WEST MARLBOROUGH: Tax increases on the horizon

The West Marlborough supervisors have been warning for months that a tax increase is likely, and the proposed budget for 2020 reflects just that. 
The earned income tax would go from 0.50% to 0.75% and the property tax would go from 1.7 mills to 2 mills. These increases would generate an additional $65,000 to fund emergency services (fire companies and ambulance service) and Kennett Library construction. There would be no increase in the police services provided by the East Marlborough police, for which the township pays $12,000 a year.
There seems to be general support for funding emergency services, but residents seem unsure whether West Marlborough taxpayers should contribute to building the proposed new Kennett Library. Residents have also been wondering whether the supervisors could help to fund these causes using the windfall in real-estate transfer taxes that resulted from the sale of several estates in the township.
The proposed 2020 budget will be discussed in a public meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12. Ordinances would need to be advertised and passed before any tax increase could be imposed.