Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget Tax topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Mayor vetoes Red Lion's 1‑mill tax increase after council adopts 2026 budget
Summary
Council adopted a 2026 budget and a 1‑mill increase to the borough real estate levy, but Mayor Gene Lau vetoed the ordinance, saying he would not 'put the problems of the Borough onto the people.' A special meeting to consider an override was scheduled for Dec. 16, 2025.
Red Lion Borough Council voted to approve the borough’s 2026 budget and a Real Estate Tax Levy Ordinance (2025‑12‑5) that raises the borough portion of the millage by one mill, from 4.0 mills to 5.0 mills (the 0.5 mill fire tax remains unchanged). The budget motion passed on a roll‑call-style voice vote with Councilmembers Amy Lau and Dennis Klinedinst recorded as voting no.
After the adoption, Mayor Gene Lau announced he had vetoed the tax ordinance. In a prepared statement read to the council he said, "I do not want to consistently put the problems of the Borough onto the people of the Borough. York County is going to raise the taxes, Josh Shapiro is going to tear us up, Medicare is going to go up, and I disagree with putting all these increases onto the backs of people." Solicitor Atty. Craley advised the council that state law requires a specially advertised meeting within 10 days for the council to vote on an override; the minutes record that five votes will be necessary to override the veto.
Council scheduled a special meeting for Dec. 16, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. to consider an override vote. If the council does not obtain five votes to override, the solicitor advised that the borough must either rework the budget and millage ordinance or adopt an alternative levy. The adopted change, as recorded in the minutes, moves the borough levy from 4.0 mills to 5.0 mills (an increase of 1.0 mill), with the separate 0.5‑mill fire tax unchanged.
