LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. (WHP) — Manheim Township is facing an $8 million deficit in its 2026 budget, the township’s board of commissioners announced Friday night.
According to the board, the township is expected to bring in $36 million in revenue, but incur $44 million in expenses in 2026.
“Our municipality has a budget crisis,” the board said via Facebook. “We want all residents to understand how we got here, and where we are going.”
A graph showing Manheim Township’s total projected revenue and expenditures from 2022 through 2026. (Courtesy of Manheim Township)
The township has continued to grow and add services over the last 25 years, but it hasn’t had to increase the tax millage rate because it was sitting on a nest of money, according to the board.
That nest has been used to cover previous budget deficits, but the 2026 deficit is expected to drain the last of the township’s excess money.
A graph showing Manheim Township’s annual surplus trend from 2022 to 2025. (Courtesy of Manheim Township)
The township’s Fiscal Sustainability Advisory Committee is reviewing possible options to correct the deficit for next year, the board said.
Commissioners said the future budget will include “some combination of” budget cuts, borrowing funds to cover cash shortfalls, and increasing millage rates.
Manheim Township’s 2026 budget can be viewed here.