Lansdale Borough News.
"By making this modest increase, and through bonding, we are going to be able to invest back in the community in substantial ways."
Last night, Borough Council approved and finalized a 2025 budget that is focused on continuing to invest in the future of our community and our residents.
As noted by many of us last night, this budget year has been one of the most difficult any of us has experienced. The increases in project and material costs continue to climb while residents are similarly strapped for cash and burdened by widespread affordability challenges. Council members, Borough Staff, and I spent countless hours reviewing and adjusting the budget to help ensure that we maximize the value and impact of taxpayer dollars to minimize any potential tax increases that may be necessary.
At the beginning of this process, nearly a year ago when we did not increase taxes at all, it seemed likely that an increase of one millage would be required to balance the budget while continuing to invest in our infrastructure and other necessary community-wide improvements (outlined below).
Through our deliberations and discussions, we were able to trim that increase down to three quarters of a millage, which for the average homeowner in Lansdale is an additional $98 per year or around $8 per month.
By making this modest increase, and through bonding, we are going to be able to invest back in the community in substantial ways including:
We are investing in the future of our residents through the library, we are investing in the future of our parks by rebuilding our pools, and we are investing in the future growth of our community by rebuilding and improving critical roadways that need rehabilitation.
As we look forward, it is my hope that throughout 2025 we will keep our eye on protecting the increased investment by residents while also looking closely at how we can ask for the same increased level of investment and commitment from non-residential enterprises to help ensure the challenges of our community are not born by residents alone via their tax dollars.
Personally, 2025 for me will be dedicated to improving the long-term livability and affordability of our community to ensure Lansdale will always be a great place for people of all backgrounds to call home. To me, this requires major initiatives around electric and sewer to build toward future states that must be addressed now to keep us all moving forward together.
(Mayoral Musings is a weekly op-ed column submitted to North Penn Now, courtesy of Lansdale Borough Mayor Garry Herbert. The views expressed are his own and are not representative of North Penn Now or Lansdale Borough.)