During the Budget Hearing and Workshop held on October 28, 2025, Finance Director Amy Organek presented to Council a proposed budget that calls for an overall decrease in real estate tax millage for 2026. Under the now approved 2026 budget, Upper Providence Township’s real estate tax rate will decrease from 2.399 mills to 2.1 mills.
In 2025, Council adopted a 1% Earned Income Tax (EIT). According to Township Manager Barry Luber, implementation of this tax affected approximately 30% of residents, as an estimated 70% were already paying an EIT to another municipality or paying wage taxes in Philadelphia, Wilmington, Delaware, or the State of New Jersey—meaning no additional EIT was required. Additionally, retired residents are not subject to an EIT.
Several residents expressed concerns about implementing the EIT. During the 2025 budget workshops, Council informed residents that the Township would budget conservatively for EIT revenue since there was no way to determine exactly how much revenue would be received. Council also stated that if EIT projections for 2025 exceeded the budgeted amount, they would consider reducing the real estate tax or other taxes for 2026. Council is now making good on that commitment, and have adopted a budget that includes a 12.5% real estate tax decrease.
Council Chair Marsha Peterson said, “We take very seriously our responsibility to provide services to the community while balancing the need for fiscal responsibility. With the proposed budget, we will be able to maintain or improve the quality of essential services such as police protection, fire and emergency medical services, open space preservation, park maintenance, infrastructure improvements, and code enforcement.”