Richland taxes remain unchanged in proposed 2026 budget

Richland residents will see their property taxes hold steady for another year, according to the proposed 2026 budget.

The township’s supervisors are scheduled to vote on it at their Dec. 17 meeting.

For 2026, a millage rate of 2.696 mills is levied on all commercial, residential and nonexempt real property. Real estate taxes and sanitary sewer rates are unchanged from 2025.

The general government section of the budget represents about 13% — this section includes administrative staff, legislative, engineering, tax collection and information technology.

The majority of the general fund budget is allocated toward public safety and highways. Public safety accounts for 37% of the 2026 general budget.

“The total for this category is $2.85 million, which is about $60,000 higher than the 2025 budget number. The total increase for the entire cost of the NRPD is at a 15% increase from 2025. Discussions that we’ve read about, discussions that we’ve had with the municipal managers and the police chief — these are about the capital improvements to the department’s building. We need to work through to find out what the best option is for both our top-notch police department and also be able to afford across the municipalities something that’s going to be sustainable for the long term,” township Manager Brian O’Malley said.

Roadways make up 33% of the general budget. The paving program will see an increase of about 1.5% in 2026.

“Within our general fund, we are also doing two transfers, one to the capital reserve and one to the general capital reserve fund — $225,000 to the capital reserve and $325,000 for our general capital reserve,” O’Malley said.

Overall, the township manager expressed his approval for the way the township has been able to budget.

“The good news is we’re able to stay within our means, not raise taxes; our revenue and expenses are not extremely increased. We’re being very careful about how we spend our money and how it comes in,” O’Malley said.