On its third attempt, Upper Darby Township Council approved the implementation of a 1% earned income tax (EIT), effective July 1. The EIT was first proposed in 2023 by then Mayor Barbarann Keffer. In December 2024 it was stopped due to a court ruling declaring that it was voted on improperly. Mayor Ed Brown said the EIT is a necessity and, once it is enacted, he wants to reduce property taxes. Much of the discussion involved the likelihood that the school district would attempt to take half of the EIT revenue. Officials said that is possible — the school could take up to a half-percent, but it would have to put a referendum on the ballot. Norristown Chief Administrative Officer Crandall Jones said the money would go into the general fund to address needs of the capital budget, which he said presently sits at $1.5 million in the general fund. The EIT is projected to raise $10 million dollars in revenue. Council President Hafiz Tunis said nobody likes taxes, but residents will see a return on investment.
Source: Daily Times; 2/21/2025