That lump of coal you’ll find in your Christmas stocking this morning is courtesy of Delaware County Council.

To the surprise of no one, Council yesterday unanimously approved a
$308.6 million dollar budget that will hike taxes 7.4 percent.

It will cost taxpayers on averageg another $48 more in taxes, bringing average tax tabs to $680.

A few people showed up for the public comment portion of the meeting before the budget vote to bemoan the hike, but this one was pretty much locked in stone. Much of the spending involves courts and the county’s Fair Acres Geriatric Center, things that are for the most part out of council’s hands.

For many county residents, it’s a double-whammy this budget year, with the county piling on what are already some steep hikes being considered at the municipal level.

Then there’s the situation out in Bethel Township. The sleepy little burg in the western part of the county is learning the perils of being a boom town. It’s expensive.

More than 75 residents packed a meeting last night to blast the current township budget plan, which includes a 66 percent tax hike and a steep hike in trash collection fees.

A resident with a home assessed at $250,000 is looking at forking over an additional $114 in township taxes. A trash fee of $160 is being slapped on residents who currently did not pay for the service.

Supervisors are expected to revise the budget. They will vote on it New Year’s Eve. Stay tuned.

This one could provide the New Year’s fireworks.