Millvale Borough Council members approved the 2026 budget, which includes a 58% property tax increase. The approval came during a meeting Tuesday night and despite the frustration of dozens of longtime Millvale residents. “The fear is that we are going to lose our town,” said Jewel Crnkovinch-Presley, before adding, “We’re all going to have to move out of Millville. We’re not going to be able to sustain this tax increase.”A number of residents got up and spoke to the council ahead of its vote, urging it to search for alternatives. Millvale’s mayor, Brian Spoales, also spoke out against the increase. “I know how much concern this proposal is causing this community,” said an emotional Spoales. He added, “Today, I am sitting here with our residents to let their voices be heard and continue to provide them a voice, ’cause this is a town of neighbors helping neighbors.”Borough Council members released a statement Tuesday evening, which says in part: “Millvale Council finds ourselves with the unpopular task of making cuts and increasing real estate taxes in order to keep our borough livable. After a difficult period of simply making ends meet, seeing deficits grow, and pushing some services and infrastructure to the back-burner, the decision is inevitable. We take this decision seriously and with great consideration for the well-being of the community that we are part of and its future.” “I am thinking of my neighbors, too, who are on fixed incomes, who are elderly. … I think this is going to affect everybody down to the, it’s down to the dollar,” said Millvale resident Nasser Al-Zahrani. The council says the borough will update its Senior Tax Relief program. While the details are still being worked out, it says long-standing older homeowners under certain income limits will receive a 30% discount on their new Millvale Real Estate Tax.

MILLVALE, Pa. —

Millvale Borough Council members approved the 2026 budget, which includes a 58% property tax increase.

The approval came during a meeting Tuesday night and despite the frustration of dozens of longtime Millvale residents.

“The fear is that we are going to lose our town,” said Jewel Crnkovinch-Presley, before adding, “We’re all going to have to move out of Millville. We’re not going to be able to sustain this tax increase.”

A number of residents got up and spoke to the council ahead of its vote, urging it to search for alternatives. Millvale’s mayor, Brian Spoales, also spoke out against the increase.

“I know how much concern this proposal is causing this community,” said an emotional Spoales.

He added, “Today, I am sitting here with our residents to let their voices be heard and continue to provide them a voice, ’cause this is a town of neighbors helping neighbors.”

Borough Council members released a statement Tuesday evening, which says in part:

“Millvale Council finds ourselves with the unpopular task of making cuts and increasing real estate taxes in order to keep our borough livable. After a difficult period of simply making ends meet, seeing deficits grow, and pushing some services and infrastructure to the back-burner, the decision is inevitable. We take this decision seriously and with great consideration for the well-being of the community that we are part of and its future.”

“I am thinking of my neighbors, too, who are on fixed incomes, who are elderly. … I think this is going to affect everybody down to the, it’s down to the dollar,” said Millvale resident Nasser Al-Zahrani.

The council says the borough will update its Senior Tax Relief program. While the details are still being worked out, it says long-standing older homeowners under certain income limits will receive a 30% discount on their new Millvale Real Estate Tax.