Residents of Delaware County expressed strong opposition to a proposed 19% increase in property taxes during a recent County Council meeting. The county’s Executive Director, Barbara O’Malley, outlined the reasons behind this significant adjustment as part of the newly posted 2026 budget proposal. The budget’s initial reading is scheduled for December 3, 2023, with a final version expected to be adopted by December 10, 2023.
During the meeting, several residents voiced their concerns regarding the tax hike, which follows a previous 23% increase enacted last year. The increase raised the tax burden for property owners with an average assessment of $255,108 from $803.34 to $988.03. With the new proposal, homeowners could see an additional charge of nearly $188, compounding financial pressure on many families.
Cynthia Sabatini from Upper Providence highlighted the struggles faced by residents in the county, pointing out the recent success of the Delaware County Community Food Drive, where hundreds contributed food for those in need. “It’s obvious that people are hurting financially in Delaware County,” she stated. She urged the council to reconsider the proposed increase, warning that the tax hike could force more residents to choose between essential needs like food and medicine versus paying their taxes.
The 2025 budget saw a significant tax increase, with Council Vice Chair Richard Womack being the only dissenting voice during the vote. Womack had previously advocated for a Budget Task Force to analyze fiscal practices. Sabatini noted that many of the increases were related to the law-and-order system, emphasizing the connection between financial distress and rising crime rates. “Over-the-top tax increases set up a cycle of more financial distress, more abuse, more crime, and the need for greater justice system resources,” she warned.
At the meeting, Delaware County Communications Director Michael Connolly explained the necessity of the tax increase. He cited several factors contributing to the county’s fiscal challenges, including a structural deficit, a lack of robust budget reserves, the cessation of pandemic-related funding, and escalating costs, particularly in the county’s required contributions to the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) and rising healthcare expenses.
Residents questioned the county’s spending priorities, with Michael Straw from Media calling for a comprehensive review of the budget, which he described as increasing another 6% from 2025 to 2026. “When is enough, enough?” Straw asked. He criticized the county for raising salaries, creating new departments, and spending on land acquisitions, which he deemed unnecessary. Straw emphasized the importance of minimizing costs, stating, “If I had to choose between seeing taxes increase and my rent going up, or a new trail being created, I’d prefer we put the trail on hold.”
Another resident, Joy Schwartz of Drexel Hill, questioned the rationale behind certain expenditures, including the establishment of a health department and a diversity, equity, and inclusion office, both of which she deemed non-essential. Kim Brown from Colwyn expressed concerns regarding the proposed $61 million budget for the George W. Hill Correctional Facility, noting that the number of inmates had decreased significantly while costs continued to rise.
Brown referred to a prior analysis indicating that if the inmate population remained around 1,400, operational costs could drop to $43 million. In contrast, Connolly confirmed that the anticipated cost to the county for operating the prison was projected at $60.7 million in 2026, up from $46 million in 2022. He attributed these increases to rising costs for food and healthcare, which would impact the facility regardless of operational control.
Sabatini reiterated the need for scrutiny in prison spending, noting that costs had increased by 33% since 2022, despite a decrease in inmate population. “My question is, why is there an inverse relationship between costs and prison population?” she asked, urging for a financial audit of the facility.
Connolly acknowledged the county’s commitment to providing a safe and humane facility for its residents, emphasizing the necessity of addressing long-standing infrastructure issues and staff compensation. He explained that the previous management had underfunded the facility, leading to staffing shortages and operational challenges.
As the discussion continued, a resident identified only as Selma urged the council to freeze the proposed millage rate for 2026. She described the situation as one of “financial suffocation” and criticized the normalization of annual tax increases. “Stop normalizing annual tax hikes as the only option,” she stated.
Connolly highlighted the efforts of the Budget Task Force, noting that their work had led to improvements in budget transparency, including the online posting of budget documents for the first time. He indicated that while some changes may take time to implement, the county is committed to exploring various strategies to enhance fiscal responsibility and accountability.
The upcoming votes on the budget will be closely watched by residents, many of whom are feeling the strain of increasing costs. The outcome may shape the financial landscape of Delaware County for years to come, as officials attempt to balance necessary funding with the economic realities faced by its citizens.