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Manager previews 2026 draft budget; fire tax and refuse rates likely to rise
Summary
The borough manager said the draft 2026 budget will be presented at the next meeting and highlighted likely increases to the fire tax millage and refuse rates due to a firehouse loan and rising landfill/tipping fees.
Borough Manager said the draft 2026 budget will be presented at the council's next meeting and warned residents to expect modest rate increases tied to the firehouse loan and rising refuse costs.
The borough manager told council members that the fire tax millage is likely to increase if the council proceeds with actions to cover a firehouse loan and any increase in the borough’s incentive program. The manager said doing both could increase the fire tax by about 0.18 mills, which he estimated as roughly $26–$27 per property per year. The manager described the sewer fund as “looking really good” and said the refuse fund will almost certainly require a rate increase because the borough's annual refuse contract adjusts with CPI and the local landfill is considering a tipping‑fee increase of about $10 per ton.
The manager said the draft budget will be presented at the next council meeting and that refuse rate changes will depend on the landfill decision and final contract figures. He said the borough is not anticipating “a dire situation” for the general fund but noted that paving bids, personnel decisions and refuse costs will affect final rates.
The manager also reminded council members that the borough needs to schedule the 2026 audit; timing is expected in winter months and the audit does not necessarily need to be budgeted separately.
