Middletown schedules special meeting after budget fails to pass – Bucks Round-Up – December 16, 2025
Middletown schedules special meeting after budget fails to pass
Middletown Township officials will reconvene later this month after the Board of Supervisors failed to pass a proposed 2026 budget that would significantly raise local taxes. The $53.1 million spending plan stalled Monday night amid sharp disagreement over a proposal to double the earned income tax and raise real estate levies for fire and ambulance services. Township officials estimated the plan would cost the average homeowner about $179 more annually, while a typical wage earner would pay roughly $323 more through the higher EIT. Supervisors Dana Kane (R) and Bernadette Hanna (D) voted against the proposal, calling for deeper budget scrutiny and alternatives to the tax hikes. Kane defended her vote as a matter of fiscal accountability, arguing that long-standing spending issues were not addressed early enough. Her stance drew criticism from several colleagues, who accused her of political motivation. Supervisor Chair Mike Ksiazek (D) ultimately moved to continue the meeting until December 17, when the board will revisit the budget and consider multiple tax-related ordinances and resolutions. Incoming Supervisor Ryan Leighton (D), who takes office in January, sharply criticized Kane’s vote during public comment.
Newtown Township passes its budget for 2026
The Newtown Township Board of Supervisors narrowly approved its 2026 budget, voting 3-2 to adopt a $16.8 million plan that includes a tax increase to support fire and ambulance services. The increase — four mills total — is expected to cost the average homeowner about $157 per year. Township officials cited rising costs and expiring grant funding for expanded fire coverage as driving factors. While the budget includes funding for public safety staffing, roadwork, and equipment purchases, dissenting supervisors raised concerns about long-term deficits and whether spending priorities, particularly for road repairs and police vehicles, were properly balanced.
New Britain Borough enacts two-mill tax increase
New Britain Borough Council last week voted to raise the municipal property tax by two mills, bringing the entire real estate tax bite to 44.55 mills. The average borough property tax bill would resultantly go up by $38 to $846 total on top of the local one-percent income tax, a levy whose revenues are split with Central Bucks School District. Municipal officials anticipate the tax will annually bring $70,000 into a general fund budget of $2.337 million which funds public works, police, utilities, and administration. Councilpersons largely attributed the hike to costs related to the Central Bucks Regional Police Department.
Northampton Township settles with waste collector over pandemic-era issues
Northampton Township’s board of supervisors voted in favor of an agreement whereby the municipality would keep $44,000 and pay no more to satisfy the claims of solid waste contractor J.P. Mascaro & Sons. Litigation by the trash collector alleged the township improperly held payment due to what municipal officials considered substandard service — in particular, major disruptions — during the Covid-19 pandemic. While supervisors generally said they were glad to not authorize any further payments to Mascaro, some deemed it more of a compromise than would have been ideal. “I don’t think it’s that fair of a settlement,” Supervisor Kim Rose (D) said, “but I’ll go along with it.”
Holland man pleads guilty in killing of his mother
In Northampton Township, a Holland man has pleaded guilty in a gruesome homicide case that shocked the community last year. William Michael Ingram, 51, admitted to third-degree murder and numerous related charges in the killing of his 82-year-old mother, Dolores Ingram, inside their condominium. Under a negotiated plea, Ingram faces 26 to 54 years in state prison, with the possibility of additional time on drug-related offenses. Sentencing is scheduled for February 18. Prosecutors detailed how Ingram fled to Washington, D.C. after the killing and later confessed while in custody. Investigators also recovered large quantities of drugs and cash from the residence.
Joe LeCompte hosts LeCompte in the Morning on WBCB 1490. Bradley Vasoli is the senior editor of The Independence.
