Hampton Township Council won’t pursue a referendum on November’s ballot that would give members the ability to increase the earned income tax rate.
Council members disagreed on the timing of the referendum. Some wanted to pursue it now, given that municipal manager Christopher Lochner is retiring next year. Others wanted to wait until a presidential election year, when voter turnout is typically higher. At a meeting earlier this month, council member Richard Kernick even called it “borderline anti-democratic” to put the referendum on the ballot during a non-presidential election year.
The referendum would have asked residents to repeal a section of the township’s home rule charter that limits its ability to establish tax rates. Home rule charters are essentially documents that define the government’s authority and limitations. In Hampton, all wage earners pay a 1% earned income tax that is shared equally between the township and school district.
If this cap were removed, the township could increase earned income tax to generate revenues, instead of just raising property taxes. While council members said previously they didn’t plan to raise the tax rate now, they wanted flexibility in the future — especially as Hampton Township School District continues to raise property taxes.
At the May 24 meeting, council president Carolynn Johnson said she still believes now is the best time to move forward with the referendum. But she said given the “significant amount of disagreement” among council regarding its timing and whether they “have sufficient time to adequately conduct a public education campaign prior to the general election,” she voted to delay.
Council had an Aug. 8 deadline to pass an ordinance — a requirement in Allegheny County —for the referendum to be placed on the November ballot.
“If we do increase property taxes, as you know, that affects everybody in the township including the senior citizens who are on fixed incomes, whereas if we were able to do instead a small increase to the earned income tax, it would help the senior citizens and other people on fixed incomes to preserve their income, to preserve their earnings,” Johnson said at a previous meeting.
Hampton is also officially seeking its next municipal manager. Lochner formally announced that he is retiring after 37 years at the job, effective Feb. 1. Lochner said he expects 10 to 20 applicants, many who are very qualified.
“During this time, I’ve experienced many ups and downs, many successes and yes even setbacks in overseeing township operations,” Lochner said. “I believe, however, that most of you as well as the township’s residents would agree that the successes have well outnumbered the setbacks.”
Council adopted a Comprehensive Recreation Park and Open Space Plan, which spans 10 years and includes projected costs of more than $6 million for full implementation. The plan seeks to protect Hampton’s natural resources — healthy air, streams and green spaces — and to educate the community on conservation efforts, implement walking and biking routes, make the pond in Hampton Community Park more accessible and more.
The plan is split into three phases. The first includes tree planting as well as upgrading accessible restrooms and playground equipment. The second moves into building a multi-purpose turf field, while the third involves improving the Rachel Carson Trail.
“A plan is something that not everything comes to pass, not everybody agrees with. It’s a guide,” Lochner said. “But the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of (Conservation and) Natural Resources is going to insist that you have that plan if you ever apply for any kind of grant money.”
Some community members involved in youth sports have expressed the opinion that improving scheduling at township fields and building a new multi-purpose turf field should be a top priority. One of these parents, Hannalore Merritt, said various athletic associations are interested in forming a youth sports board with the school district, township officials and the school district to discuss scheduling.
Rebecca Johnson is a contributing writer.
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Hampton Council drops tax referendum idea, for now - TribLIVE
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