2025 Approved Budget – at the December 10, 2024 BOS meeting.
2026 Township Budget and Tax Adjustment Summary
2026 Approved Budget – at the December 9, 2025 BOS meeting.
At the October 22, 2025 Annual Budget Meeting, Township staff presented a proposed budget to the Board of Supervisors for review and discussion. Prior to adopting any changes, both staff and the Board conducted an extensive, line-by-line review of the budget to identify possible savings and ensure responsible spending.
Through this detailed examination, the Board reduced nearly $800,000 in proposed expenses, lowering the initial $1.3 million deficit to approximately $600,000. This process followed a Financial Review Meeting, where the Year-to-Date Income Statement was analyzed in depth. During that review, the Board and staff examined all accounts that were close to or over budget due to unforeseen expenses such as increased utility costs, higher insurance premiums, winter road salt expenses, and road sign replacements resulting from damages.
Following both reviews, the Board and staff engaged in a careful and data-driven discussion regarding a potential real estate tax increase. Several millage rate options were reviewed to determine the most responsible and sustainable path forward.
For more than six years, the Township has relied on prior-year surpluses to balance the budget and offset annual shortfalls. In past years, residential and industrial growth helped support the Township’s finances and allowed the local real estate tax rate to remain unchanged for over 20 years. However, while growth has stabilized, operating costs have continued to rise due to inflation, increased service demands, and higher material and insurance costs.
Despite these financial pressures, the Township has demonstrated strong fiscal discipline—reducing overall spending from $8.5 million to $6.2 million over the past three years (2022-2025) through careful management and cost control.
After completing both reviews and making substantial reductions, the staff and a majority of the Board of Supervisors determined that a 2.0 millage rate should be established and that the Fire Hydrant Tax be eliminated. Under this plan, fire hydrant costs will be paid from the General Fund, ensuring that the expense is shared equitably among all residents, since all benefit from the availability of fire protection services.
Chairman David L. Naylor opposed the proposed increase, expressing that he preferred a smaller, incremental tax adjustment if future financial assessments shows necessary.
Millage breakdown:
- Current real estate millage: 1.04 mills
- Current fire hydrant tax: 0.15 mills
- New total millage: 2.00 mills
- This equals a 0.81 mill increase for residents currently paying the hydrant tax, and a 0.96 mill increase for those who are not.
With the surplus generated by the tax increase, the Township will be able to:
- Pay down the existing 7-year amortization schedule more quickly, saving taxpayer dollars by eliminating future interest payments (as there are no penalties for early payoff);
- Create a Capital Reserve Fund to replace and maintain essential Public Works equipment; and
- Begin building reserves for Emergency Services, in response to recommendations outlined in a DCED Fire Services Study conducted within the Township.
- Fill gaps from Unfunded State Mandates such as MS4 Compliance, Floodplain Compliance, more PennDOT state road responsibilities, Emergency Management, etc.
The Board of Supervisors will continue to monitor revenues and expenditures closely, and if future financial reviews indicate that surplus levels exceed the Township’s needs, the Board has the authority to reduce the millage rate accordingly in order to be good financial stewards of tax payer monies.
Residents are encouraged to view the Financial Review Meeting and Budget Meeting recordings on the Township’s YouTube channel to see firsthand the thorough discussions and careful decision-making that took place before any tax adjustment was proposed.