N. Londonderry Twp. officials approve 2026 general budget with no tax increase

This article was funded by LebTown donors as part of our Civic Impact Reporting Project.

North Londonderry Township supervisors unanimously approved the 2026 budget with no tax increase to the general fund for municipal residents. 

There was, however, a slight increase to the fire hydrant tax, from .061 to .065 mills, and no rise in either the street light assessment tax, which remains at 80 cents per linear foot, or the sewer fee schedule, according to township business manager Michael Booth.  

“The total budget for 2026 for fire hydrants would be $43,021,” Booth told supervisors, noting that’s up from $39,386. “It’s $4,000 (more), and that covers the cost of the new fire hydrants and the water use and things in the township.”

The general fund budget shows revenues of over $5.75 million and expenses that slightly exceed revenues by $16,929. The 2026 budget will be balanced by using township’s budget reserves to cover the rest of the projected deficit.

Board chairman William Buckfelder said minor changes were made to the budget that was presented for review during their November meeting.

“We changed it to include the incentives for the fire department. Doing our due diligence, comparing our fire department to our neighboring departments, you guys are doing a fantastic job. We’re getting a good bang for our buck from you guys, and I really appreciate what you guys do,” he said. “My opinion is the incentives are just a band aid on the fire departments. And in meeting with Chief Dugan last week on incentives justification, he reinforced the challenges in supporting the volunteers. My opinion is the public’s acknowledgement and thank you to the volunteers goes a lot further than tax dollars. So I just want to let you know publicly that we really appreciate what you guys do for us.” 

In an unrelated matter involving the fire company, supervisors voted to pay off in 2026 its portion of the remaining mortgage debt for the department’s building. Booth told LebTown after the meeting that the township’s portion of the debt is approximately $1.7 million. The supervisors approved Booth working with the bank to prepare the proper paperwork to execute that action in the coming year.

Township traffic discussions

The board also took votes on two items involving traffic, specifically concerning the speed limit on a township roadway and the times when school zone flashing lights are in effect.

During brief discussion, it was noted that there was a request to lower the speed limit on Gravel Hill Road. The township can only petition PennDOT to make a request since it is a state-owned road.

That led supervisors to give approval to Booth to send a letter to PennDOT to request a traffic study to determine if the speed limit should be reduced. Booth noted that the traffic study will be conducted at no cost to the township.

The second traffic discussion concerned changing the times for lower traffic speeds in Palmyra Area School District’s school zones. The township received a letter asking the flashing zone lights to be operational from 2:40 until 3:10 p.m., which is 5 minutes earlier than when they are currently in effect

“What the situation is that dismissal occurs at 2:40 p.m. and until the students make their way to their lockers or whatever, and they get out to Campbelltown Road … it’s 2.45,” Booth said. “So in anticipation of making this request to the board, we had our PD go down there and observe for two straight weeks the student movement activity at that intersection at that time.”

Booth noted the officers observed pedestrian traffic until 3:15 p.m., adding that, “at no time during that time frame, did they witness or observe a student getting to that intersection … prior to the lights going on at 2:45 p.m.” Booth told the supervisors. “So based on that – and we modified the permit in the past already once to accommodate a request – we’re not sure if we want to do that again.”

Supervisors voted to have Booth draft a letter informing district officials that they are keeping the maximum allowable time for the lights to be in effect as the current time frame. 

PennDOT requires school zone flashing lights to signal a mandatory 15 mph speed limit when active, typically for 30 minutes before and after school to indicate the presence of children present, with activation times set by local authorities & PennDOT. 

Board appointments

The board also took action to name a number of individuals to various boards. Those boards, the individual to serve on them, and their length of terms are:

• Township Authority – William C. Buckfelder, 5-year term 
• Planning Commission – James E. Hartman, 4-year term 
• Planning Commission – David G. Burris, 4-year term 
• Zoning Hearing Board – Deborah A. Buckfelder, 3-year term 
• Zoning Hearing Board (Alternate) – Allen Stuart, 3-year term 
• Palmyra Public Library Board – Deborah A. Buckfelder, 2-year term
• Auditor – Steven M. Derr, 1-year term
• Lebanon County Tax Collector Committee – Mandy K. Braden, 1-year term 
• Lebanon County UCC Appeals Board – Rick Horst, Patrick R. Brewer, Carrie Boyer and Joseph Connor (alternate), all 1-year terms 

Other township business

In other business, supervisors unanimously voted to: 

• Grant the Delta-T PHC building expansion project based on the recommendation of the township’s planning commission.
• Pay outstanding invoices.
• Accept the treasurer’s and police department reports for November and the Planning Commission and manager’s reports. 
• Adopt the minutes of their Nov. 17 meeting.

The reorganization meeting of the North Londonderry Township supervisors will be on Monday, Jan. 5, at 7 p.m. in the township building at 655 E. Ridge Road, Palmyra. Supervisors normally meet the third Monday of the month at the same time and location.