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Local resident asks Tredyffrin‑Easttown board to add fourth property‑tax installment; staff say prior review found little practical benefit
Summary
During public comment at the March 10 budget workshop a resident urged the board to consider a four‑installment property‑tax payment plan to help fixed‑income homeowners; staff responded that a prior analysis showed four installments does not extend the delinquency timeline and the board agreed to revisit the issue.
Cindy Bergwold of Tredyffrin Township urged the Tredyffrin‑Easttown School Board at the March 10 budget workshop to consider allowing property taxpayers to pay school property taxes in four installments rather than the statutory three.
Bergwold told the board she was raising the issue again after receiving no change in a prior request. She said a four‑installment option would help residents on fixed incomes and described local circumstances—reverse mortgages, unexpected medical bills and the death of a spouse—that can leave homeowners “house rich, cash poor.”
Staff response and board follow-up Board President Kantorsik asked staff whether a four‑installment schedule was possible. District finance staff replied that a previous review found that moving to four installments would “squeeze” the payment calendar rather than lengthen the time before tax bills become delinquent: the same total must be paid within the same statutory window, so the first installment would be due earlier rather than later. Staff said they would look at the matter again if the board wishes.
No board action was taken during the meeting; staff said they would review the issue and report back.
Quoted from the public comment: “Would the TE school board consider changing the 3 installment plan to 4 for property tax? … This would help residents who are on a fixed income,” said Cindy Bergwold, who identified herself and her township of residence for the record.
Context Under Pennsylvania law some local schedules for school property tax collection are governed by Act 1 or related municipal rules; staff did not propose a specific schedule change at the March 10 workshop. The board closed public comment and returned to board questions after the remark.
Speakers in this item are listed in the article speaker section below. The board’s next formal budget workshops are scheduled for April 7 (expenditures) and April 28 (proposed final budget), when the board may direct further staff work on policy or billing schedules.
