$115 Tax Hike Approved In $7.5M 2023 Hatboro Municipal Budget

HATBORO, PA —The vote came without a discussion or hesitation. And a little higher tax hike than recently projected.

In one fell swoop, the Hatboro Borough Council Monday night adopted its 2023 $7.56 million municipal budget, which brings a $115 tax increase —or $9.58 a month —for a homeowner with a property assessed at $136,708.

During a budget presentation at the council's committee meeting two weeks ago, borough officials had estimated the tax hike to be around $100 for the average homeowner but were still awaiting the final millage.

Borough officials provided handouts of a budget summary and a 2023 Operating Budget memo to council and Mayor Tim Schultz which explained the reasons for the 0.62 millage increase, broken down as a 0.236 millage increase for the general fund and a 0.384 millage increase for debt service.

"The operating budget will allow the Borough to continue the high level of service expected by our residents," the letter from Borough Manager Diane Hegele states. "The budget supports accustomed levels for police, fire, recreation services, money for recreation programming, park and road maintenance, trash collection, and customer service."

At the budget presentation, borough officials talked about how Hatboro —like other towns throughout Montgomery County —was hit hard by inflation, the rising cost of supplies, and economic uncertainty.

Borough Council Vice President Dave Stockton had previously stated that borough officials were originally contemplating a $165 tax hike since "everything went up 6-10 percent" but wanted to keep the increase below 5 percent.

Borough officials took cost-saving measures during the summer to get a hold on spending with non-essential expenditures being eliminated and any expense over $500 needing approval.

In a bang-bang motion, the council rattled off and approved 13 items under its order of business, including the budget's adoption and approval of the tax rate ordinance establishing the millage for 2023.

While no comments were made about the budget by the council or public, Hegele's letter dated Dec. 16 said "we look to assure our taxpayers that the services and facilities we provide are in good shape now and in the future."