23.8 Percent Tax Hike Approved In Delaware County

MEDIA, PA — Delaware County property owners will be seeing higher tax bills next year, as the Delaware County Council Wednesday night approved the 2025 budget that features a large millage rate increase.

The approved budget is $321.36 million, $30.43 million higher than 2024's, which was $290.9 million. The council voted 4 to 1 to approve the budget, with Councilman Richard Womack being the lone no vote.

To fund the budget, council approved a 23.8 percent increase in real estate taxes.

With the new rate of 3.873 mills, a home in Delaware County with an average assessed value of $255,108.10 will see an annual increase in taxes of $184.69, according to the county.

Tax bills will go up less than $100 for one third of county residents, Delaware County Executive Director Barbara O’Malley said last week.

The county encourages residents who are on fixed incomes to take advantage of tax relief programs to mitigate damage from the increase. Learn more about the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue's tax rebate programs online here.

Councilwoman Christine Reuther last week said raising taxes was the only choice to keep the government running, and Councilman Kevin Madden echoed her comments, saying "it's just math" when discussing funding for the government.

At last week's budget meeting, Chairman and CEO of Aqua Christopher Franklin proposed his company purchase the Delaware County Regional Water Quality Control Authority, suggesting the sale would stave off the tax increase.

The council did not take that offer.