Upper Nazareth to Institute Payment Plan for Township Taxes

property owners will be able to pay their township property tax in two installments this year -- when the township .

Upper Nazareth supervisors on Wednesday said they plan to adopt an ordinance that will outline specifics of the installment plan, such as what penalties will be assessed for a missed or late payment.

Township solicitor Gary Asteak advised supervisors that an ordinance would be needed to adopt the payment plan, which is new to Upper Nazareth.

Installment tax payment plans -- while common for school districts, which assess much higher tax rates than do municipalities -- are uncharted territory for local townships, according to Supervisor Scott Sylvainus.

"We are the only one," he said.

Supervisors announced last month their intention to establish the two-pay installment plan as a way to ease the burden on taxpayers in Upper Nazareth this year. That translates to an additional $135 in township property tax for the owner of a property assessed at $50,000.

In other business:

• Supervisors approved sending Andy Donello to attend the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors convention in May. Donello, a township supervisor and an employee of the township's Department of Public Works, will receive the 21 hours of pay he would normally earn for the three days he attends the convention.

• Tim Gambocurta was appointed as an alternate to the township's Zoning Hearing Board.