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Lititz Borough previews $9.6 million 2026 draft budget, schedules public review
Summary
Ken presented the borough's draft 2026 budget, projecting $9.62 million in expenses and an ending fund balance near 26%. Council approved the 2026 municipal calendar and set Nov. 25 to advertise the draft, with a public Q&A Dec. 9 and a Dec. 23 final vote.
Ken, the staff presenter, opened the Nov. 12 meeting by saying, “Tonight, we're gonna talk about the 2026, Lititz Borough budget,” and outlined a schedule for public review and comment.
The draft shows general fund revenue of $8,624,384 and total projected expenses of $9,618,097 for 2026. Ken told council those figures are “our best estimates” through Oct. 31 and noted several potential one-time revenues — including realty transfer tax from property sales — were not yet included in the draft. He said the draft would leave the borough with a budgeted year-end fund balance of about 26%, in line with the borough’s 25% fund-balance policy.
Ken described specific lines that changed from prior years, including moving police-generated revenues (drug-task-force and DUI cooperative receipts) out of miscellaneous and into a dedicated police revenue line. He highlighted a forecast rebate from the borough’s health-insurance pool of roughly $90,000 and noted interest-income gains from moving reserves into sweep accounts.
On next steps, council agreed that the draft would be made available to the public after the Nov. 25 meeting; Ken said the council will host a public Q&A on Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. and return for a final vote on Dec. 23. “After it's advertised, that's when the budget will become public,” a council member said during the meeting.
Staff cautioned the council that some revenue sources — notably earned income tax projections from the Lancaster County Tax Collection Bureau and potential realty-transfer receipts tied to pending property sales — remain uncertain and will be updated for the Nov. 25 meeting. Ken and other staff also flagged rising energy and contract costs that could affect water and sewer operating lines.
The council approved the 2026 municipal meeting calendar at the start of the session and adjourned after the budget review. The finance team said it would return a revised draft and updated forecasts at the Nov. 25 meeting.
