Palmyra Borough Council discusses 2026 budget, which is not as dire as 2025’s

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A few areas of the 2026 budget will likely increase costs for residents of Palmyra Borough, but the spending plan for next year does not look as dire as the 2025 budget, which included a 22.5% tax increase to close a deficit of around $600,000.

Palmyra Borough Council briefly heard updates about the 2026 budget from borough manager Roger Powl at the Oct. 14 meeting.

The full draft budget wasn’t available to the council on Tuesday, but Powl gave an overview of the varying funds. He said the sewer fund looks good, but the fire tax will have to increase.

“Obviously, we know we’re going to have to raise the fire tax millage because of the firehouse loan situation, and depending on whether the decision is made to increase the incentive program or not,” Powl said. “If you did both, it’s looking right now at light 0.18 mills, which is, I don’t know, $26, $27 a year per taxpayer, basically — or per property.”

The borough’s fire tax stayed consistent in the 2025 budget at 0.67 mills. A 0.18-mill increase, if that number stays steady throughout the budget review process and is approved, would mean a fire tax rate of 0.85 mills in 2026.

The Palmyra firehouse’s loan is in its last few months of a five-year interest rate forgiveness, Powl said in September. He said the borough has been paying about $75,000 over the last five years, and that payment will go up to about $129,000.

In his budget overview, Powl also said trash rates for borough residents will likely increase due to the contract raising costs each year based on the Consumer Price Index, and because the landfill is considering raising tipping fees by $10 per ton.

“Until they make that decision, I don’t really know, but you’re probably looking at about $89 per quarter, I think, for the trash,” he said.

Powl said the borough isn’t in a “dire situation” that would necessitate a major millage rate increase to cover a general fund deficit, but they will have to make some decisions about personnel and hiring to limit expenses.

He said he’s looking to have a full draft budget available for council at the next meeting.

In other business, council voted to remove Logan Lentz from probationary status and retain him as a permanent full-time employee for the Public Works Department at a salary rate of $28 per hour.

Palmyra Borough Council will meet next at 325 S. Railroad St. on Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. Meetings are also streamed on the Palmyra Borough, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania YouTube page.