December 19, 2024

Chadds Ford Township supervisors approved the 2025 budget Wednesday night with no increase in township property taxes. There was a change in the former Business Privilege Tax, however, and the budget had to be readvertised because of that change.

The name Business Privilege Tax is gone and is replaced by a Business Registration License. Additionally, the BPT had been $100 per year but the BRL is $225 per year. Township Treasurer Laura Lim previously said the entire $225 from businesses — anticipated to total $124,000 — will go to the Concordville Fire and Protection Association for fire and EMS services.

The new registration fee applies to all businesses with gross earnings of $15,000 or more. A business that fails to register will be subject to a fine of 10 percent of that year’s fee.

Supervisors agreed to increase the township’s contribution to the fire company, which is no longer volunteer, but a paid fire department.

Additionally, during Wednesday’s meeting, supervisors voted to make a one-time donation not to exceed $25,000 to the fire company. Supervisors’ Vice Chairman Timotha Trigg said would come from extra revenue left over from the 2024 budget.

The 2025 budget is balanced with anticipated revenues and expenses of $1,497,358. The revenue includes a $13,225 fund balance carried over from 2024.

The township property tax millage rate remains the same as in 2024. Those rates are 0.6247 mills in areas with fire hydrants, and 0.5577 mills without hydrants. Other taxes include 0.072 mills for Rachel Kohl LIbrary and 0.160 mills for open space. (A mill is a tax of $1 for every $1,000 in assessed property value.)

The boards also approved an open space budget of $5.992 million. Township manager Lacey Faber said about $5.5 million of that comes from grants.

Other business

Supervisors discussed some needed road repairs on Ridings Boulevard; however, they didn’t vote yet. A storm pipe needs to be replaced and, according to township engineer Mike Schneider, there are actually two pipes. The cost of replacing them is estimated to be $93,000

Supervisors’ Chairman Samantha Reiner acknowledged it’s the township’s responsibility to take care of the pipe within the right of way but questioned whether the township or the homeowners’ association is responsible for the pipe outside the right of way.

Reiner suggested the matter be tabled until the board could get a legal opinion from solicitor Mike Maddren who was not at Wednesday’s meeting. Faber said she would put it on the January agenda.

The board’s next meeting is the state-mandated reorganization meeting on Jan. 6.