Swatara Township advertises 2026 budget with no tax increase

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The Swatara Township Board of Supervisors voted to advertise the 2026 budget with no millage rate increase at the Nov. 13 meeting.

Total income is anticipated to be $1,664,650, and total expenditures are expected to be $1,893,176. There is also $1,923,000 carrying over into the new year, meaning there is a total of $3,587,850 available.

For income, the township estimates $460,500 in real property taxes and $914,400 in Act 511 taxes to make up the largest portion. $133,250 will come from charges for services, $40,200 from licenses and permits, $53,000 from interest, and $43,600 from intergovernmental revenues. The remaining amount will come from fines and refunds.

Expenditure-wise, the largest amount is $617,862 for public works. $553,371 is going to general government, $334,193 to employer-paid benefits and withholding, and $241,475 to public safety.

The township is expecting $1,694,674 in unappropriated funds at the end of the year.

Swatara has four other funds — the fire hydrant fund, the Mountville-Rockwood sewer fund, the recreation fund, and the liquid fuel fund.

The budget outlines $29,075 in income for the year and $29,000 in expenditures for the fire hydrant fund. The sewer fund has $31,314 in income and $31,164 in expenditures. The recreation fund shows $250 in income, but a total of $10,150 in funds available, and $1,500 in expenses. Lastly, the liquid fuel fund anticipates $256,900 in income for the year, but $478,900 in total funds available and $350,000 in expenditures.

After the budget is advertised, supervisors can vote to adopt the final budget in December.

In other business, supervisors:

• Voted to go to bid to fix the Old Jonestown Road streambank and bridge, and to replace Old Route 22 and Airport Road pipes. Supervisor Dean Patches said they don’t have a cost estimate but are hoping to get one bid for all projects.
• Voted to amend the driveway ordinance to define more non-residential driveways.
• Signed an agreement with the Humane Society of Lebanon County for $550.
• Passed a resolution to sign a police agreement with the Cleona Borough Police Department for 30 hours per month. The price for coverage will be $120 per hour for 2026, $125 per hour for 2027, and $130 per hour for 2028.
• Voted to purchase precast concrete blocks for the township’s stone piles, with the price not to exceed $6,000.
• Authorized a Local Share Account grant request for a QRS system for Bunker Hill Fire Company at $82,019.14.
• Agreed to pay $200,000 to the fire company to cover the township’s future payments for a new truck. Patches said this will save around $40,000 on interest. Supervisor Rick Kreitzer, also chief of the company, abstained.
• Voted to advertise the revised subdivision and land development ordinance. Township manager Jennifer Harding said the changes are basic housekeeping to try to improve the process.

The Swatara Township Board of Supervisors will have its next regular meeting at 7 p.m. on Dec. 11 at 68 Supervisors Drive.