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Bethel Park voters to consider several ballot questions

By Cara Host for The Almanac writer@thealmanac.Net 2 min read

Voters across Pennsylvania will consider a change to the state constitution, which voters in Bethel Park will consider changes to their municipal constitution when they head to the polls Nov. 7.

A statewide referendum will ask voters whether local taxing authorities should be able to exempt residents from paying property taxes. Those who support the measure say it is a step toward making broader property tax reform possible.

Bethel Park residents will consider four other ballot questions. If approved, the municipality’s home rule charter will be amended.

The first question would give the municipal council more leeway in scheduling the annual reorganization meeting. The charter currently requires that the meeting start at 8 p.m. on the first Monday in January. This causes some problems when the first Monday is a holiday, plus municipal council meetings typically start at 7:30 p.m., so voters will decide whether council should be able to determine the date and time of that meeting.

The second question would extend the timeline for developing the comprehensive plan from five years to ten years. Council members said updating the plan every five years is impractical and too expensive.

The third question would extend the deadline for submitting the general fund budget from Sept. 1 to Sept. 30. Municipal officials said the extra time would allow for more accurate estimates but also allows for ample time for public comment before council adopts the budget, typically in November.

The fourth question concerns extending the deadline for submitting the capital fund budget. Currently, the municipal manager must submit that spending plan two months prior to the general fund budget, and the referendum asks if that deadline could be just one month prior to the general fund budget deadline.

Bethel Park formed a commission to study the home rule charter last year and these four questions are some of its recommendations.

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