County tax roundup: Chesco stays level as Bucks, Delco and Montco rates rise
County property taxes in Bucks, Delaware and Montgomery counties will increase in 2026, but Chester County taxes will stay level. Property tax rates are measured in millage, with one mill being worth $1 for every $1,000 of assessed property value.

• Bucks County commissioners voted 2-1 to adopt a roughly $517 million budget for 2026 that includes a 2.2-mill property tax increase. The 8% millage rate increase — from the current 27.45 to 29.65 mills — will close an operational budget deficit of more than $16 million, while adding an extra $72 annually to an average property owner’s tax bill.
• Chester County commissioners approved a $778.6 million county budget for fiscal year 2026 that holds the real estate tax rate steady. The overall property tax rate for 2026 remains 5.164 mills.
• Delaware County Council unanimously approved a $418.5 million 2026 budget with a 19% property tax increase. There will be a general tax levy of 4.008 mills and a debt service levy of 0.601 mills on assessed property, for a total of 4.609 mills. A property owner with the average assessed value of $255,472 will see their county taxes increase by $188.
• Montgomery County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved its 2026 budget. The county is raising property taxes by 4% to generate about $12 million in additional revenue for its general fund. The increase will equate to roughly $36 more in property taxes next year for the average single-family dwelling. The budget includes 5.462 mills for county operations and 0.49 mills for Montgomery County Community College, for a total of 5.952 mills.

Philadelphia region included in Zillow's top 20 housing markets of 2025
Philadelphia was among Zillow's 20 most popular housing markets in the nation in 2025, placing 19th in the annual ranking. It was the only big city on the list, which is crowded at the top with Midwest cities. Allentown also made the list, placing 10th. Zillow noted that affordability was one of the biggest factors in this year's list, as most of the top 10 markets "offer prices under $350,000, growing job access, and communities that provide more breathing room and less financial strain." Read more here.
Source: Philadelphia Business Journal & MSN; 12/16/2025

House advances legislation to expand association health plans
The U.S. House of Representatives on Dec. 17 narrowly approved the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act, a bill backed by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) that would expand association health plans (AHPs) to cover self-employed workers, including real estate professionals. Passed on a 216–211 vote and now headed to the Senate, the legislation revives a policy NAR says is critical to providing affordable, high-quality health insurance through Realtor associations, after a 2018 Department of Labor expansion was struck down by a federal court a year later. NAR leaders and state association officials testified in favor of the measure, citing lingering gaps in coverage among members and arguing that AHPs complement the Affordable Care Act by giving small business owners and independent contractors more insurance options.
Source: NAR; 12/19/2025

New policies aim to accelerate building projects in PA
Pennsylvania has implemented major permitting reforms aimed at accelerating development and attracting business investment, addressing the state’s historically slow and cumbersome process that caused companies like U.S. Steel to relocate projects elsewhere. Signed into law as part of the $50.1 billion 2026 budget, the reforms require the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to automatically approve certain stormwater and groundwater permits within 60 days and air quality permits within 30 days if not reviewed, expand the SPEED program allowing third-party inspections to expedite permits, and create a database to track applications. Since the initiatives began, the DEP has eliminated a 2,400-permit backlog and reduced average processing times from 53 days in 2022 to 38 days in 2025. Officials and business advocates say the changes provide greater certainty, accountability and predictability for developers, positioning Pennsylvania as more competitive with states like Texas and Ohio for economic development.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 12/30/2025

Federal regulators seek clarity on how data centers connect to power sources
Federal regulators have directed PJM Interconnection, the operator of the nation’s largest electric grid, to clarify how large data centers can connect to power plants. The move aims to improve transparency for investors and protect consumers from rising electricity costs as energy-hungry AI facilities continue to expand. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) ordered PJM to update its tariff — the rules governing how the grid operates — to better define how co-located data centers interact with the electric system. The revised framework will outline four options for managing these large power users, addressing concerns about reliability, infrastructure strain, and cost impacts. Industry groups, including Advanced Energy United and the Electric Power Supply Association, welcomed the decision, saying clearer rules will help support clean energy development such as solar, wind, and battery storage. Recent high-profile projects — including Microsoft’s $1.6 billion plan to restart a reactor at Three Mile Island and Amazon’s development near the Susquehanna Steam Electric plant — highlight the growing demand driving the need for clear, consistent policy.
Source: Penn Capital-Star; 12/18/2025  

