Proposed New Britain Budget Holds the Line on Taxes

New Britain Borough residents will not see a tax increase under the proposed 2012 municipal budget being considered by borough council.

Council plans to advertise the $1.4 million budget, which is scheduled to come before them for a vote on December 13.

Council voted unanimously Tuesday to advertise the proposed budget but did not discuss it. According to Borough Manager Robin Trymbiski, the borough plans to balance the budget by using $110,797 from its fund balance, which is estimated to reach $350,000 by the end of 2011.

Tax millage would remain at 21.875 mills, the same rate as it was in 2011 and 2010, holding real estate taxes steady.

Most of it – 20.125 mills – is for the general fund, which is used to operate the borough. The remaining 1.75 mills are for the fire and ambulance budgets.

That millage translates to a real estate tax bill of $534 for the owner of a house assessed at the township average of $24,400. Residents also pay half of a 1 percent earned income tax to the borough. The other half is paid to the Central Bucks School District.

New Britain expects to receive $632,300 in real estate taxes and $330,000 in earned income taxes in 2012.

The budget includes $360,000 for police salaries and $111,000 for police health insurance.

Borough council on Tuesday voted unanimously to extend the current police contract with a few changes for 2012. The new contract includes a 3 percent raise, one extra personal day a year, a longevity bonus of $100 a year, starting at year four, and some long- and short-term disability benefits changes.

Salaries for the five police officers under the contract extension will range from $49,617 to $67,237, with one exception: A probationary officer will be paid $45,210. The police chief is not included in the contract.

The borough did not negotiate a brand new contract because it plans to merge its police department with Doylestown Borough in January 2013. Doylestown, Plumstead and New Britain townships also are considering taking part in the merger. Warwick Township has decided against joining forces.

Big-ticket capital expenditures in the proposed 2012 budget include road construction and open space purchases. Plans call for the patching, milling and repaving of Lenape Drive and North Shady Retreat Road, utilizing $100,000 from the general fund and $100,000 in liquid fuels funding.

The $43,750 in the budget for open space could be used to buy land. Some of the $195,000 in Bucks County open space funds still available to the borough could also be used. A 25 percent match from the borough is required in order to receive the county funds, which must be committed by December 2013 and used by 2014.