Franklin Township council adopts 2025 budget; average homeowner sees about $80 increase

Franklin Township adopted an amended calendar-year 2025 municipal budget Tuesday, with the council voting to approve the spending plan after a public hearing and roll-call votes.

Township Mayor Phil Kramer said the townwide increase in assessed values, not a large hike in the municipal levy, accounts for most of the change for homeowners. "On a $555,000 house, which is what the average house now is in Franklin, the assessment alone increased taxes $46.40," Kramer said at the meeting, adding that the council's levy increase accounts for about $33.26 of the total rise and that the total increase to the average home is "roughly $80."

The budget amendment and final adoption were presented and approved during the May 13 meeting after a public hearing. Township officials described the amendment as a technical cleanup that did not change the overall tax levy or produce a substantive reintroduction of the budget. The manager explained the changes adjusted where certain water-utility revenues were recorded but would not change homeowners’ tax bills beyond the previously explained amounts.

Council members held a posted public hearing on the budget amendment. No members of the public spoke specifically on the amendment during that item and the council voted to adopt the amended budget. The council also heard commentary from residents earlier in the meeting on broader fiscal and policy topics; officials reiterated that school-district budget increases and regional assessment changes account for much larger shifts in homeowner bills than this year’s municipal levy change.

Mayor Kramer and township staff emphasized that while the consumer-price index has risen substantially since 2016, the municipal levy has increased at a much lower rate over the same period. Kramer urged residents and candidates in the upcoming election to reference the council’s actual levy figures when discussing taxes.

The council approved the budget by roll call and then moved on to related capital and utility bond ordinances that fund planned capital projects and water-utility improvements this year. The adopted municipal budget and related ordinances were available in the meeting minutes and municipal office for review.

Looking ahead, officials said routine financial reporting and line-item details will be available in subsequent public documents and that staff will continue providing updates on large capital projects funded in the adopted budget.