Question Placed on Ballot to Save Open Space, Limit School Taxes (N.B. this question faled to pass by a 50.9% to 49.1% margin)

If approved, the referendum would permit the option of levying an additional earned income tax of up to.15 (that’s fifteen hundredths) of a percent for 20 years. Dr. Arthur Friedman, chairman of the Supervisors, explained that the vote is simply giving the township the authority to buy land if and when it becomes available. "We must be in position to act quickly when the time comes, before the land is bought by developers," he said. To estimate how much it will cost your family, figure 15 percent of what you are presently paying in earned income taxes – not real estate taxes.

Of course, since this is an earned income tax, the levy would not apply to pensions, investments or Social Security. In an effort to determine which open space sites would be purchased, a study has been done to see which ones could have the most homes built on them under current zoning (see story below, click here for map). In addition to purchasing land outright, the township could obtain development rights on ground that would remain in private ownership but prevent any construction. This technique would allow the money go further and include more properties.

Unlike the current one percent earned income tax which is shared with the school board, the township would keep all of the new revenue for the sole purpose of protecting the open space, even though it will result in helping to restrain future school tax increases.

"The township has done its job in creating a vehicle that would preserve much of the remaining space in Northampton and developing the statistics so the voters will be able to make an informed decision," Dr. Friedman said. "It is now up the electorate to decide whether they are willing to pay a little more each year to maintain the present atmosphere and appearance of their hometown."

Here is the wording of the question that will appear on the ballot:

"Do you favor the imposition of an additional earned income tax at a maximum rate of .15% (fifteen hundredths of one percent) on an annual basis for no more than the next twenty (20) years by Northampton Township to be used exclusively for the financing of acquisition of open space, agricultural conservation and forest easements, recreation or historic lands and property development rights?"

Voters will be asked to vote yes or no.

Since a primary election is a political party election to chose candidates for November, only electors registered with a political party can normally vote in a primary election. However, all registered voters – such as Independents, No Party and members of a minor political party – are allowed to vote on a referendum. However, they cannot cast a vote on any of the candidates.

The township engineer has identified 48 tracts in Northampton that are "ripe" for development and says that under present zoning the owners could erect 1,204 homes by law. (See map). It is estimated that every home produces 1.3 school children, so this means if these homes are ever built, 1,565 more children will be enrolled in the Council Rock school system. The school district said the cost of educating each child is $12,246. This means local taxpayers would have to come up with an additional $19,164,990 in school taxes each year.

Based on the current school taxes, this would translate into 68.3 mills each year, which would mean an annual school tax increase of $683 on a home assessed at $10,000. These figures do not include the additional schools that would be built. In addition to the school taxes, more homes would mean additional municipal services would be needed to add to the tax burden. So, a lot of this could be prevented by the approval of the additional earned income tax at an average annual cost of $15 per household.