Montgomery Township supervisors approve revised 2026 budget, establish dedicated fire tax in majority votes

Montgomery Township’s Board of Supervisors approved the township’s amended 2026 budget Monday night, adopted a new ordinance formally establishing a dedicated fire tax, and set the real estate tax millage rate for the year at 3.94 mills, in majority votes.

All three measures passed by 3–2 votes, with Supervisors Candyce Chimera and Audrey Ware-Jones voting against each.

2026 budget adopted after January revisions

Township Manager Carolyn McCreary said the 2026 operating budget had originally been approved in December but was reopened in early January under provisions of the Second Class Township Code that allow amendments following a municipal election.

After revisions directed by the board, the updated budget was advertised, made available for public inspection at the township building and online, and brought back for final adoption.

Supervisors voted to adopt the amended 2026 budget with total operating expenditures of $34,640,400 across all funds.

The proposed budgeted operating expenditures include:

• General Fund: $17,550,700
• Street Lights: $726,100
• Fire: $2,658,000
• Parks & Recreation: $578,400
• Replacement Tree Fund: $55,500
• Recreation Center: $1,338,400
• Debt Service: $643,000
• Capital Reserve: $9,888,300
• Highway Aid: $1,684,000
• Township Events: $55,000
• Environmental Fund: $63,000

Fire tax formally established at 1 mill

McCreary said that in 2025 the township internally allocated 0.56 mills toward fire protection. The new ordinance adds 0.44 mills, bringing the total fire tax to 1 mill, and places it as a separate line item on property tax bills, similar to the existing street light tax. 

The move is intended to create a stable revenue stream to support fire protection services and allow for the potential hiring of additional career fire personnel, depending on the outcome of an ongoing study and future board decisions.

The ordinance also reflects a reduction from a previously approved 1.71-mill fire tax, lowering it to 1 mill as part of the amended 2026 budget.

Millage rate set at 3.94 mills

Finally, supervisors adopted a resolution, setting the township’s 2026 real estate tax rate at 3.94 mills.

Under the resolution, the millage is allocated as follows:

• General Fund: 1.25 mills
• Fire Protection: 1.00 mill
• Parks and Recreation: 0.27 mills
• Debt Service: 0.52 mills
• Capital Reserves: 0.90 mills