from the bcct:
Property taxes to increas $20
By: GEMA MARIA DUARTE
Bucks County Courier Times
MORRISVILLE
The money from the tax hike will go toward paying off debt accrued by the municipal pool's owner.
It's final. Morrisville residents will pay $20 more in property taxes in 2011.
Despite objections by Mayor Rita Ledger and Councilman Todd Sanford at Monday night's council meeting, the extra money from property taxes will be used for debt - including liens - accrued by Morrisville Swimming Pool Inc., owner of the municipal swimming pool in Williamson Park.
Morrisville officials are trying to work out an agreement with the group that would transfer ownership of the closed pool to the borough for the debt payment.
The vote to approve next year's $5.9 million operating budget was 4-2. Sanford and Eileen Dreisbach voted against it. Voting in favor were council President Nancy Sherlock, Kathryn Panzitta, Rhonda Davis and Fred Kerner. Missing were Victor Cicero and David Rivella.
Sanford argued that if the pool management did run up high debt and liens, the borough should use other accounts to pay for it rather than raising taxes. Ledger said she researched the possibility of liens on the pool and there aren't any.
But borough solicitor Sean Kilkenny insisted, "There is debt on this property." His firm researched the property, so did former solicitor James Downey of Begley, Carlin & Mandio, said Kilkenny.
According to Sherlock, the pool's debt is about $75,000 and the extra money from property taxes will help pay $58,898 of that total.
Property owners will be assessed taxes at a rate of 40.93 mills. That means someone with a home assessed at the borough average of $20,000 will pay about $818 in municipal property taxes next year.
The independently operated Morrisville Community Swimming Pool closed in 2008 after years of trying to stay afloat financially. The swim club board blamed the financial strain on declining membership and attendance as well as keeping up with new safety laws.
Though the borough wants to buy the closed pool, there's no official plan for their future, officials said.
Before the council decides on anything, it intends to offer the public a chance for input.
Sherlock said the pool is "blighted and is an eyesore" and Morrisville has to do something about it.
The newspaper was unsuccessful in reaching the pool owners for comment Tuesday.
Gema Maria Duarte can be reached at 215-949-4195 or gduarte@phillyBurbs.com
Follow Gema on Twitter at twitter.com/deadlineduarte.
December 15, 2010 02:11 AM
