West Chester Twp. is planning to spend about $48 million this year which is a 5% decrease from last year but more than anticipated revenues.
Revenues are expected to total $46.8 million, and a carryover of $39 million will help balance the budget.
Safety services consume the largest portion of the township’s budget at $33.2 million combined for police, fire and EMS. Voters approved new 2-mill levies each for police and fire last November. The existing 6-mill fire levy had gone untouched, meaning it hasn’t been replaced or adjusted, since 2006. For police, it had been since 2010. Property taxes are the largest income source, and Finance Director Ken Keim budgeted $37.4 million for this year, however those revenues are likely to be higher than the budget reflects. Keim assumed a 10% property value hike, but when County Auditor Roger Reynolds submitted his six-year reassessment numbers to the state he was told to increase them to 20% on average. Reynolds has appealed the increase.