Contact Us Links & Resources

“Serving Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery Counties”

Home > News & Issues > News Briefs

News & Issues: News Brief

Bucks County
Chester County
Delaware County
Montgomery County

General News

Legislative Breakfast Scheduled for March 26!

Join your colleagues and the Suburban REALTORS® Alliance on Friday, March 26, for a special legislative breakfast with members of the Pennsylvania State Senate and House of Representatives. This is an opportunity for REALTORS® to discuss important real estate, housing and small business issues with elected officials from Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery Counties. In the midst of these challenging economic times, we need your help to shine a light on the issues that matter most to the real estate industry! Click here for event details.

 

When: Friday, March 26, 2010, 8:30 a.m.

Where: Crowne Plaza Valley Forge

Cost: 2010 $99 RPAC Contribution

RSVP: Reserve your space at the breakfast by contacting Erin Smist at: esmist@suburbanrealtorsalliance.com

Contributions are not deductible for income purposes.  Contributions to RPAC are voluntary and are used for political purposes.  The amount suggested is merely a guideline and you may contribute more or less than the suggested amount.  You may refuse to contribute without reprisal and the National Association of REALTORS® or any of its state associations or local boards will not favor or disfavor any member because of the amount contributed.  70% of each contribution is used by your state PAC to support state and local political candidates.  Until your state PAC reaches its RPAC goal 30% is sent to National RPAC to support federal candidates and is charged against your limits under 2 U.S.C. 441a; after the state PAC reaches its RPAC goal it may elect to retain your entire contribution for use in supporting state and local candidates.

 

Bucks, Montgomery & Chester counties partner to avoid electric rate hikes

With electric rate caps due to be lifted in January of 2011, Bucks, Chester and Montgomery counties have joined forces to look for the best price for electricity. Several Chester County school districts and municipalities have also partnered in the project, designed to secure a better price by bundling the electric service needs of the participants. Other municipalities and school districts are welcome to join in under the “umbrella” of their respective county.  An open bidding process will take place sometime between May and December. Those bidding on service for the bundled group will see the offers of other electric service providers but not the business name.

Source: The Intelligencer; 3/1/10

 

Gov. Rendell releases liquid fuel tax payments to municipalities

Gov. Ed Rendell recently directed PennDOT to release $308 million in liquid-fuels tax payments to Pennsylvania municipalities one month early. The move was designed to ease the burden municipalities faced over costs associated with the multiple snow storms. The liquid fuel funds allocated to municipalities are generated from a portion of the 31.2 cent state gasoline tax and help pay transportation related expenses, including snow removal.

Source: The Intelligncer; 3/4/10

 

National Flood Insurance Program Extended To March 28

President Obama has signed into law the “Temporary Extension Act of 2010,” which extends the authority for several programs including the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). NFIP's expiration date was February 28; H.R. 4691 changed the date to March 28, 2010. Pending before the Senate is an amendment to separate legislation (H.R. 4213) that would extend the program through the end of the year. NAR will continue to push for the longer extension, to avoid compounding the market uncertainty and give Congress sufficient time to enact meaningful long-term reform.

Source: National Association of REALTORS; 3/2/10

Bucks County

Pennsbury school district draft budget includes $6.98 million shortage

The Pennsbury School Board recently pledged not to increase taxes above the Act 1 index of 2.9 percent set by the state. However, a draft budget has presented a $6.98 million shortfall, which would require a tax increase of 5.5 percent. This would translate to a property tax bill of $4,921 on the average assessed home value of $31,357 within the district. By pledging not to increase taxes above the 2.9 percent Act 1 index, the school board has signaled that it will focus on cutting expenses in the district. The 2.9 percent increase would result in a property tax bill of $4,801. The district will hold hearings for taxpayer input throughout the budget process. Click here for the Pennsbury School District website.

Source: Bucks County Courier Times; 2/28/10

 

Reactivation of Newtown rail line topic of recent town hall meeting

A recent town hall meeting allowed residents of Newtown Borough and Newtown Township to discuss the reactivation of the SEPTA R8 line, which has been out of service since 1983. The R8 line linked Fox Chase with Newtown Borough via Village Shires, Churchville, Holland and Southampton in Bucks County and Abington and Cheltenham in Montgomery County. The community group, Newtown 21st Century Voice, organized the meeting to make the public aware of the group’s efforts to lobby SEPTA and local legislators for reinstatement of the R8 line. In December, Newtown Township supervisors adopted a resolution in support of the effort which calls on various agencies to review reinstatement of the rail line to “afford Newtown Township residents with an easy and efficient means of transportation to and from Center City Philadelphia.” 

