Taxes to rise in Upper Gwynedd

Upper Gwynedd's Board of Commissioners on Monday approved a budget with the township's first property tax increase in 23 years.

In 2014, the general fund millage will go from 0.874 to 1.874, raising the average municipal tax bill to $266. That does not include taxes for fire, water and sewer services, or the school district.

The commissioners also raised the sewer tax rate 15 percent.

The board called the increases "unavoidable" and said the township had already conducted "an exhaustive line item review resulting in significant budgetary cuts."

With revenues down due to declining real estate sales and costs rising for public safety, supplies, healthcare, and stormwater maintenace, the board said, maintaining the current tax rate would "compromise the level of services provided to our residents."

The last general tax increase was in 1991. Two years later, the township actually lowered taxes by one-third.

In all, taxpayers can expect their tax bill to grow an average of $190 in 2014.

Homeowners already saw their bills go up an average of $55 this year, when the North Penn School District raised its millage 1.7 percent.

As of 2013, Upper Gwynedd's local millage was the eighth-lowest in Montgomery County, according to data from the county Board of Assessment Appeals.

Taxes are also going up in Lower Providence and Limerick Townships.