Property taxes are going up in Hempfield for the first time in more than three decades.

Township supervisors Monday approved doubling the millage rate to 6 mills for 2026 to create a 3-mill fire tax to fund the fire department.

Supervisors voted 4-1 to give an initial OK to the proposed 2026 spending plan that bumps up the millage rate. Supervisor Doug Weimer cast the lone opposing vote.

The board was presented with two versions of the $17.8 million budget last week — one that kept the property tax rate steady at 3 mills for the 36th consecutive time and the second that created the fire tax. It was similar to proposals supervisors were given at the end of 2024. The board majority in 2024 ultimately voted to keep taxes unchanged for 2025, but warned an increase could be coming.

The additional fire tax revenue is expected to solely fund the $1.95 million public safety department and allow officials to reallocate the existing 3 mills into other areas. Three mills of taxes brings in about $1.6 million.

Adamsburg Volunteer Fire Department President Ken Wees thanked supervisors for seeking additional revenue to help the township-wide fire service.

“We absolutely support the proposed fire tax to help maintain the gains we’ve made over the last five years,” he said.

Resident Tony DiGregorio questioned the need for it.

“The residents of the township cannot sustain this kind of expense for a fire department,” he said.

Hempfield’s property tax levy hasn’t been changed since 1990.

Supervisors must give the spending plan a final approval in December.

The tax bill for an average resident would increase from $81 to $163. Eligible senior citizens are expected to get a break under a proposed rebate program that would essentially wipe out the tax hike and keep their bills the same. More details about the program will be released in December, said township manager Aaron Siko.

If supervisors didn’t agree to increase property taxes, township residents could expect to see cuts to services such as road paving, infrastructure maintenance and programming, Siko said.

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