The Lower Towamensing Township supervisors approved a 0.9-mill tax increase last week.

Brent Green, the chairman of the supervisors, said the total expense for the 2023 budget is $967,589. The general mill tax went from 1.6 mills to 2.5 mills making it a 0.9 mill tax increase, based on the township’s current expenses.

“We saw an increase in what we were budgeting for employees benefits that led us to changing the numbers, and also some equipment and supply increases to supply our crew with material and equipment,” Green said.

One of the reasons for the increase is the new budget includes hiring a zoning code enforcement officer. One of the duties of this person would be to contact owners of houses being used for short term rentals.

Resident Steve Meining asked the supervisors for an update on the permit status of the short-term rentals.

“I found nine of them that were still accepting reservations as of this morning,” he said.

Currently, the township has one person who is both a zoning officer and building code official.

“We didn’t have anything budgeted for this year, which is why we were hesitant to hire somebody,” Green said. “We included the funds in next year’s budget with the anticipation of looking for somebody next year.”

Meining said, “I just want to go on the record that we can’t let this cancer get out of control. We need to make sure that these people are properly permitted and paying their appropriate taxes, just keeping things well under of control if they want to continue doing business.”

All of the other taxes for the township remained unchanged. They include:

• Fire tax is 0.75.

• Light tax is 0.45 cents per frontage foot. Applies to 250 feet under the streetlight.

• Water tax is 0.4 mills.

• Real estate transfer tax is 1% of the selling price.

• Earned income tax is 1%.

• Local services tax is $52.

• Per capita tax is $5.

“We tried to stay within the parameters of the budget the best we could,” Green said. “But when we were doing the budget at our workshop, we were running a deficit.”

Meining also asked for an update on the sewage system project.

Green said they met with a consultant for an evaluation of the project, and they need to discuss it.

Township solicitor James Nanovic said, “It’s more lateral than moving ahead.” But it is not moving backward.

The supervisors also discussed changing the garbage bill to once a year instead of twice a year due in April and October.

Residents currently pay $220 per year, with a discount if made early. If they change it to once a year, residents will still have the option of paying in installments. The only change is that the bill would be mailed one time. The township office could send out email reminders to residents.

Township Supervisor Michael Takerer said, “I’ve never heard anybody complain to me about it.”

Green said it’s more of a convenience to the office.

“It’s cheaper,” Takerer said. “You’re cutting your mailing costs in half, your postage, and the time you spend with it.”

The supervisors tabled the idea for more discussion later. The garbage bills are not due to go out again until next spring.