Warrington approves 32 townhomes
Warrington Township officials unanimously approved plans for a new residential development called Valley Ridge, which will bring 32 townhouses to a 4.5-acre site along the 700 block of Easton Road between Georges Lane and Valley Square Boulevard. Proposed by Carlino Commercial Development of Montgomery County, the project includes townhomes built in groups of four, about 8,500 square feet of open space, and a new internal roadway with sidewalks connecting to Valley Square Boulevard that will be maintained by a homeowners association. Two existing homes on the property will be demolished, and the overall plan also references a future retail pad and a daycare facility, though details on the retail use have not yet been announced.
Source: Bucks County Herald; 12/26/2025

Newtown Township discusses future use of scrapped wastewater plant land
With plans for a controversial wastewater treatment plant at the Newtown Township-Middletown border scrapped, township officials are now debating the future of the associated land on Lower Silver Lake Road. The land is zoned for office use. Residents urged supervisors to work with the original developer to return or repurpose the parcel so ratepayers might recover some of the costs tied to the abandoned project, while others argued the land should remain permanently undeveloped. Township leaders said discussions with the Newtown Bucks County Joint Municipal Authority are just beginning, noting a limited window to act, and acknowledged the authority’s admission that it mishandled public outreach on the project. With no clear direction yet, the board must wait for responses from the authority and developer before deciding whether the property will be preserved, redeveloped or put to another use.
Source: Bucks County Herald; 12/9/2025

Doylestown Township planners support development at Hart Tract
Doylestown Township’s planning commission voted unanimously to express support for a proposed luxury townhouse development on the Bucks County Historical Society’s 24-acre Hart Tract along Easton Road, while stopping short of recommending the zoning changes needed to allow it. Developer Richard Zaveta of Zaveta Custom Homes defended his plan for three 12-unit townhouse buildings, arguing the site’s historic value has been overstated and pledging to restore the 18th-century house and barn. The commission debated the broader implications of amending zoning to permit the project, including potential impacts on other large historic properties, and heard divided public comment, with some residents calling the proposal the best available option and others urging caution. The Bucks County Historical Society backed the sale as a necessary reallocation of resources, and the commission will revisit the issue on Wednesday, Jan. 28, before the matter moves on to the township supervisors.
Source: Bucks County Herald; 12/23/2025

Vacant commercial space to become apartments in Ivyland
A long-vacant former tractor warehouse in Ivyland Borough’s historic district will be converted into a small apartment building after borough approval, ending more than a decade of disuse at the corner of Greeley and Wilson avenues. Built in 1901, the structure will be redeveloped into four apartments — two on each floor — with eight off-street parking spaces, while preserving much of its historic architectural character, according to developers. Borough officials praised the project as a productive reuse of an “eyesore,” though some residents opposed the design, arguing it does not fit Ivyland’s traditional look. The property sold for $300,000 in April 2025, and the zoning hearing board approved its residential use earlier this year.
Source: Bucks County Courier Times; 12/17/2025

Lower Makefield budget supported by golf course revenue
Lower Makefield Township plans to use more than $1 million in profits from its Makefield Highlands golf course to help balance the $40.3 million 2026 budget, limiting the tax increase to just 0.044 mills — about $2 for a homeowner with an average assessment of $43,600 — while also relying on remaining sewer fund dollars to close gaps. The spending plan includes a placeholder for a new stormwater utility fee that would charge all property owners with impervious surfaces to help fund $1.6 million in mandated infrastructure maintenance. During a lengthy Nov. 19 meeting, officials deferred several capital projects, including playground design work, pool heater replacements and golf course irrigation upgrades. The township attributes its 4.2% year-over-year spending increase largely to inflation. The budget and new millage rate of 24.993 mills was approved at the Dec. 17 meeting.
Source: Bucks County Herald; 12/8/2025 

