Property owners in Hampton likely won’t have to pay more in property taxes or in stormwater management fees next year. But they can expect a $5 per month increase in sewer fees for the next two years.

Hampton Township Council discussed the township’s proposed $15.5 million budget for 2023 at its Dec. 7 meeting. The budget allocates funds for construction upgrades to the wastewater pollution control plant, construction of a community park trail, the creation of an economic advisory board and more. Council will vote on the budget at its Dec. 14 meeting.

“No proposed reduction in township services is part of this budget. The opposite is the case actually, as we’re looking to add personnel to the public works and recreation services department,” said Christopher Lochner, municipal manager.

Lochner said he anticipates about $15.5 million in expenses, including $4.4 million for public works and recreation, $3.8 million for general government expenses, $3 million for public safety and $2.2 million for environmental services. The township is expected to generate about $16.3 million in revenue, Lochner said, which includes $9.8 million from taxes and $5.3 million from non-taxable revenue such as recreation fees and public permit fees.

Overall, Lochner said if “all goes to plan” the township will be able to to carry over about $780,000 into 2024.

The proposed 2023 budget calls for a real estate tax rate of 2.9241 mills, which is identical to 2022 and 2021. This rate is equivalent to $292 per $100,000 of a property’s assessed value. Within this rate, 1.9790 is allocated for general operating purposes, 0.7415 for capital improvements and 0.2036 for fire protection services.

Lochner said the township needs to increase the sanitary sewer capital fee by $5 per month in 2023 and 2024 to offset costs from debt payments for the Allison Park Wastewater Pollution Control Plant. For 2022, this fee was $33 per month, or $66 per sanitary sewer billing cycle. In 2021, it was $25.50 per month or $51 per billing cycle.

The township also plans higher swimming pool fees to cover a 40% lifeguard salary increase, although officials haven’t decided on a specific dollar amount. Council floated the idea of making the price increase for non-residents higher than residents of Hampton.

“Non-residents are not contributing to paying for the infrastructure of the pool through their property taxes. So keep that in mind when you see the increases for residents versus non-residents,” said Carolynn Johnson, council president.

The township has budgeted about $4 million for projects within its capital improvement fund, many of which Lochner said the community services department will coordinate. It allocates $1.1 million for road maintenance, $1.3 million to reconstruct the Clearview Road Bridge and $200,000 to resurface tennis courts in the Hampton Community Park. The township will use tax revenue, grants and transfer of funds from other budgets to pay for those projects.

In terms of its stormwater management fund, the township anticipates spending $1.98 million in 2023. About $1.1 million is set aside for capital projects, such as projects on Windstream and Fountainwood drives.

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