Votes at a glance: Montgomery Township adopts 2026 budget, fire tax and multiple capital actions

The Montgomery Township Board of Supervisors on Feb. 9 adopted the township’s 2026 budget, established a separate fire tax and approved a series of routine capital and operational measures.

The board adopted the 2026 final operating budget for all funds with total operating expenditures of $34,640,400, after staff revised the December‑approved budget under the Second Class Township Code. Carolyn McCreery, township manager, told the board the revisions complied with state code and would be posted for public inspection. Chair Tanya Bamford called the motion; the record shows two 'nay' responses before the motion carried.

The board also adopted ordinance 26‑357 to formalize a fire tax. Staff said the ordinance adds 0.44 mills to a prior internal allocation of 0.56 mills, producing a dedicated 1.00‑mill fire protection levy intended to secure revenue to support hiring of career fire personnel. The board then adopted resolution 2026‑03 to set the township real‑estate tax millage at 3.94 mills, allocating 1.25 mills to the general fund, 1.00 mill to fire protection, 0.27 mills to parks and recreation, 0.52 mills to debt service and 0.90 mills to capital.

Other votes taken at the meeting included: - Consent agenda approval (minutes, bills, and maintenance termination for Love Car Wash) — motion carried. - Appointment of Jamie Pizzi to the Environmental Advisory Commission (term to 01/01/2029) — motion carried after a board liaison endorsement. - Appointment of Elizabeth Cornell to the Senior Committee (term to 01/01/2027) — motion carried. - Authorization to advertise the 2027 concrete curb and handicap ramp replacement as part of the paving project (budgeted amount included in the capital plan) — motion carried. - Authorization to advertise bids for 2026 in‑place paving (2026 budget includes $1,454,000 for roads) — motion carried. - Authorization to advertise a bid for four tennis‑court improvements at Windlestrae/Rose Twig Park (budgeted $321,000) — motion carried. - Approval of the Fire Department of Montgomery Township (FDMT) fundraising plan and a $10,000 township contribution to support FDMT fundraising activities — motion carried. - Adoption of ordinance 26‑356 prohibiting right turns on red at the Horsham Road/Stump Road approaches (in line with PennDOT guidance) — motion carried following public comment and a 30‑day warning period. - Award of a contract to Dell Technologies to replace 10 police desktop computers ($15,748.32; funding included in the 2026 budget) — motion carried. - Award of a contract to Stouch Lighting Solutions to retrofit Community & Recreation Center parking‑lot lights with LED fixtures ($236,871.86; staff recommended; motion carried). - Ratification of two commercial real‑estate tax‑appeal settlements: 1218 Welsh Road (assessed value reduced by $485,000; refund $1,744) and 1222 Welsh Road (assessed value reduced by $1,327,000; refund $4,764.74) — motions carried.

All votes described above are recorded in the meeting minutes and were approved by voice vote unless noted. Where the transcript records only procedural seconds but not the speaker name, the motion and outcome are reported as shown in the public record.

The board adjourned after brief items of old and new business.