The Middletown Township board of supervisors recently voted to preliminarily approve the 2021 budget and to advertise it for public inspection. The 2021 budget is available at the Municipal Center and online at middletownbucks.org/2021Budget. The board is scheduled to adopt the final 2021 budget on Monday, Dec. 7.
The balanced budget has no proposed tax increases for 2021. 0.20 mills of real estate tax are proposed to be shifted from the Street Lighting Fund to the General Fund to offset anticipated lean revenues in 2021. This shift will not change the overall tax rate to residents. Middletown Township has not raised real estate taxes in 10 years.
“We are proud to deliver a balanced budget with no tax increase this year,” said supervisors chairman Mike Ksiazek. “For those among us who have struggled financially in 2020, a tax increase is a big deal. Holding the line on taxes is a welcome point of stability.”
The 2021 budget proposes $36.7 million in expenditures and $6.4 million in capital improvements.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, staff and the board of supervisors have carefully monitored revenues and cut expenditures. Despite nearly $3 million in lost revenue, the township’s efforts minimized the impact to $1.9 million. In 2021, a transfer of $1.1 million from the Investment Fund to the General Fund will balance the 2021 budget.
For its 2020 budget, the Government Finance Officers Association presented the township with the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award. In order to receive this award, a governmental unit must publish a budget document that meets program criteria as a policy document, a financial plan, an operations guide, and a communications device. The township is one of 15 governmental bodies in Pennsylvania to earn this achievement.
Middletown also received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. The township is one of 11 governmental bodies – less than 1 percent – in Pennsylvania to earn both budget and audit awards.
“Middletown Township takes great pride in its financial management and transparency with the community,” said Ksiazek. “We prepare our budget so staff, the supervisors and the public are better informed and can make better decisions.”
Middletown is receiving this award for the second consecutive year. The 2021 budget has been prepared in accordance with GFOA’s criteria and will be submitted upon final adoption by the board of supervisors in December.
