MEDIA, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — During a budget hearing Monday night, Delaware County residents expressed their frustration over a budget proposal that includes a 19% property tax hike, just a year after taxes were raised by 23%. Officials said the increase is necessary for the county to stay afloat financially.
After last year’s 23% tax hike, Delaware County Council formed a 60-person citizen budget task force to analyze cost-cutting measures relating to the county’s copier usage, car fleet and electricity. However, they still found that in order to overcome a structural deficit, a 19% property tax increase would be necessary.
Since he moved to Drexel Hill with his fiancée a couple of years ago, resident Joseph Kozari said they have already faced multiple rate increases.
“That averages out to another $15 and some cents for every month, and then annually it’s another roughly $190. That’s gas, that’s food. It adds to the stress,” he said at Monday’s meeting.
Tom Meeley, a resident of Glenolden, also opposes the rate increase.
“I don’t understand how you increased the taxes last year, and now you’re asking for another 19% — for what? Nobody wants this. Not one of my neighbors is interested in this tax hike,” he said.
The assessed value of the average home in Delaware County is $255,000, which means the average homeowner would see a yearly increase of $188. However, officials noted that a third of Delco homeowners would face an added cost of less than $100 for the year.
Council Vice Chair Richard Womack said while these consecutive tax hikes are hard to swallow, they are necessary after an existing shortfall was exacerbated by the pandemic. He said this latest rate increase should close the gap on the county’s structural deficit.
“I think that this 19% will get us above board where we need to be, and I think the residents will get a break after that,” he explained. “You can either raise the taxes gradually year by year by year, or you get it over with in one sum.”
Council is expected to vote on the budget on Wednesday.