Meeting chair (unnamed) said council would consider authorizing advertisement of Ordinance 10-67 to raise the borough earned income tax (EIT) from 0.75% to 1.0, the statutory maximum, effective Jan. 1. He summarized the proposal as the primary revenue source the borough is considering to fund a $500,000 transfer to the capital fund and an array of infrastructure projects.

Mayor Andrea Deutsch said she preferred funding capital improvements through property tax increases, calling millage "a more appropriate way to tax" because it spreads costs among property owners. "I think these capital improvements are for the benefit of everybody in the borough," she said. Several other council members argued the EIT better targets wage-earners and can produce revenue more quickly and predictably as wages grow.

Council members exchanged detailed fiscal questions about who pays the EIT, how Berkheimer (the county tax manager) allocates receipts, and whether a one-time or ongoing change to EIT was preferable to raising millage. One council member warned about local business competitiveness if Narberths EIT diverged from neighboring Lower Merion.

After extended discussion, the council voted to authorize advertising Ordinance 10-67 by a 6-1 margin; Mr. Speer was recorded as the lone dissenting vote. The council scheduled a special meeting for Dec. 1 at 10:30 a.m. at Borough Hall (also on Zoom) to take the final vote on adoption. The special meeting will allow public comment limited to the EIT ordinance. No final ordinance will take effect before councils enactment and the required report to the state agency (DCED).

What happens next: the ordinance will be advertised and a special meeting on Dec. 1 will consider final adoption. If adopted, the increased rate would be reported to DCED and apply Jan. 1.