Williams Township board approves three land-preservation purchases and authorizes 0.25% earned-income-tax referendum

Williams Township supervisors on March 12 approved Agreements of Sale for three parcels and authorized a November ballot referendum to restore a 0.25% earned-income tax to fund land preservation efforts.

The board voted 3-0 to authorize the purchase agreements for properties identified as 2145 and 2155 Morgan Hill Road (Kutz) and 1075 Morvale Road (Derrington) and directed Township Manager Melody Ernst to sign the documents. Ray Abert made the motions, seconded by Supervisor Michael Bryant; each carried unanimously.

Township Solicitor Colby Grim was then authorized to prepare language for a referendum that would return a 0.25% earned-income tax to the ballot in November to finance the Land Preservation Board’s acquisitions. “The process to preserve land takes approximately three years, which will build up the fund,” Melody Ernst said during discussion, explaining why the board was moving to create a stable funding mechanism.

The board also authorized the use of township facilities for a Heritage Conservancy workshop presented by Matt Babbitt, intended to educate residents about the referendum and land-preservation options. The board voted 3-0 to permit the workshop at either the Williams Township Community Building or the Municipal Building.

Why it matters: The referendum, if approved by voters, would create a dedicated local revenue stream for rolling conservation purchases over time; the board emphasized that building the fund is a multi-year process and that agreements of sale now put specific parcels on a preservation track.

Next steps: The solicitor will prepare referendum language for review and placement on the November ballot; staff will execute the signed agreements and coordinate the outreach workshop with the Heritage Conservancy.