Property Taxes Going Up In Newly Approved 2024 Delco Budget

DELAWARE COUNTY, PA — Property taxes will increase next year with the adoption of Delaware County's 2024 budget.

The 2024 budget, which is $358 million, was approved unanimously at the Delaware County Council's meeting Wednesday. Next year's budget is 5.6 higher than 2023's budget.

With the adoption comes a millage increase from 2.999 to 3.149. That means, per the county, a median home valued at $254,683 will see an annual property tax increase of $38.19 for a total county real estate tax bill of $801.98.

The county's last property tax increase was in 2014, officials said.

According to the council, when the current majority was elected in November 2019, its predecessors decreased taxes, leaving the incoming council with less revenue. The budget increase brings the county’s budget back to where it would have been if there had not been a decrease.

See the fully adopted budget online here.

"Next year’s budget represents the County’s investment in the community it serves including investments in services to residents, County infrastructure, public safety, and in the County team who work to serve residents each day," officials said in a statement on the budget's adoption. "It also reflects the reality of running a County in the wake of spiking inflation, addressing decades of underinvesting and deferred maintenance, and acknowledging the conclusion of access to federal COVID-19 relief funds."

In adopting the budget, officials aim to address critical deferred maintenance as determined by the first countywide assessment of the status of County buildings and infrastructure, as well address ongoing and rising inflation.

The budget also seeks to invest in the pay and benefits packages to attract and retain qualified and talented employees in a highly competitive job market and in the county's natural resources, parks, trails, and open space.