Local Tax Increases 2025

County councils and commissioners throughout the region are approving budgets for 2025 with expenses greater than revenues, and they are counting on the taxpayers to supplement that spending!

Chester County

Commmissioners Eric Roe (R), Josh Maxwell (D, Chairman), Marian Moskowitz (D)

Yesterday, in a 2 to 1 vote, the Chester County Commissioners passed a 13.47% county tax increase for 2025. While the average dollar increase may be small for some (a little over $100 per year), the cumulative effect of inflationary price increases from eggs to electricity that is being felt by citizens is what stings. Dozens of citizens expressed concerns and suggestions to the commissioners, yet the complaints fell on deaf ears for two of them. See more on this from the Delaware Valley Journal.

Delaware County

Council Members Richard Womack (D, Vice Chair), Christine Reuther (D), Dr. Monica Taylor (D, Chair), Elaine Paul Schaefer (D), Kevin Madden (D)

Last week, in a 4 to 1 vote the Delaware County Council members passed a 23.8% increase in the county tax for 2025. This makes Delaware County the highest taxed county in the Commonwealth. Like in Chester County, residents strongly pushed back against the tax increase. However, the increased services, initiated when the county received American Rescue Plan Act of 2021(ARPA) funds, will not be reduced. Broad + Liberty reported on the hearing prior to the council’s vote and 6 ABC provides a report following the vote.

Montgomery County

Commissioners Neil Makhiji (D, Vice Chair), Jamila Winder (D, Chair), Thomas DiBello (R)

Today, in a 2 to 1 vote the Montgomery County Commissioners approved a 9% county tax increase for 2025. As with the other collar counties, residents provided feedback to their elected leaders, but it mostly fell on deaf ears. After a 10% property tax increase in 2024, many residents have had enough.

Bottom line…

Southeastern Pennsylvania Counties took ARPA funds offered by the federal government to assist small businesses that were closed and workers who were displaced. The counties expanded government by creating positions in departments, increasing salaries, and funding new initiatives. Now that the federal funds have run dry, the counties won’t cut services or personnel. Instead, the elected leaders will turn on the spigot of tax dollars because that never runs dry!

As the Constitutional Convention ended in 1787, Benjamin Franklin was asked if the delegates produced a monarchy or a republic. Franklin replied, “a republic, if you can keep it.”

We are trying to keep this republic that we love and hold our representatives accountable to the people. Join us in that mission and share this Update with your contacts!