Source:  The Advance, BucksLocalNews.com; 3/4/10

 

Buckingham approves addition at CB East

Final approval for the expansion plan at Central Bucks East was given at a recent Buckingham Township meeting. The expansion plan at the school calls for interior renovations and a two-story addition. Despite the approval from township planners, the project is being challenged in court by residents who are also challenging the approval of the Central Bucks East stadium project.

Source: The Intelligencer; 3/4/10

 

Council Rock School District presents proposed preliminary budget

The Council Rock School District has posted the proposed preliminary budget on the school district webpage. The district cites real estate assessment appeals, lower real estate transfer taxes, lower earned income taxes and interest income combined to total a $2 million projected loss in revenue for the 2010-2011 budget cycle. The school board and administration will continue to review the budget with a second preliminary budget to be published in April.

Source: Council Rock School District; 3/5/10

Chester County

East Goshen forming advisory group

East Goshen Township is looking for a few good residents to form a township advisory group to develop recommendations to improve the township's finances. The new group is being modeled after Tredyffrin's budget advisory group. The township has posted information on its website here. According to the mission statement, the township advisory group, TAG, will make a comprehensive review of all aspects of the township's operations including, but not limited to: administration, code enforcement, financial, public works, recreation, refuse and recycling, and sewer. The object is to make recommendations for "improvements to township processes and procedures, modification of the township's services and programs, optimizing the township's assets and to identify possible revenue enhancements." The board set a deadline of April 16 to receive all resumes.

Source: Daily Times; 3/5/10

 

Great Valley school officials discuss budget

Charging student activity fees, lowering thermostats and increasing impact and rental fees were just some of the ideas discussed as Great Valley School District officials considered ways to balance next year's budget. District Superintendent Alan Lonoconus said no decisions have been made yet about how to trim the budget after school board members asked him to investigate some options. Estimated revenue for the the 2010-11 school year is $71.9 million. Officials are considering taking $3.5 million from the district's cash reserves to augment that revenue. The school board has told administrators to bring the budget in at $76.3 million, which is below the district's 2009-10 budget of about $76.7 million. The district is also considering a 1.5 percent to 2.9 percent tax increase to balance next year's budget.

Source: Daily Local; 3/3/10

 

Massive downtown redevelopment project clears hurdle in Kennett Square

A massive $30 million redevelopment plan for downtown Kennett Square cleared its final hurdle this week when the Bayard Taylor Memorial Library Board of Trustees agreed to participate. When completed, the project will result in increased commerce in Kennett Square and expanded community and recreational services for area residents. Called the Kennett Area Community Development Plan, it involves four entities -- the Kennett Area YMCA, the Anson B. Nixon Park, the Bayard Taylor Library and the borough.

The YMCA will get a $ 4 million, 14,928-square-foot expansion of space. The borough's maintenance shed will be removed and a new one built at a cost of $3 million. Old brick historic buildings on the park land will be restored. The old borough building will be used for storage or training facilities. Construction of a roundabout at Walnut Street and the entrance to the park will make it much easier and safer for residents to enter the grounds. A new facility will be built near the park's pond. A new $8-9 million library building will be constructed on what is now the Weinstein property. Additionally, the borough's parking garage will be expanded to include more parking. There will be other parking improvements in the area of the project. When completed, the revitalization project would bring an additional 75 to 100 new employees to Kennett Square. Officials have promised that the revitalization project will not start until funding is in place, and say a realistic time frame to the project's completion is five to 10 years.

Source: Daily Local; 2/28/10

 

No tax increase in the Oxford Area School District?

Several members of the Oxford Area School Board made it clear that they want to work toward a budget for the 2010-2011 school year that will not require an increase in taxes. With a millage rate of 29.5479 for the current school year, property taxes in Oxford rank among the highest in the county. District officials have already made enough cuts to lower a potential tax increase to about 1.59%.

