Millersville council moves 2026 budget forward, authorizes legal notice for 7.3-mill tax levy and fee changes

Millersville Council voted on Nov. 11 to move the proposed 2026 budget forward for public notice, approving budget assumptions that include a 0.75-mill property tax increase, a $12 monthly trash-collection increase (to $97), and updates to the borough's fee schedules.

The move was carried by voice vote after Rebecca, the borough manager, summarized the draft budget and said the package reflects a three-quarter-mill assumption while removing some capital items to reduce near-term costs. "We are in the home stretch of the budget process, and December 9 will be, when council will have the opportunity to vote officially on the budget for next year," Rebecca said.

Council members and staff said the increases respond to a general-fund shortfall and to shortfalls in enterprise funds. Rebecca told the council the proposed 0.75-mill increase would bring the borough close to—but just under—the new three-month reserve policy adopted earlier this year. Members said no reasonable millage scenario would fully eliminate the projected deficit without reassessment changes.

On solid-waste fees, council reviewed a plan to raise some tag prices and costs for bulky-item pickup. Rebecca said yellow and green "tags" currently at $1.25 would increase to $2 and are sold in sheets of four (effectively $8 per sheet); white-goods tags for appliances would rise from $12 to $15. She said those changes are intended to reduce the borough subsidy to its solid-waste enterprise fund.

The council also approved adding a $50 fee for the new handicap-parking permit application, a change Rebecca said was required to implement a previously approved resolution.

Separately, the council authorized the solicitor to advertise a tax-levy ordinance that would set the millage for public notice at 7.3 mills. Rebecca described the advertising requirement and the 30-day public-notice window necessary before the council can vote on the ordinance and the budget on Dec. 9. Unidentified Speaker 1 moved the authorization and the motion carried by voice vote.

All motions related to the budget, fee schedule drafting and advertising were carried by voice vote; the council did not read a roll-call tally in the transcript. The council will consider the final budget and tax-levy ordinance at its Dec. 9 meeting.

Next steps: the solicitor will place the legally required notices for the proposed budget and the tax-levy ordinance; council members said they expect a final vote at the Dec. 9 session.