ROSS TOWNSHIP, Pa. \u2014 The Ross Township Board of Commissioners will vote next month on a proposed 12.5% property tax increase, the third increase in just as many years.<\/p>\n
Commission president Dan DeMarco told Channel 11 that Ross Township\u2019s overall spending is projected to go up by nearly $2.7 million in 2027. He said that includes skyrocketing health insurance premiums for township employees, the rising cost of road salt, and stormwater projects that could help mitigate flooding.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo system is going to be able to handle some of these storms altogether, but smaller storms, you shouldn\u2019t have some of these problems,\u201d DeMarco said. \u201cWe cannot control a lot of these increased costs.\u201d<\/p>\n
Others say enough is enough.<\/p>\n
\u201cTwelve percent is a lot,\u201d said Karen Abmayer, a Ross Township resident. \u201cI think it\u2019s devastating, especially for people on fixed incomes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know it sounds like it\u2019s going for a good reason, but I think right now with inflation, people want to try to get by and live,\u201d said Kelli Stebler, who works in Ross Township.<\/p>\n
Ross Township also increased its public safety budget to more than $12 million, up more than 11 percent. DeMarco said that includes repairs and maintenance of two township ladder trucks and the addition of another full-time firefighter who would assist the newly-added chief of fire and emergency services.<\/p>\n
Demarco said it\u2019s still being determined how much each volunteer fire department will receive from the township<\/p>\n
\u201cA fire truck today costs $2 million,\u201d DeMarco said. \u201cWe have to reform the whole system, the whole fire delivery system. We have to look at the eight fire companies we have, the amount of equipment that exists right now.\u201d<\/p>\n
This comes as Ross-West View EMS requested a $30 annual increase from residents, which Ross Township would have to approve, along with the other communities it serves.<\/p>\n
PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Local EMS agency asks communities to approve higher annual fees to help cover rising costs<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI personally am having a problem with the requested increase they\u2019ve asked for,\u201d DeMarco said.<\/p>\n The next board of commissioners meeting is Monday, November 16. A vote is set for December 7.<\/p>\n Download the FREE WPXI News app<\/a> for breaking news alerts.<\/p>\n Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook<\/a> and Twitter<\/a>. | Watch WPXI NOW<\/a><\/p>\n TOP STORIES FROM CHANNEL 11 NEWS <\/p>\n \u00a92026 Cox Media Group<\/p>\n