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Upper Allen commissioners put land-preservation question on Nov. 3 ballot
Summary
The board enacted Ordinance 8-50 to send a land-preservation referendum to Cumberland County for the Nov. 3, 2026 general election, proposing a 0.05-of-1% earned-income tax and up to 0.20 mills in property tax to fund acquisitions and easements.
The Upper Allen Township Board of Commissioners voted on Aug. 3 to enact Ordinance 8-50 and submit a land-preservation referendum to Cumberland County for placement on the Nov. 3, 2026 general-election ballot. President Fairchild read the ballot language at the meeting, saying the measure would ask voters to approve an additional earned-income tax at 0.05 of 1% and a real-property tax increase not to exceed 0.20 mills (20 cents per $1,000) to finance acquisitions, conservation easements, recreation lands and development rights.
Board members debated timing and process during a lengthy discussion before the vote, with some commissioners recommending more study alongside the upcoming comprehensive plan and others urging action to secure county matching funds and preserve land quickly. After public comment spanning proponents and opponents, a motion to enact the ordinance was moved and seconded and carried. The board will forward the adopted ordinance to Cumberland County for inclusion on the November ballot.
Why it matters: supporters argued the referendum would create an essential funding tool and unlock county and grant matches; critics said the proposal lacked detail about which properties would be targeted and whether landowners had been consulted. President Fairchild emphasized the referendum would give voters the choice: "Do you favor the imposition of an additional earned income tax at the rate of 0.05 of 1% ... and an increase in the real property tax at a rate not to exceed 0.20 mills ... to be used for some or all of the following, financing acquisition of open space, acquiring conservation easements, acquiring recreation lands, and acquiring development rights?" (read aloud by Fairchild at the meeting).
Next steps: the township will submit the ordinance to Cumberland County election officials for placement on the Nov. 3 ballot; staff also said it will continue to post factual FAQs and materials on the township website and coordinate the timeline for public information ahead of the election.
