Levy of one precent to go into effect July 1
Upper Darby Council approved a 1 percent earned income tax at its regular meeting last week, after two prior attempts to impose the tax failed for procedural reasons.
Pending a review by the state, the tax will go into effect July 1.
Chief Administrative Officer Crandall Jones said the money would go into the general fund to address needs of the capital budget, which he said presently sits at $1.5 million in the general fund.
Jones said that while the revenue brought in by the tax would be only a small portion of the township’s roughly $100 million annual budget, the real benefit would be the diversification of revenue sources.
Council member Andrew Hayman presented an amendment to exclude residents who make $12,000 or less per year, which is the largest amount that can be excluded by state law.
The solicitor said such an amendment would need to be presented at a to be presented at a future public hearing.
The tax passed by a vote of 7 to 4. Council President Hafiz Tunis Jr., Vice President Andrew Hayman, Secretary Michelle Billups, and Councilors Jess Branas, Danyelle Blackwell, Marion Minick and David Bantoe voted yes. Councilors Meghan Wagner, Laura Wentz, Matt Silva and Brian Andruszko voted no.
