UPPER MACUNGIE TWP., Pa. — Upper Macungie Township residents won’t have to pay more in taxes next year, but refuse and recycling fees are going up.
The township Board of Supervisors on Thursday adopted the 2024 budget, which keeps the property tax rate at 0.64 mills.
But the township refuse and recycling fee will increase $30, while continuing the senior discount.
Township Finance Director Bruce Koller referenced the 62% increase in the fee for South Whitehall Township residents.
“That's something we’re trying to avoid, and we did for 2024,” Koller said.
Koller said the township may have to go out to bid for a new provider next year.
With expenditures estimated at $58.5 million and revenue at $53 million, the budget projects a $5.5 million deficit.
Upper Macungie Township 2024 Budget by Olivia Marble on Scribd
Koller said previously the township can cover that deficit with funds from previous years, but the deficit may not be as high as projected.
The township is projected to get $8.7 million in grants next year — up from $1.6 million this year. And it's projected to have $11 million in cash reserves from previous years, almost triple what it had in 2023.
Local sewer upgrades
Lehigh County Authority Chief Executive Officer Liesel Gross gave a presentation about the planned countywide $600 million sewer upgrades.
The authority, which manages water and wastewater services for many county municipalities, says it will cost $561 million to $595 million over the next decade to replace the nearly 1,000 miles of underground pipes affected.
The project would upgrade the county's aging water and wastewater treatment infrastructure and increase the capacity of the treatment plant.
“This will be the single largest investment in environmental protection Upper Macungie will have made… and it will benefit the region for decades to come."Lehigh County Authority Chief Executive Officer Liesel Gross
When the plant exceeds capacity, untreated wastewater flows into the Lehigh River.
Upper Macungie will have to contribute financially to the project, though it's not clear how much. Gross said each municipality’s contribution will be proportional to its usage of the system, and Upper Macungie is among the highest-use municipalities.
“This will be the single largest investment in environmental protection Upper Macungie will have made… and it will benefit the region for decades to come,” Gross said.
Koller said he anticipates sewer fees will increase for residents to cover the cost.
Gross has visited other nearby municipalities in recent weeks to brief local officials on the plan.
Other news
Also Thursday, the board recognized the Upper Macungie Community Emergency Response Team, or CERT, for 15 years of service.
CERT educates citizens about potential hazards and gives training on how to respond to disasters. Members of CERT also respond to disasters in neighborhood teams to help others when professional responders are not immediately available.
The board will meet on Tuesday, Jan. 2 for its reorganization meeting, a conditional use hearing and its regular meeting. It will not meet on that Thursday.
