Lehigh Township adopts $7 million 2026 budget; sets real-estate millage at 6.7 and fire tax at 1.3 mills

Lehigh Township supervisors voted Dec. 9, 2025, to adopt the township's 2026 budget, which the board said totals roughly $7 million including state funding and incorporates an advertised one-mill increase.

Janet Sheats moved to adopt the budget and David Hess seconded; the motion passed unanimously. During discussion, residents asked for line-item clarifications and how unspent Recreation Land Fee funds are handled; Manager Alice Rehrig said unspent allocations are reallocated into the next year if not spent and noted Recreation Land Fees should be spent within three years.

The board also adopted two related resolutions. Resolution 2025-9 reenacted earned income, real-estate transfer and per-capita taxes; Resolution 2025-10 set the township real-estate millage at 6.7 mills and the fire tax at 1.3 mills. Cindy Miller said one mill generates approximately $283,000 for the township; Finance staff said the fire tax produces about $384,000.

Other business at the meeting included routine approvals and managerial actions: the board approved payment of General Fund checks, granted conditional approval for a minor subdivision, authorized release of developer escrow pending engineer sign-off on a major subdivision security reduction, directed a certified letter to a prior tax collector to return township records, and confirmed retention of a police officer who completed probation. Those motions passed by recorded "aye" votes at the Dec. 9 meeting.

The board set its reorganization meeting for Jan. 5, 2026. Residents who want line-item spending comparisons were told year-end financial reports will include actuals versus budget.