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Lower Pottsgrove adopts preliminary 2026 budget with proposed 0.5-mil tax increase
Summary
The board adopted a preliminary 2026 budget and voted to advertise two ordinances — the budget (No. 146-ZZ) and the 2026 real estate tax rate (No. 133-YY) — after Finance Committee members said a 0.5-mill increase is needed to cover police contract pressures and rising pension obligations.
Commissioner Robert Mohollen, chair of the Finance Committee, told the Lower Pottsgrove Township Board of Commissioners on Nov. 20 that the committee recommends a 0.5-mill increase to the township portion of the property tax, roughly $60 per household, as part of the preliminary 2026 budget.
Mohollen said the increase is driven in part by an ongoing police contract negotiation and rising pension costs: "the Minimum Municipal Obligation (MMO) is going up, and it is estimated to be over $200,000 next year," adding that each 0.25 mill produces approximately $150,000 in revenue, money the committee has used historically to fund police staffing and related costs. He said he and Commissioner Michael McGroarty requested preliminary forecasts through 2029 to prepare for continuing cost pressure.
Commissioner Michael McGroarty, who moved to adopt the preliminary budget, said the finance staff and committee reviewed the numbers line by line and advised that the increase is necessary to maintain healthy reserves and meet projected obligations. McGroarty seconded the motion to adopt the preliminary budget; the board approved it unanimously, 5-0.
After adopting the preliminary budget, the board voted, 5-0, to advertise Ordinance No. 146-ZZ (adopting the Lower Pottsgrove Township Budget for 2026) and Ordinance No. 133-YY (setting the 2026 real estate property tax rate). The advertising step begins the public-notice phase required before final adoption.
The board did not set a final adoption date at the Nov. 20 meeting. The commission also noted the township tax comprises a small portion of total property tax bills (Mohollen said it is "less than 10%" of total taxes for homes in the township) with the majority paid to the local school district. The next regularly scheduled board meeting is Dec. 1, 2025.
