SOUTH WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — South Whitehall Township soon may ask residents to approve a new 0.1% income tax to raise money for land preservation.
The township board of commissioners voted unanimously Wednesday to ask the township’s attorneys to review a draft ordinance putting the question to voters.
A feasibility study conducted by preservation nonprofit Trust for Public Land estimated that the 0.1% increase would raise about $1 million per year.
If approved, money from the new tax could be used to fund easements, deed restrictions and land purchases aimed at preventing open space from being developed.South Whitehall Township officials
If approved, money from the new tax could be used to fund easements, deed restrictions and land purchases aimed at preventing open space from being developed.
Many municipalities in the Lehigh Valley have approved similar land preservation taxes in the past decade.
In the 2024 municipal primary, Heidelberg Township voters OK'd a new income tax to conserve open space. Whitehall Township voters approved a similar property tax.
'Long time coming'
The measure “has certainly been a long time coming,” Commissioners President Diane Kelly said.
In addition to commissioning a feasibility study and developing an open space preservation plan, South Whitehall Township has conducted a poll of township residents to gauge interest in a land preservation tax, but has not published the results.
Once the proposed ordinance creating the ballot question makes it through South Whitehall’s legal review process, the board of commissioners will vote at their June meeting to advertise a hearing and vote on the measure, scheduled for July 16.
To get the ballot question on the November general election ballot, commissioners must approve the ordinance by Aug. 5.
Township staff and officials plan to launch outreach and education initiatives for residents starting in June and continuing through Election Day.
