By Dan Hartzell
Morning Call (Allentown, Pennsylvania)
Copyright 2006 The Morning Call, Inc.
It’s official: People who live outside Upper Macungie Township, but who work within township borders, will pay an emergency municipal services tax, probably as early as next year.
Township supervisors discussed the possibility of imposing the tax at their June meeting, and by Thursday’s session, the issue was decided.
Supervisor Edward J. Earley Jr. said he knew he could speak for his colleagues in declaring, “We’re going to institute this tax; it’s just a question of how we’re going to work it.”
“We’re all in favor of it,” agreed Supervisor Chairman Porter E. Krisher.
While no elected official enjoys imposing taxes, Earley said, he likened this particular levy to a similar tax being imposed by other municipalities, including neighboring Allentown.
“It seems to be equitable” to impose the tax on non-residents, since many Upper Macungie property owners probably are paying the tax to the municipalities where they work, Earley said.
“It’s leveling the playing field,” helping Upper Macungie cover the costs of a steadily-growing demand for police protection and fire and ambulance services, he said.
The board asked solicitor Andrew V. Schantz to start work on an ordinance to impose the tax. Schantz said some advertising requirements will have to be met, but that the tax could be in force by the board’s target date, Jan. 1.
Krisher had some concerns about the tax being hard on part-time workers, particularly low-wage employees such as college students earnestly working summers and breaks to help defray the costs of their education.
Schantz said those workers could be protected by establishing wage guidelines; for example, the tax could be levied only on those grossing $12,000 per year or more, the solicitor said.
Schantz said the state enabling law allows municipalities to charge any amount up to $52 per year for the tax. Though the supervisors specified no amount in the motion they passed Thursday, Supervisor Thomas C. Gorr said he’d favor the full $52.
In interviews after the meeting, Earley and Krisher agreed that a $52 annual tax is likely to go into effect next year, barring unforeseen problems.
The levy is expected to generate about $500,000 per year for the township — money that possibly could be used to purchase a fire truck for the township’s planned new emergency-services center.
The township Planning Commission last month approved the land development plans for the building, which would be on township-owned land at 6510 Schantz Road, near the Cottonwood Street intersection.
According to current plans, the center would feature a three-bay garage to house an ambulance and two fire trucks in an area of the township that studies have indicated is underserved.
Preliminary estimates place the project’s cost at about $1.3 million, and if all goes well construction could start as early as spring 2007, Earley said.
Township engineer Dean L. Haas said state environmental approvals still are needed for the planned project.