Source: Chester County Press; 3/3/10

Delaware County

Delaware County Web Site goes green

Delaware County’s Web site is going green with a new section that provides residents with information on energy and environmental programs, resources and helpful tips for the home and workplace. The “Green Pages” theme is: “Conserving energy, preserving natural resources and saving tax dollars.” Green topics include waste reduction and recycling, energy efficiency and renewable energy, transportation, environmental protection and conservation. County Council also welcomes feedback through the Green Pages, and the Green Pages e-mail address at GreenCounty@co.delaware.pa.us. In addition to the Green Pages, residents can view a Green video, airing on the county website and on Delco TV, during the county’s seven hours of programming on Comcast Channel 190. The County Government Access program airs daily from 5-7 a.m., 8-9 a.m., 11 a.m.-noon, 2-4 p.m., 10:30-11:30 p.m., and also 6-8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. To view the video on the county website, visit www.co.delaware.pa.us and click on the Delco TV icon.

Source: Daily Times; 3/1/10

 

Brookhaven, Parkside and Upland adopt a multi-municipal plan

Brookhaven Council recently adopted a multi-municipal comprehensive plan with the boroughs of Parkside and Upland. A task force comprised of representatives of the three boroughs spent three years working on the plan, which provides a 10-year blueprint regarding zoning, community facilities and services, parks and recreation, transportation and economic development. The planning commissions of the respective boroughs held a public meeting on April 28, 2009, and on Oct. 20, 2009, a majority of the respective borough councils held a joint public hearing as required under Pennsylvania law. Brookhaven residents may view the multi-municipal plan during regular business hours at the borough business office on Cambridge Drive.

Source: Daily Times; 3/25/10

 

Norwood treasurer says borough cash going fast

With Norwood Borough’s property-tax bills still in the mail and a tax-anticipation loan nearly spent, Norwood’s treasurer said the borough will not have enough money to both pay its bills and its employees in the coming weeks. “We are rapidly running out of money,” said borough Treasurer George Fieo. “The only choices I see are A, borrow from the liquid fuels money, or B, simply not pay everybody.” The borough has $65,000 in bills for critical services like PECO and trash collection. If all bills are paid, the borough will not be able to meet the March 25 payroll. Less than $90,000 is left from the $600,000 tax-anticipation loan taken out in January. Borough council voted along party lines to pass a budget with a 34.7 percent real-estate tax increase Feb. 11 to make up for a $688,000 shortfall. The nearly 40 percent increase will generate about $521,000 in additional real-estate taxes. Tax bills should arrive at borough homes early next week, meaning it will be late March to early April when the borough starts to see revenue from that source. In the meantime, the borough will likely dip into liquid-fuel funds to pay for bills and payroll for March, he said. The money would be refunded when residents begin paying their taxes. Liquid-fuels allocations are annual payments issued to municipalities from the state to help pay for transportation-related expenses, including snow removal and related materials costs. Norwood received $102,226 from the state, through the county, for liquid-fuel funds, according to figures released by the governor’s office.

Source: Daily Times; 3/05/10

 

Source: Radnor hiring township manager

According to a Radnor Township source, the township’s Board of Commissioners will approve an employment agreement for a new township manager at its meeting March 8. While the proposed agreement will be made available in the days before the meeting, the name of the hiree will likely not be disclosed because of the person’s current employment situation. The hiree, who was one of the top candidates when the township initially started searching for a new manager last year, could start as late as May 1, according to the source. One year ago, Radnor’s commissioners suspended and eventually fired its longtime manager Dave Bashore because they said he misled them about his salary and awarded himself and other employees more than $600,000 in unauthorized bonuses over eight years. Until the end of 2009 Radnor employed part-time interim manager John Granger. Since then assistant township manager Bill Martin has taken the role of interim township manager.

Source: Main Line Suburban Life; 3/3/10

 

Concept pitched for larger library, senior center in Wayne

Radnor’s Board of Commissioners gave its blessing to three nonprofit organizations in Radnor Township that are proposing a redevelopment project to seek federal funding for a plan which aims to create new and expansive spaces for the Radnor Memorial Library, Wayne Senior Center and Radnor Studio 21 on parcels between South Wayne, West Wayne and Runnymede Avenues. The plan also contained a new and bigger library, senior center, public park and public parking, while retaining the retail post office. The plan does not  include the postal distribution center, and moved the Radnor war memorial.

