Editor’s note: Budget documents originally provided by Palmer Township indicated a specialty tax of 1.50 mills and a combined total tax rate of 11.50 mills for 2026. The township has since corrected its numbers to reflect a specialty tax of .75 mills and a combined total tax rate of 10.75 mills. Therefore, the overall tax increase stands at 13.1%.

PALMER TWP., Pa. – The Palmer Township Board of Supervisors on Monday night approved the 2026 budget which contains a 13.1% overall tax increase on property owners.

The spending plan includes a 1-mill tax increase in the general fund, a .295-mill tax increase in the fire fund, and a decrease in the EMS tax by .045 mills.

Chairman Jeffrey Young said the 2026 budget tax increase “was necessary” and that he didn’t “like to do it.”

This is the second consecutive year the township has raised property taxes. The 2025 budget raised real estate taxes 11%. The township did not offer property owners an increase from 2019 through 2024.

The 2026 budget offers a rate of 4.52 mills on each dollar of assessed value for the general fund. It provides a 2.22 tax rate for the debt services fund, and a 2.36 rate for the park and recreation fund. The tax rate of the fire fund registers at .65, while the road equipment fund rests at .25. Combined, these amount to 10.0 mills for the township’s 2026 real estate tax, compared to 9.0 in 2025, reflecting an increase of just over 11%.

Property owners also must pay a specialty tax which includes emergency medical services at .205 mills and the fire services fund — different from the fire fund — at .545. The total specialty tax for 2026 will be .75 mills, compared to .50 in 2025.

The combined total tax rate for 2026 — including both real estate and specialty taxes — will be 10.75 mills. Compared to 9.50 mills in 2025, this reflects a 13.1% increase.

Palmer Township is home to 22,300 residents and 9,121 housing units, with 1,000 units pending.

Collective bargaining agreement

Supervisors approved a five-year collective bargaining agreement with the Palmer Township Police Association.

The deal, which commences Jan. 1 and runs through Dec. 31, 2030, includes a 3.5% wage adjustment for each contract year, and a .5% annual decrease in the contribution to the Palmer Township Police pension plan.

Goodbyes

Monday night’s meeting was the final for two retiring supervisors. Supervisor K. Michael Mitchell served 25 years, while Young served 24 years. Township Manager Robert Williams lauded both men Monday night for their community service.