Pottstown officials unveiled a draft $66 million 2026 budget that currently includes a 4.98% property tax increase to close a $602,000 deficit. For a home assessed at $100,000, the proposed hike would mean an annual tax increase of about $75. Borough Manager Justin Keller and finance director Marley Boone assured council that the final increase is likely to be lower by December. The largest portion of the budget is the general fund, with the police department taking the biggest share. Rising costs are driven by contracted salary increases, higher healthcare, workers’ compensation and liability insurance, and the loss of tax revenue from nonprofit-owned properties, including Pottstown Hospital. Thirteen more tax-exempt parcels were added in the past year, bringing the borough’s total to 255 tax-exempt parcels. Borough leaders highlighted increasing building permits, economic development efforts, and outside funding for infrastructure as positives, while council members emphasized the need to explore new revenue sources to manage rising costs without overburdening residents.
Source: Pottstown Mercury; 10/9/2025