It’s certainly a brighter forecast from last year as Palmyra officials put together the 2025 budget.
Borough officials were met with significant increases in trash collection efforts and mandatory obligations in 2024. This year, “2025 is turning out to be an exciting year,” with the borough having successfully transitioned to collecting its own trash – with own staff and equipment.
The new Palmyra sanitation department got going in January and picks up trash once a week, recycling every other Wednesday and bulk trash once a month. But officials did see significant increases in state-mandated stormwater management requirements; general liability insurance, including workers’ compensation and cyber-risk premiums; and mandatory health benefits and pension contributions for borough employees.
The $11.09-million budget – up approximately $84,000 over last year’s $11 million – maintains or expands all existing services and includes a 3% increase for staff, officials said as they introduced the plan on March 29. Council will hold a public hearing and finally adopt the 2025 financial plan on May 5.
The budget increases the local municipal tax rate to $1.46122 per $100 of assessed valuation, up about $0.037 over last year. For a home assessed at the borough average of $148,916, the increase amounts to $57 per year ($14.25 per quarter/$4.75 per month) or 2.69% over last year. This year’s total municipal property tax for a home assessed at the borough’s average is $2,175.99.
Municipal taxes are one item on a property tax bill, which also includes school and county taxes. The budget fully funds the police department at $1.65 million, an increase of $94,361 from last year. The force includes 17 officers and Class I Special Officers to patrol Legion Field and enforce downtown parking regulations.
The proposed budget also continues funding for the Palmyra Fire Department Volunteer Participation and Stipend Program, which pays firefighters a $150 per-day stipend to staff the firehouse. It pays two firefighters – a $78,000 annual expense – with a third stipend firefighter expected later this year.
The borough maintains just under $4.3 million in fund balance for use in future years and proposes to utilize $1.91 million in balance or surplus this year to reduce the local purpose tax. An additional $890,333 will be used from PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) funds for the first warehouse construction project on Route 73. The borough receives $1 million a year from the warehouse property owner through those funds, officials said.
The 2025 Sewer Utility Budget stands at just over $2.3 million, with spending on wastewater treatment and operations, debt service and salaries up from last year’s budget of more than $2.2 million. The plan maintains or expands all existing services and includes a 3% increase for utility employees.
No increase in sewer fess is necessary for the foreseeable future, according to borough officials.
