December 2, 2016

The Chester County Commissioners unanimously approved the 2017 budget this week, reflecting an increase of 4.95 percent. The budget calls for $460,094,845 in operating expenses and $87,504,129 for its capital budget.

The 4.95 percent increase in county real estate taxes comes to an additional $34.44 for a median assessed property value of $166,630.

“The County has not raised taxes since 2013,” said Commission Chairman Terrance Farrell. “We’ve worked hard to keep taxes as low as possible. This budget delivers necessary services to our residents at a fair cost, and also allows us to focus on maintaining the County’s position as one of the healthiest, best educated and best places to live in the state and the nation,”

Vice Chair Kathi Cozzone said commissioners remain “committed to our priority for citizen safety, which means further investment in projects such as the voice radio system for emergency responders, the construction of a firing range at our public safety training campus and an upgrade in our computer aided dispatch equipment.”

Commissioner Michelle Kichline also noted the importance placed on maintaining a balance of growth and preservation, which will continue with the development in 2017 of Landscapes3 and further investment in urban centers and open space.

“Maintaining a ‘quality of place’ here in Chester County is so important to attract and keep the right businesses and people with the right workforce skills that will allow the county to continue to thrive. That takes investment,” said Kichline. “Even with this increase, Chester County still has one of the lowest tax rates in Southeastern Pennsylvania,” she said.

According to county Chief Operating Officer Mark Rupsis, “Chester County remains one of the most economically stable counties in the state and our focus on investment benefits from the maintenance of healthy fund balance reserves which has earned us three triple-A bond ratings for 10 consecutive years and which makes borrowing less expensive.  These reserves also allow us to provide for rainy day funds – like those needed for human services when we had the state budget crisis.”

PennDOT has announced the following road projects, which are weather-dependent and could affect residents in the greater Chadds Ford area during the week of Dec. 3 through Dec. 9. Motorists are urged to allow extra time if they are traveling through one of the construction zones.

Route 322 West — Conchester Highway — will be closed for fiber optic installation between Fellowship Road and Spring Valley Road on Dec. 5 from 7 to 10 p.m.

Lane restrictions will be in place along I-95 North and South in Philadelphia for drain cleaning and debris removal between Philadelphia International Airport PA 63 (Woodhaven Rd.) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. from Dec. 5 to Dec. 8 in Westtown and West Whiteland townships.

Lane restrictions will also be in place between Routes 100 and US Business 30 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 5 through Dec. 16 in Westtown and West Whiteland townships.

Also in Westtown and West Whiteland townships, there will be lane restrictions on Route 926 between PA 352 & PA 3 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. from Dec. 5 through Dec. 16.

Green Valley Road in Newlin Township is closed and detoured between Powell and Brandywine Creek roads due to structural deficiencies at the Green Valley Road Bridge. No repair date has been scheduled.

Burnt Mill Road in Kennett Township remains closed and detoured for reconstruction between Norway and Spring Mill roads. The estimated completion date is Dec. 20.

If you want to report potholes and other roadway maintenance concerns on state roads, call 610-566-0972 in Delaware County or 484-340-3200 in Chester County, or visit www.dot.state.pa.us and click on “submit feedback.”