The 2026 municipal budget was adopted on Tuesday, May 12th.
The Borough Council approved the 2026 Municipal Budget at the meeting held on Tuesday, May 12th.
The 2026 municipal budget was adopted at the Borough Council meeting held on Tuesday, May 12th. The budget was prepared by the Finance and Administration Standing Committee, the Chief Financial Officer, and Borough staff and department heads, working together to maintain fiscal responsibility while continuing to provide essential services to residents.
1. Calculate the Real Dollar Impact
The raw numbers in the budget translate to these exact figures for an average resident:
- Average home value: $329,566
- Municipal tax increase: $273.000 per year (about $22.75 per month)
2. Community Headline
Understanding Your 2026 Taxes: A $22.75 Monthly Municipal Change
Understanding Your 2026 Taxes: A $22.75 Monthly Municipal Change
3. Quick Summary Bullet Points
- The Bottom Line: The municipal portion of your property tax is changing by just $273.00 per year for the average home.
- The Drivers: This minor change is entirely driven by skyrocketing costs outside local control, specifically police contracts, state pensions, and healthcare.
- Smart Savings: The Borough found $20,000 in spending cuts to minimize this impact without reducing any community services.
- The Big Picture: Out of every tax dollar you pay, the Borough only keeps 28 cents. The remaining 72 cents goes to the school district and the county.
4. Why Did Costs Go Up? (The Big Three)
Three mandatory expenses rose significantly this year. These are contractual obligations that the local government is legally required to pay:
Three mandatory expenses rose significantly this year. These are contractual obligations that the local government is legally required to pay:
- Healthcare: Insurance premiums spiked by 33.8% (+$54,000).
- State Pensions: Required state contributions rose 10.6% (+$32,000).
- Public Safety: Police contract costs increased by 9.2% (+$66,000).
Note: Without these three mandatory state and contractual increases, your local municipal tax rate would have remained completely flat.
5. Where Your Tax Dollars Go
Property taxes are split between three distinct entities. The Borough government only controls the "Local" portion:
Property taxes are split between three distinct entities. The Borough government only controls the "Local" portion:
| Tax Recipient | 2025 Share | 2026 Share |
| School District (Estimated) | 60% | 61% |
| Borough / Local Government | 29% | 28% |
| County Government (Estimated) | 9% | 10% |
| Open Space Fund | 2% | 1% |
6. Suggested Public Notice Message
Subject: Important Update: Adoption of the 2026 Municipal Budget
Dear Neighbors,
On May 12th, the Borough Council adopted the 2026 municipal budget. Our primary goal this year was to maintain the high quality of services you expect while aggressively controlling spending.
For the average homeowner (home valued at $329,566), the municipal portion of your tax bill will change by $273.00 for the entire year—which is about $22.75 per month.
This minor change was necessary to cover $152,000 in mandatory cost increases for health insurance, police contracts, and state-mandated pension contributions. To keep your burden as low as possible, the Borough successfully identified and implemented $20,000 in internal budget cuts without reducing any public services.
As a reminder, your total property tax bill is shared among multiple entities. The Borough government only receives and controls 28% of your total tax bill. The remaining 72% goes directly to fund our schools and county operations.
You can review the full, itemized budget document on the Borough website.
Subject: Important Update: Adoption of the 2026 Municipal Budget
Dear Neighbors,
On May 12th, the Borough Council adopted the 2026 municipal budget. Our primary goal this year was to maintain the high quality of services you expect while aggressively controlling spending.
For the average homeowner (home valued at $329,566), the municipal portion of your tax bill will change by $273.00 for the entire year—which is about $22.75 per month.
This minor change was necessary to cover $152,000 in mandatory cost increases for health insurance, police contracts, and state-mandated pension contributions. To keep your burden as low as possible, the Borough successfully identified and implemented $20,000 in internal budget cuts without reducing any public services.
As a reminder, your total property tax bill is shared among multiple entities. The Borough government only receives and controls 28% of your total tax bill. The remaining 72% goes directly to fund our schools and county operations.
You can review the full, itemized budget document on the Borough website.