PETERSBURG – Upper Township residents are looking at a 3.3-cent tax rate increase under the municipal budget proposed for 2025.

The average home assessment in Upper Township is about $290,250, which means that homeowner will see a tax increase of about $84 this year. The new tax rate would be 0.323 per $100 of assessed value, as opposed to the 2024 rate of 0.290.

The municipal budget of $17,586,095 will be funded in part by $6,212,543 in local property taxes. This reflects a 10.58% increase in local taxes collected. The township is also using about 43% of its $6 million surplus to help fund the 2025 budget.

The new budget is down nearly $3 million from the 2024 municipal budget of $20,544,686, reflecting a decrease in state and federal grants.

According to the budget summary sheet, overall salaries and wages will rise about $300,000, and overall “other expenses” will increase about $480,000.

Some of the highlights of the 2025 budget include an increase of $22,000 in salaries and wages for the township clerk’s office; an increase in salaries and wages for the finance administration of $30,100; an increase in salaries and wages for general administration of $68,300, and an increase in general administration other expenses of $70,100.

The cost of salaries and wages in the tax assessor’s office will decrease $32,000, and other expenses will drop $21,400. In the tax collector’s office, salaries and wages will decrease by $27,400. Engineering other expenses will rise $48,300.

Workers compensation insurance will rise $80,000, while employee group health will decrease by $134,500.

Public Safety salaries and wages will rise by $85,000 in 2025. Road repair and maintenance will increase by $121,000, and recycling salaries and wages will increase $59,200.

Street lighting costs will be up $104,000 in 2025.

A public hearing on the budget will be held on Monday, April 14, at 5:30 p.m.

Contact the reporter, Christopher South, at csouth@cmcherlad.com or 609-886-8600, ext. 128.