LOWER MERION — Lower Merion Township budget season is about to begin as officials took the first step this week to release next year’s budget to the public.
At a finance committee meeting this week, the committee recommended that the board of commissioners authorize the township secretary to advertise notice that the Proposed 2026 Budget and the Proposed 2026-2031 Capital Improvement Plan be made available for public inspection.
Typically, the budget is available for public inspection around the first week of November.
“As is typical and as is required by law, it will be presented to the board in early November, the first week of November,” Lower Merion Township Manager Ernie McNeely said.
Once the budget is released publicly, the township will host two public hearings. The first one will be held on Wednesday, November 19, at approximately 7:30 p.m. The second hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, December 3, at approximately 6 p.m.
Last year, the township approved its first tax increase in over a decade when it approved a 6.5% tax increase as part of the 2025 budget.
The township budget includes taxes for just one part of a property’s total tax bill. Montgomery County approves its annual budget in December, while the Lower Merion School District generally approves its budget, which runs from July 1 through June 30, at its board meeting in June.