Major Tax Increase Proposed In 2025 Delaware County Budget

MEDIA, PA — A massive tax increase is proposed in the 2025 Delaware County budget.

The Delaware County Council is floating a 23.8 percent real estate tax increase to fund its $321.36 million operating budget.

The proposed operating budget for 2025 is $30.43 million higher than 2024's, which was $290.9 million.

Delaware County Executive Director Barbara O’Malley during a budget workshop Tuesday said the proposed tax increase aims to "consistently provide revenue sources to provide the quality services that we have in Delaware County."

According to O'Malley, tax bills will go up less than $100 for one third of county residents should the increase be approved.

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.

"Any increase is challenging for all our residents," O'Malley said. "We do not mean to minimize in any way the impact this will have."

O'Malley said even with the proposed 23.8 percent increase, and last year's 5 percent increase, Delaware County is behind neighboring counties in growth.

"Our tax revenue has not been growing with our expenses, with inflation, as our peer counties have," she said. "But now with this adjustment, we are still below our peer counties in how much tax revenue has increased."

The county will discuss the budget again Wednesday night and will vote on adopting the budget Dec. 11. The public is invited to attend these meetings.

See the full proposed 2025 budget online here.

"Nobody wants to increase taxes," Councilwoman Christine Reuther said. "I'm a Delaware County resident. I live in a house with an assessment that's probably double what the average assessment is, and I'm going to be paying the taxes on that. And I don't particularly care for that.

"We just don't have any choice about this if we're going to continue to operate this government," she said.

Councilman Kevin Madden said responsible stewardship sometimes requires making unpopular decisions.

"We have to be able to run a county government," he said. "It's just math."

However, Chairman and CEO of Aqua Christopher Franklin proposed his company purchase the Delaware County Regional Water Quality Control Authority.

He estimated the sale would yield the county at least $125 million.

"I think we should exhaust all forms of 'one time money' before we put a permanent long-term, forever, tax increase on all the residents in the county," he said at the meeting.

He said proceeds from selling DELCORA would help offset the tax increase.

Aqua Pennsylvania President Marc Lucca echoed Franklin's comments, saying the proceeds would help stave off the tax increase and address the budget shortfall, freeing up funds for future projects and community investments.