Brookhaven Borough Council on Dec. 1 adopted the borough's final 2026 budget and approved a set of related ordinances and administrative resolutions, council members said during the regularly scheduled meeting.

The council set the 2026 real-estate property tax rate at 4 mills, approved a sewer-rate ordinance that fixes charges by zone, and adopted a refuse-collection ordinance that sets the 2026 household fee at $469.83. The votes were taken by voice and recorded in meeting minutes as carried. "All in favor? Aye," is the record for each motion.

Council members also approved an ordinance amending compensation levels for the mayor and council in line with recently enacted state provisions and adopted a resolution establishing borough salaries by position for 2026. A separate resolution designated WSFS Bank as the borough's depository for 2026 funds and authorized routine bill-paying arrangements.

In addition to the fiscal ordinances, council approved a resolution authorizing submission of the borough's application to the Delaware County Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program and adopted other routine administrative items (advertising 2026 meeting dates, approving minutes, and authorizing a senior citizen refuse-fee rebate program).

The solicitor noted the 2024 change in state law that permits the municipal compensation adjustments; a council member addressed public questions about the timing and fiscal impact of the pay changes, saying the increases were limited in scope and would not materially change the tax outcome for 2026.

What happens next: the ordinances and the budget were adopted at the public meeting and will be reflected in borough financial records and the 2026 billing cycle. Several items — including the refuse-fee rebate program for eligible seniors — require residents to apply to the borough secretary under the conditions discussed at the meeting.

Votes and procedure: most measures were approved by voice vote during the meeting; the official vote tallies were not recorded in the transcript beyond "All in favor? Aye." The meeting packet, solicitor's report, and final ordinances are on file with the borough secretary for public inspection, the solicitor said.

(Reporting note: language and direct quotes in this story are taken from the council meeting transcript and public remarks recorded at the Dec. 1, 2025 Brookhaven Borough Council meeting.)