Chestnuthill Township, Monroe County, Pennsylvania

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 37.6 square miles (97 km²).37.5 square miles (97.0 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km²) of it (0.35%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 14,418 people, 4,906 households, and 3,905 families residing in the township. The population density was 384.9 people per square mile (148.6/km²). There were 5,593 housing units at an average density of 149.3/sq mi (57.7/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 92.34% White, 4.06% African American, 0.13% Native American, 1.00% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.03% from other races, and 1.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.88% of the population.

There were 4,906 households, out of which 42.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.9% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.4% were non-families. 16.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 3.26.

In the township the population was spread out, with 29.8% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 99.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.6 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $50,210, and the median income for a family was $55,058. Males had a median income of $41,988 versus $25,363 for females. The per capita income for the township was $20,017. About 5.9% of families and 7.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.2% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Residents of Chestnuthill Township may attend the local, public schools operated by Pleasant Valley School District which provides half day kindergarten through 12th grade. The Pleasant Valley School District's enrollment had declined to 5,435 students in kindergarten through 12th grade by 2013. In 2010, Pleasant Valley School District enrollment was 5,885 pupils. Pleasant Valley School District operates Pleasant Valley High School (9th-12th), Pleasant Valley Middle School (7th-8th), Pleasant Valley Intermediate School (4th-6th), and Pleasant Valley Elementary School (K-3rd). In 2013, Pleasant Valley School District’s graduation rate was 85.7%. In 2012, Pleasant Valley School District declined to "Warning" Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status due to lagging student achievement in both reading and mathematics at the high school, the middle school and the elementary school. Pleasant Valley High School had declined to Corrective Action Level II 4th year AYP status, due to a low graduation rate and lagging student achievement. The School missed every metric measured for student achievement in both reading and mathematics.

In 2014, the Pittsburgh Business Times ranked Pleasant Valley School District 285th out of 496 public schools for academic achievement of its pupils.

High school aged students can attend the taxpayer funded Monroe Career & Technical Institute for training in the building trades and other areas. The School is located at 194 Laurel Lake Road, Bartonsville. Monroe Career & Tech Institute is funded by a consortium of the public school districts, which includes: Pleasant Valley School District, Stroudsburg Area School District, East Stroudsburg Area School District and Pocono Mountain School District.

Children residing in Chestnuthill Township may also apply to attend Pocono Mountain Charter School which offers a public full day Kindergarten through 12th grade program. This public charter school operates at 16 Carriage Square, Tobyhanna. The Pocono Mountain Charter School was in Warning AYP status in 2012. In 2013, Pocono Mountain Charter School achieved a score of 52.7 out of 100. The score reflects on grade level: reading, science, writing and mathematics achievement. In the spring 2014, the School's charter was revoked by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The revocation is under appeal.

Chestnuthill Township residents may also apply to attend any of the Commonwealth's 14 public cyber charter schools (in 2013) at no additional cost to the parents. The resident’s public school district is required to pay the charter school and cyber charter school tuition for residents who attend these public schools. By Commonwealth law, if the District provides transportation for its own students, then the District must provide transportation to any school that lies within 10 miles of its borders. Residents may also seek admission for their school aged child to any other public school district. When accepted for admission, the student's parents are responsible for paying an annual tuition fee set by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Colonial Intermediate Unit #20 provides a wide variety of services to children living in its region which includes Chestnuthill Township. Early screening, special education services, speech and hearing therapy, autistic support, preschool classes and many other services like driver education are available. Services for children during the preschool years are provided without cost to their families when the child is determined to meet eligibility requirements. Intermediate units receive taxpayer funding: through subsidies paid by member school districts; through direct charges to users for some services; through the successful application for state and federal competitive grants and through private grants.

East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania is a public university located in neighboring East Stroudsburg. It is one of the 14 state universities that make up the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE). Eleventh and twelfth grade students may attend the University at a significant tuition discount through its Dual Enrollment program earning college credits while still earning their high school diploma. Additionally, Pennsylvania residents who are at least 60 years of age and retired may enroll as non-matriculating students tuition free. Residents may also attend Northampton Community College which operates campuses in: Bartonsville and in Pocono Township. Pleasant Valley School District is not a sponsoring school district of the College. Chestnuthill Township residents therefore do not receive a tuition discount. Chestnuthill Township residents do provide funding to the community colleges through state taxation.

Community members also have access to the Eastern Monroe County Public Library which is located on 1002 North 9th Street in Stroudsburg. Through it Pennsylvania residents have access to all POWER Library online resources. Chestnuthill Township residents may also use the Western Pocono Community Library situated in Brodheadsville.

Government

Chestnuthill Township is governed by three locally elected, Township Supervisors. In Pennsylvania, the term of office of a township supervisor is 6 years. Chestnuthill Township is one of 16 townships in Monroe County, Pennsylvania. The Chestnuthill Township Supervisors Monthly Meetings are usually held at the Chestnuthill Township Municipal Building, Municipal Building, Route 715, Brodheadsville. In 2014, the Supervisors are: Carl B. Gould II, Chairman; Chris Eckert, Vice Chairman and Harry Miller, Supervisor.

In 2013, Chestnuthill Township property owners were subject to the following millage rates: Chestnuthill Township - 5.2 mills and Monroe County 21.25 mills. For 2013-14, Pleasant Valley School District's millage is 146.01 mills. There is also a library tax of 1.75 mills. Chestnuthill Township also levies an earned income tax of 1% of wages. The Pleasant Valley School District also levies a 0.5% earned income tax which applies only to wage earners. Both social security income and pension income are exempted from the earned income tax, regardless of the wealth of the individual or the amount of the pension. Former state Sen. Robert Mellow's state funded pension was $138,958 free of state and local income taxation. He forfeited his pension when he was convicted and sent to federal prison after his political corruption and tax evasion convictions.

The average yearly property tax paid by Monroe County residents amounts to about 5.52% of their yearly income. Monroe County ranked 115th out of the 3143 United States counties for property taxes as a percentage of median income. According to a report prepared by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the total real estate taxes collected by all school districts in Pennsylvania rose from $6,474,133,936 in 1999-2000 to $10,438,463,356 in 2008-2009 and to $11,153,412,490 in 2010-2011. Property taxes in Pennsylvania are relatively high on a national scale. According to the Tax Foundation, Pennsylvania ranked 11th in the U.S. in 2008 in terms of property taxes paid as a percentage of home value (1.34%) and 12th in the country in terms of property taxes as a percentage of income (3.55%).

Three, elected at large, Monroe County Commissioners. In 2014, they are: John Moyer, Charles Garris and Suzanne McCool