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Chester CountyPRESS
www.chestercounty.com
Covering Avon Grove, Chadds Ford, Kennett Square, Oxford, & Unionville Areas
Volume 150, No. 25
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
U-CF approves 2.66 percent tax increase for 2016-17 budget
60 Cents
So far, so close
By John Chambless Staff Writer The Unionville-Chadds Ford School Board shaved just a bit off the numbers for 2016-17 before approving a final budget at their meeting on June 20. Reflecting a concern voiced recently by board president Victor Dupuis, a slightly revised budget was approved, by a vote of 7-2. Robert Cochran, the district’s director of business and operations, told the board, “The new budget calls Photo by Richard L. Gaw for 27.69 mills in Chester County, which is a 2.59 percent Members of the Avon Grove softball team stand and watch as the Hempfield Area increase, and 23.56 mills in Delaware County, representing High School softball team collects its AAAA Pennsylvania State Championship a 2.93 percent increase. This is a weighted average millage trophy on June 17, in a game played at Penn State. Despite a stellar performance by pitcher Maggie Balint, the Red Devils lost 1-0, in eight innings. For a complete increase of 2.66 percent, as compared to what is written in story, see Page 5B. the agenda tonight, which is 2.77 percent.” The expenditures in both budgets remained the same, at $82,493,427. The figures also include a 1 percent real estate transfer tax. “The only difference between the two budgets is the amount of fund balance used,” Cochran explained. “This budget uses approximately $74,000 in fund balance. The initial motion, which is shown on the agenda, used just under $1,000 of fund balance.” Board member Michael Rock said, “I’m not happy with By Richard L. Gaw going below 3 percent to make somebody comfortable, if “Green Valley Farm new. On Feb, 23, 2015, the Staff Writer what we’re doing is eating away at our fund balance,” a Conservation Easement – board voted 3-2 to enter reference to Dupuis saying he was uncomfortable with an Consider motion to rescind into negotiations to purThere it was, listed about the conservation agreement chase the acreage for $2.3 increase of 3 percent or higher. “I don’t understand approving a budget with a deficit. I’m opposed to it. I think this is half-way down the first page for 178+ acres known as the million, for the purpose of of the agenda of the June Green Valley Farm.” a step backwards.” placing a conservation easeBoard member Gregg Lindner echoed Rock’s opinion. 20 New Garden Township Its inclusion on the ment on it. At the board’s meeting: board’s agenda is nothing Continued on Page 4A Supervisors Continued on Page 3A
New Garden conservation agreement, about to be rescinded, gets reprieve
Avon Grove adopts $91 million budget By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer With the end of the school year fast approaching, the Avon Grove School Board took care of two items of pressing importance at the June 9 school board meet-
Intersection chokes Jennersville By Uncle Irvin How can Penn Township get a $400,000 grant for a sports park and not a dime for an intersection that is strangling Jennersville? Bad government, misallocated assets, and PennDOT lethargy are all responsible for the 796/Baltimore Pike intersection that lacks left-hand turning lanes from 796 onto Baltimore Pike. AdPro moved to Penn Township nearly Continued on Page 3A
ing. The board approved the implementation of full-day kindergarten, and it also voted in favor of a $91,471,852 budget for the 2016-2017 school year. The board voted 7-1 in favor of the spending plan, which will require a tax
increase of about 3.1 percent—just below the Act 1 Index limit for Avon Grove. The millage rate will increase from 28.1570 mills to 29.0400 mills to balance the budget. At the new tax rate, the owner of a median assessed property value
of $169,000 will see an increase of $149 in property taxes. The approval of full-day kindergarten and the budget can be considered a part of what the school district administration has called a reinvestment in Avon Grove.
“The support by the Board of School Directors for the 2016-2017 budget demonstrates our continued commitment to investing in our children and in our community,” said school board president Bonnie Wolff in Continued on Page 3A
Kennett Square celebrates completion of Cypress Street improvements By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer Kennett Square Borough celebrated the completion of $1.4 million in West Cypress Street improvements with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in front of Victory at Magnolia on June 15. Dan Maffei, the president of Kennett Square Borough Council, outlined the scope of the project, explaining that the project included streetscape upgrades to approximately 2,000 linear feet of West Cypress Street. The improvements included the paving of a stretch of Cypress Street,
a new water main, fire inlet repairs, and the addi- that was added for traffic hydrants, curbs, sidewalks, tion of more than 70 trees. calming. A gateway sign is ADA ramps, stormwater There is also a center island expected to be added in the future. The project was made possible, in large part, by a $956,000 grant from the county, and Chester County Commissioners Terence Farrell, Kathi Cozzone, and Michelle Kichline joined a host of Kennett Square officials, including borough manager Joseph Scalise, Photo by Steven Hoffman
Terence Farrell, the chairman of the Chester County Commissioners, helped cut the ribbon during the celebration of the completion of the streetscape project on West Cypress Street. Kennett Square officials and commissioners Kathi Cozzone and Michelle Kichline spoke at the event.
Continued on Page 2A © 2007 The Chester County Press