Source: Main Line Suburban Life; 2/24/10

 

Rec-center plans unveiled in Haverford Township

Haverford Township residents and commissioners recently got a glimpse of what could become the indoor community recreation and environmental center. The facility, about a quarter-mile north of the Marple Road entrance, will be part of the township’s 45-acre active-recreation complex, which includes athletic fields, trails, picnic pavilions and more. The facility is surrounded by 124 acres of open space. After years of discussion, debate and political wrangling, officials sealed a deal to sell 40 acres of the 309-acre site for private development in 2007, at $17 million with $500,000 for a nature center and trails. Proceeds are expected to fund the center. Township staff will review the schematic design and make a recommendation.  Voting is expectd to take place at the March 8 commissioners meeting.

Source: Main Line Suburban Life; 2/24/10

 

Upper Providence sewer installation set to begin

The long awaited installation of public sewers in certain sections of Upper Providence will begin this month. The project will begin at Sycamore Mills Road and work southward necessitating the closure of Ridley Creek Road. Township officials announced the project start and road closing to install a sewer main. The first phase is expected to be completed in approximately six weeks. Residents living along this route will not be denied access to their homes at anytime. Any resident living along the route and having specific concerns or questions about construction should contact Dick Spielman, project manager for the Upper Providence Sewer Authority at 610-566-5376. For more information, go to www.upperprovidence.org, click on departments and visit the UPSA page.

Source: Daily Times; 2/25/10

Montgomery County

Reminder: Upper Dublin now requires property transfer certification

Upper Dublin Township Supervisors enacted an ordinance that established a certification process for property transfers at their Tuesday, Feb. 9 meeting. Suburban REALTORS Alliance board members and staff worked closely with the township to ensure that the ordinance provides clear guidelines for real estate professionals and consumers. As a result of these discussions, the township has eliminated a section of the ordinance that would have required interior inspections at point of transfer. The ordinance requires the following elements.

 

ü        Sidewalks in safe condition

ü        Smoke alarms installed in bedrooms and in all habitable levels of the house (older homes may utilize battery powered detectors).

ü        Clear, legible address numbers must be posted.

ü        Sumps and drains must be properly installed, not connected to sanitary sewer lines.

 

Please note, only the sidewalk and building address elements of the ordinance require an inspection from township staff. The other conditions necessary for certification will require a notarized affidavit by the seller. Visit the Code Enforcement Property Transfer web page for more information or to download the forms.

 

Lower Providence hears concerns over planned sewer interceptor project

The Lower Providence board of supervisors recently listened to residents concerns over a planned sewer interceptor project within the township. The sewer interceptor project proposed by the Lower Perkiomen Valley Regional Sewer Authority will serve areas of Upper Providence. The middle section of the project would run from the confluence of the Skippack and Perkiomen creeks up to the Collegeville Inn. The residents are opposed to the environmental impact of a project that offers nothing to the residents of Lower Providence Township and was planned when development in the area was at an all time high.

Source: The Times Herald; 2/21/10 & 3/1/10

 

Montgomery Township supervisors invite residents to discuss Teva Project

The Montgomery Township Board of Supervisors has been keeping a close eye on the proposed Teva Pharmaceuticals project in neighboring Warrington Township, Bucks County. Montgomery Township will discuss a coordinated plan of response with the goal of minimizing the project’s impact on Montgomery Township at the next regularly scheduled meeting. The public is invited to the meeting on March 8, at 8:00 p.m. Click here for the Montgomery Township website.

Source: Montgomery Township; 3/4/10

 

Ardmore Station project passed over for high-speed rail funding

The Federal Rail Administration has announced a regional list of projects that will receive $8 billion in funding through the federal stimulus project for a high-speed rail initiative. Lower Merion’s Ardmore Station request for $32 million was not among them. Although disappointing to Lower Merion Township and Dranoff Properties, the developer for the station project, the loss of the federal high-speed funding does not alter the Ardmore Station plans. Construction is slated to begin by Dec. 2012.  Click here for the Dranoff Properties vision of the Ardmore Station project.

Source: Main Line Times; 3/3/10

 

 

Site Map