PUBLIC NOTICE
Notice is hereby given that the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Upper Saucon intends to consider passage of Ordinance No. 142 at a public meeting to be held on the 12th day of May, 2008, commencing at 6:00 p.m. Said public meeting shall take place at the Township Municipal Building located at 5500 Camp Meeting Road, Center Valley, PA. The following constitutes the full text version of proposed Ordinance No. 142:
TOWNSHIP OF UPPER SAUCON
LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
ORDINANCE NO. 142
An Ordinance of the Upper Saucon Township Board of Supervisors providing for a question to be placed before the voters of Upper Saucon Township by a referendum at the general election of November 4, 2008 asking whether the electors of Upper Saucon Township favor the imposition of an additional Earned Income Tax at the rate of 0.25% by Upper Saucon Township to be used for financing the acquisition of open space; for the purpose of acquiring forest and agricultural conservation easements; for the purpose of acquiring property development rights; and for the purpose of acquiring recreation or historical lands. The ballot question is authorized by Act 153 of 1996. The referendum shall read as follows:
“Do you favor the imposition of an additional Earned Income Tax at the rate of 0.25% by Upper Saucon Township to be used to finance the acquisition of real property or interests in real property to preserve open space; provided that the revenue generated by this tax may not be used to acquire real property or interests in real property through condemnation?”
YES or NO
Plain English Version:
The ballot question asks the voters of Upper Saucon Township whether the Township should impose an additional Earned Income Tax at the rate of 0.25% on an annual basis to purchase land or interests in land for preservation and conservation of open, undeveloped, and/or historic land in Upper Saucon Township. The Township could use the additional revenue generated by this tax to secure open space benefits by acquiring one or more of the following:
1. Agricultural conservation easements. The Township could purchase
agricultural conservation easements, or participate in State or County land preservation
programs that acquire agricultural conservation easements. An agricultural conservation
easement allows the landowner to retain his/her land and use it for farming and other
agricultural purposes.
2. Open space. The Township could purchase undeveloped land from landowners in the Township in order to protect sensitive natural areas such as woodlands, stream valleys or other unique natural resources or habitats.
3. Recreation or historic land. The Township could purchase undeveloped land from landowners in the Township for the purpose of developing additional recreational facilities for residents or for historic preservation purposes.
4. Property Development Rights. Under this option, a landowner would sell the development rights of a property to the Township. The landowner would retain the property, but the property could not be developed.
The Township will be prohibited from using any revenue generated by this tax to acquire any interests in land through condemnation (eminent domain) and will be required to negotiate with property owners for the voluntary sale of their land or other interests in their land.
A vote of “YES” to the ballot question approves the imposition of an additional Earned
Income Tax at the rate of 0.25% upon Township residents for the foregoing purposes.
DULY ENACTED AND ORDAINED this ___ day of _____, 2008, by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Upper Saucon, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in lawful session duly assembled.
UPPER SAUCON TOWNSHIP
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
MIRO A. GUTZMIRTL, CHAIRMAN
