Voters in Hatfield Township will have one additional choice to make in the voting booth or on their ballots this year.
A referendum question will appear on the ballot asking voters whether to increase the town’s earned income tax rate by up to 0.25 percent to generate funds for preservation of open space.
“Do you favor the imposition of an increase in the earned income tax at the rate of twenty-five one hundredths of one percent (0.25 percent) to be used by the Township of Hatfield for the purposes of preserving undeveloped land and expanding opportunities for outdoor recreation; retiring indebtedness incurred in purchasing interests in real property and making additional acquisitions of real property for those purposes; and for expending funds for any purpose relating to the acquisition, planning for acquisition, preservation, improvement and maintenance of open space for an open space benefit? YES or NO,” reads the formal ballot question publicized by Montgomery County.
Talks were held in June and July on the referendum process, in which township officials said the funds could be used to fund open space preservation, park improvements and recreational amenities.
Officials project the additional earned income tax could cost an additional $125 for a resident with an annual salary of $50,000; an additional $250 for those with an annual salary of $100,000 and $375 for those with an annual salary of $150,000, and total revenue generated would be roughly $2 million per year. That increase would only apply to those who pay earned income tax, and would not affect residents on fixed incomes and excludes pensions, Social Security, and other fixed income sources, according to the township.
“Funds can be used alone or combined with grants to acquire or develop open space. Many programs, such as Montgomery County’s Montco Forever Green and PA DCNR’s Community Conservation Partnership Program, require matching funds, where the grant(s) cover part of the cost and the municipality provide the rest,” said the township in an online FAQ.
“Will the Township seize private property with this money? No. All open space land acquisitions will be from willing sellers. The Township cannot use eminent domain to acquire properties for open space under this program. In fact, state law precludes a municipality’s ability to involuntarily condemn land for open space purposes,” said the township.
Any projects using the funds would be guided by the township’s open space plan, and the township would establish an open space committee tasked with holding public meetings to evaluate any properties up or consideration, and make recommendations to the commissioners. If no property is immediately available for acquisition, the township can use up to 25 percent of the annual revenue “to develop, engineer, design, improve, and maintain” current open space, per the FAQ.
Nearby townships with dedicated open space preservation funding include Franconia, Lower Salford, Towamencin, Skippack, Hilltown and New Britain, per the township, and open space preservation could prevent or forestall developments that increase population and require enhanced school, police, EMS services and infrastructure.
Lengthy talks on the referendum and possible uses of the funds were held in the July 22 township commissioners meeting, which is available to watch on the township’s YouTube channel. For more information, visit https://www.hatfield.org/departments/finance/finance-taxes/open-space-referendum/.
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