would eventually deplete those reserves.
Pay raises
The budget calls for a 2 percent pay raise for all non-uniformed personnel. Police officers, in accordance with a contract that runs through 2011, will receive a 5 percent increase.
Attorney fees
Limerick Township is represented by Solicitor Joe McGrory and the law firm of HRMML (Hamburg Rubin Mullin Maxwell and Lupin).
The 2010 proposed fiscal plan has $180,000 budgeted for legal costs. That is 16 percent less than 2009, according to Kerr.
Police
The township’s police department accounts for 36 percent of general fund dollars. Chief William Albany received preliminary approval from one new officer, thus bringing the local ranks to 21 policemen and two administrators.
On Thursday, Dec. 10, the board will hold its next public meeting at 7 p.m. Budget adoption is likely on this night.
Limerick held one public workshop at 9 a.m., Nov. 7 – after the election – for the budget. Supervisor Renee Chesler stated in an e-mail that residents will have more time for input and suggestions.
“The budget will not approved until the December meeting, at which time residents can ask specific questions related to the document that they have had nearly a month in which to conduct more in-depth chance to review,” she stated.
Chesler noted, “Last year we had several budget workshops (each one over an hour in duration) over the course of several weeks, and did not have a different attendance level than we had a this years single session.”
November 24th, 2009 at 5:40 pm
What is the budget for the Township engineer, and code department?
November 25th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
Outsourced Code Enforcement is earmarked at $94,960. When added with zoning, the line item is $186,766.
The township engineer, Pennoni & Associates, is not a separate line item on the budget spreadsheet. I recall the total for 2010 is less than 09, but I failed to write the number down. Sorry.
The budget is available to the public at the township building.