East Whiteland office building to be replaced by 250 apartments, retail
A largely vacant office building at 52 E. Swedesford Road in Malvern, East Whiteland Township, is slated for demolition and redevelopment into a 10.3-acre, mixed-use campus featuring 250 apartments and about 6,700 square feet of retail and dining space, under a proposal by Downingtown-based TriPoint Properties. The project, which would include a small market, café and extensive amenities, calls for four residential buildings and 30 subsidized workforce housing units — the first designated as such in East Whiteland Township — priced at 85% of market rates. TriPoint bought the property for $18 million in early 2020, before the pandemic left the office building mostly vacant, and later worked with township officials to shift toward a residential-led plan. Final approvals are expected in early 2026, followed by a roughly two-year demolition and construction period, as demand for apartments remains strong in Chester County amid limited new supply and rising rents.
Source: Philadelphia Business Journal; 12/17/2025

Historic Ferris wheel will return to Phoenixville
A historic, 78-foot Ferris wheel, dubbed the Phoenix Wheel, is set to return home to Phoenixville next spring, according to the Phoenixville Regional Chamber of Commerce. The historic Phoenix Bridge Company, a subsidiary of Phoenix Iron Works, originally built the iron components to the wheel over a century ago. The wheel served as a popular attraction at the Jersey Shore for nearly one hundred years from 1895 through 1988. Now, the wheel will return to its namesake place of origin as a tourist attraction. The wheel will be illuminated and its base will be surrounded by glass fencing. Restoration and relocation of the wheel will cost an estimated $2 million. The wheel will stand next to Phoenixville Borough Hall near the French Creek Trail.
Source: Phoenixville Regional Chamber of Commerce; 12/4/2025

Lower Oxford mulls ordinance relating to Lincoln University
Several officials in Lower Oxford Township said there have been ongoing problems with parking, trash on neighbors’ lawns, disturbances — and, in some cases, crime — when the 1,650-student Lincoln University hosts events. Lincoln’s president Brenda Allen at a board of trustees in November acknowledged that changes were needed, especially around the school’s large events, and that the school has to do a better job of collaborating with the township. Township and school officials said they plan to meet privately to discuss solutions. A proposed township ordinance would require those seeking to hold special events to apply for a permit 30 days in advance and outline how they will control the number of guests, traffic, alcohol and security, said township solicitor Winifred Moran-Sebastian. The township could approve or reject applications. Township supervisors last spring passed a parking ordinance to cope with access problems created during past large events at Lincoln.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 12/13/2025

London Britain unveils refurbished meeting hall
London Britain Township supervisors unveiled a renovated meeting space. After a renovation of the 1,200-square-foot space — designed in collaboration with Chesterville Architects and constructed by a team of local contractors — the revamped space officially opened in September. The meeting hall includes a restroom, four large-screen monitors, upgraded lighting, a separate conference room and additional seating. Eventually, its front vestibule walls will display special treasures and important proclamations from the township’s history. “The goal of this building was to keep the look of an old schoolhouse, but with modern technology,” Supervisor Brian Sachs said, referring to the room’s original blackboards, pitched ceiling and a bell in the front of the building, which was once used at the South Bank School.
Source: Chester County Press; 12/17/2025

$200K state grant will pay for new South Coatesville manager position
South Coatesville Borough is set to establish a full-time municipal manager position after securing a $200,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, state Rep. Dan Williams (D-74) announced. The funding, awarded through the Strategic Management Planning Program, will cover salary and benefits for the new role. Borough leaders say the position is designed to strengthen day-to-day operations and support long-term planning in a community that has seen rising demands on local services. Williams said the investment is aimed at helping the borough modernize its administrative capacity.
Source: MyChesco; 12/5/2025