Palmyra council advertises 2026 preliminary budget after debate over fire funding; approves higher refuse fee

Palmyra Borough Council voted to authorize advertisement of the 2026 preliminary budget and to ask the borough solicitor to prepare and advertise a 2026 real-estate tax ordinance after an extended budget discussion that highlighted funding pressures on the volunteer fire company. The council also approved a resolution raising the refuse-collection fee from $112 to $121 per quarter, effective Jan. 1, 2026.

The budget discussion centered on whether to increase an incentive program and how much to contribute to the apparatus fund for the volunteer fire company. An unnamed council member argued Palmyra "does not actually do fundraisers" for apparatus purchases and proposed keeping the incentive at its current level and halving the apparatus contribution for one year to avoid another tax increase. Council members and the fire chief described staffing and training demands faced by volunteers and noted limitations on volunteer recruitment and fundraising capacity.

Councilors also warned of a standing intermunicipal agreement with North Winonderry Township governing the apparatus fund. After members raised concerns that unilateral changes could violate that agreement or create fairness issues because the township had already adopted its budget, the councilor who made the motion withdrew it.

On the broader budget, councilors discussed several ways to reduce costs and reach a roughly $350,000 savings target: deferring or removing capital projects such as a Southeast Park parking lot, pausing the basketball-court project, adjusting paving plans, and reconsidering a seasonal public-works position versus a full-time hire. Members noted some capital items come from separate reserves and that third-party cost increases (tipping fees, trash contracts) are outside borough control.

After those deliberations, council approved a motion authorizing the borough manager to advertise the 2026 preliminary budget and make it available for the required 10-day public review period under the borough code; final consideration is scheduled for the Dec. 23, 2025 council meeting. The council then authorized the solicitor to prepare and advertise Ordinance 840 (the 2026 real-estate tax ordinance) to set the real-estate tax at 6.00 mills, the fire tax at 0.84 mills and the public library tax at 0.06 mills.

On refuse rates, council adopted Resolution 2025-07 to increase the refuse-collection rate to $121 per quarter effective Jan. 1, 2026. Members noted the current contract term, extension options and that bid results can vary substantially; the council discussed that the last time the borough solicited bids one proposal had been roughly double the other.

The meeting also included routine reports (police, library, recreation), and staff announced the kickoff for the fire study on Monday, Dec. 15, at 6 p.m. via Teams. During public comment a resident, Dave McCloskey, urged council to approve a bare-bones budget if necessary to keep services running.

Votes at a glance - Authorized advertisement of the 2026 preliminary budget (motion approved by voice vote). - Authorized solicitor to prepare and advertise Ordinance 840 (2026 real-estate tax ordinance) establishing rates: 6.00 mills (real-estate), 0.84 mills (fire tax), 0.06 mills (library) (motion approved by voice vote). - Approved Resolution 2025-07 to raise refuse-collection rates from $112 to $121 per quarter, effective Jan. 1, 2026 (motion approved by voice vote).

What happens next: the borough will publish the preliminary budget for a 10-day public review and hold final consideration at the Dec. 23, 2025 council meeting; the advertised tax ordinance and the refuse-rate change follow the borough's advertising and public-review procedures.