Chester County residents will see a 13.4% increase in the county portion of their property taxes in 2025. The board of county commissioners voted 2-1 along party lines to approve the 2025 budget, including the tax increase, after roughly an hour of public comment from residents urging commissioners to cut costs elsewhere to avoid the hike. County officials have cited a need to maintain competitive salaries for public employees amid high inflation. Chester County’s tax increase is part of its $730 million budget for 2025 that includes additional funding for SEPTA, infrastructure improvements and staff salaries. One of the largest increases from the county’s 2024 budget is an additional $20 million toward personnel. The increase will result in an additional $104 in annual taxes for the owner of a home assessed at $170,000, the median value for the county, according to county staff.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 12/18/2024