Forward Township supervisors OK new budget with no tax hike

By Christine Haines
chaines@yourmvi.com

The Forward Township Supervisors met in special session Wednesday to adopt the 2021 budget.
The $1.5 million spending plan was adopted unanimously with no increase in property taxes.
It was the first meeting held by the supervisors since March when pandemic-related shutdowns began. Wednesday’s meeting was held virtually via Zoom. While the supervisors are still scheduled to hold meetings the second Monday of each month, Supervisor David Magiske said he didn’t know when the next meeting would be held.
“We will hold meetings when the law requires us to,” Magiske said. “The primary goal is to protect our residents and employees. Some people say we went beyond what is reasonable, but I disagree. Things change so rapidly with COVID that we haven’t set anything in stone.”
Magiske said he and his family members are currently recuperating from COVID-19 and should be released from quarantine within the next several days.
The supervisors ratified an ordinance granting property tax relief for 2020.
“If people paid their property tax by Dec. 31, even if it was late, there would be no penalties or interest charged,” Magiske said.
Magiske said the relief was granted to give residents who may have been affected by business shutdowns due to COVID-19 a break.
The supervisors also approved the Act 537 Sewage Facilities Plan update for the Elizabeth Borough Municipal Authority, which treats sewage for part of the township.
The supervisors adopted an ordinance increasing billboard fees in the township. Magiske said the ordinance is to bring the fees charged by Forward Township in line with fees in the surrounding area.
Several subdivisions for individual property owners were also approved.