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Council reviews preliminary 2026 budget with reserve draw and proposed modest tax/fee increases
Summary
Manager Snider presented version nine of the 2026 preliminary budget, citing approximately $80,000 in electric capacity cost increases, a $1.66 million planned debt repayment in November reducing 2026 debt service, a potential $136,000 municipal match for a pole‑replacement grant, and a proposed quarter‑mill property tax increase plus fee adjustments leading to a roughly $11/month impact per resident if the draft holds.
Hatfield Borough Manager Snider told council on Nov. 5 that the borough's 2026 preliminary budget—currently labeled version nine—is still in flux but includes several notable items that will be discussed at a town‑hall style budget meeting on Nov. 12.
"This is actually version nine of the budget," Snider said, and highlighted a near‑term capacity-related electricity cost increase of just under $80,000. He said sewer EDU revenue increases are expected to add roughly $73,000 to receipts and that contracted police costs include a budgeted increase of about $50,000 next year.
Snider and finance staff said the borough plans a $1.66 million debt repayment in November that will lower debt service in 2026 and produce lifetime interest savings estimated at about $300,000. They also noted a potential state grant for pole replacements; if secured, the borough's share could be about $136,000 but would remove the need for similar replacements for several years.
To balance the draft, the proposal includes revenue adjustments and a modest tax increase: a proposed quarter‑mill property tax increase (about $35,000) and revenue/fee adjustments and EIT changes totaling roughly $25,000. Taken together, staff said the draft would draw about $180,000 from reserves to smooth rate changes, which staff estimated equates to roughly an $11 per month impact per resident under current assumptions.
Snider stressed the budget is not final. "The budget is still in flux and this isn't a finalized version," he said, inviting members to review details at the Nov. 12 meeting. Councilmembers asked questions about grant contingencies, the pole‑replacement schedule and the long‑term plan to limit reserve draws.
Next steps: staff will present detailed budget materials for public review at the Nov. 12 town‑hall meeting and bring a revised draft to the Nov. 19 regular meeting after further adjustments and grant updates.
