Credit: Chris English/NewtownPANow.com
The Newtown Township Board of Supervisors on Wednesday approved a $16.8 million budget for 2026 that includes a tax increase to support fire and ambulance services.
The budget passed by a 3-2 vote, with Supervisors John Mack and Phil Calabro casting the dissenting votes.
The increase includes 3 mills designated for fire protection and 1 mill for ambulance services.
Township officials estimate the new taxes will cost the average homeowner an additional $157 annually, or about $13 per month.
The tax hikes are intended to address rising operational costs and the expansion of emergency services.
The fire protection increase is necessary to maintain expanded paid fire coverage, which now operates 12 hours a day, seven days a week. Grant funding that supported the addition of four firefighters in 2024 is set to expire at the end of the year.
The approved spending plan proposes increasing the firefighter staffing from 12 in 2025 to 14 in 2026 and includes the purchase of a new support vehicle.
The budget has a structural deficit of roughly $3 million.
Township Manager Micah Lewis stated last month that such gaps have historically been covered by revenues exceeding projections and lower operational costs.
Lewis estimated the township’s fund balance would be $5.2 million at the close of 2025.
The overall township employee headcount is expected to rise due to additional firefighters and the creation of a full-time information technology staffer position.
Other planned expenditures include the purchase of four vehicles for the police department and a dump truck and mowing equipment for public works. The budget also allocates funding for the South Drive bridge repairs and a road repaving project.
Mack expressed concern that the funding for road repairs and improvements remains insufficient. He also questioned the proposed number of police vehicles to be purchased.
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