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Bucks County Approves 8% Property Tax Hike for 2026 in Split Vote

Commissioners chose a larger hike to create a cushion against rising costs.

Overview

  • County commissioners adopted the 2026 budget with a 2-1 vote, as Democrats Bob Harvie and Diane Ellis-Marseglia supported the increase and Republican Gene DiGirolamo opposed it.
  • The action aims to close a $16.4 million shortfall in the $516 million operating budget while buffering higher service expenses, including the county nursing home and jail.
  • The change amounts to a 2.2-mil increase on a 27.45-mil base after interim CFO Jeannette Weaver proposed 2.0 mils that she said would leave about a $78,000 surplus.
  • Each mil generates about $8.247 million in revenue, the increase takes effect in January 2026, and the average homeowner will pay roughly $72 more per year, or about $6 per month.
  • The move aligns with a regional trend, as Delaware County approved roughly a 19% increase last week and Montgomery County is poised to adopt about 4%.