A balanced budget with revenues
and expenses estimated to be $1,019,258 is what supervisors are planning for
Chadds Ford Township. Supervisor Garry Paul said there are no tax increases
planned.

The board unveiled the budget
during its Dec. 1 meeting. Supervisors plan to vote on the spending plan during
a special meeting planned for 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 22.

As is typical, the largest
revenue source will be property taxes, projected to be $234,427. An additional
$100,000 is expected to come from real estate transfer taxes.

On the high end for expenses
are community development services at $439,221 and salaries, benefits and
payroll at $232,885.

Other business:
Prior to the regular meeting, supervisors began, and continued, a hearing
on a proposed sign ordinance change that would allow for billboards, as well as
modifying other regulations.

As previously reported, the
township is considering the change to allow for billboards because, according
to township solicitor Hugh Donaghue, a state court case in the state will
likely require accommodations for billboards.

“One of the dangers,” Donaghue
said during a Planning Commission meeting in October, “if you do not provide
for billboard location, your decisions may be subject to challenge and you may
end up with billboards being located in areas you certainly would not like to
have billboards located.”

He repeated the recommendation
during the December supervisors’ meeting.

Locations being considered for
billboards are along Route 202 north of Oakland Road where there is already a
billboard, and along Route 1 at Painters’ Crossing shopping center.

The Township Planning
Commission has recommended that the changes be adopted, but the Delaware County
Planning Commission has reservations over some of the wording, saying it needs
more clarification.

As currently planned, the
highest point of a billboard shall not exceed 25 feet and they can be no larger
than 200 square feet in area.

Billboards must be at least 500
feet from any intersection and shall be at least 500 feet away from a residential
district.

The hearing was continued to 7
p.m. Jan. 3, the first Monday of the new year. That is the night the state
requires municipalities to hold their annual organizational meeting.