At its December action meeting, the Newtown Borough Council formally adopted the borough’s 2026 budget.
The council voted to approve a $2.7 general fund budget, with nearly $600,000 in expenses from other funds. The tax rate will remain steady at 20.25 mils.
The average borough homeowner paid $990 to the municipality in 2025.
The borough projects bringing in $2.2 million in tax revenue for the general fund, $188,000 in zoning and building permits and fees, and additional money from other fees and services.
The police department is the borough’s largest expense at $1.4 million.
The cost for fire services from Newtown Township is expected to rise from $190,000 in 2025 to $275,000, which is funded by fire tax revenue.
Council Vice President Kris Bauman thanked Borough Manager Craig Totaro for his work preparing the budget.
“I think you did a tremendous job putting the budget together, explaining what’s where and the best way to address our challenges,” Bauman said. He added that the council had been presented with options and ultimately arrived at “a good result.”
Council President Emily Heinz said the government has spent time preparing the budget leading up to the vote.
Also at the meeting, the council approved a new collective bargaining agreement between Newtown Borough and the Newtown Borough Police Officers Association.
The agreement establishes a four-year contract set to expire on December 31, 2029.
The motion passed after council members expressed appreciation for the process that led to the agreement.
Mayor John Burke remarked that the approach “allowed us to provide options for them and they could pick and choose, and it allowed us to really get a better grasp on what we were trying to achieve.”
“We’re happy that we can give our police officers most of what they’re asking for. We want to make sure they’re happy and safe and want to stay here forever,” Heinz said.
