For a number of communities across Southwestern Pennsylvania, 2026 is arriving with higher property tax bills.
Those cities, boroughs and townships have hiked their millage rates for the new year to contend with rising infrastructure costs, inflation and the exhaustion of pandemic-era federal subsidies.
In Westmoreland County, many municipalities are increasing taxes for the first time in a decade or more.
Here’s a summary of certain municipal budgets as the new year begins.
North Huntingdon
North Huntingdon officials unanimously approved a $15.8 million budget for 2026 that includes a 30% property tax increase. The 3.5-mill hike is split into two parts: 1.5 mills are dedicated to the general fund, while 2 mills are earmarked for the capital reserve fund to tackle road and stormwater management projects.
The township had not raised taxes for its general fund since 2012.
Township Manager Harry Faulk noted that federal covid-19 pandemic relief funding allowed the township to avoid increases over the last few years. Commissioners ultimately rejected an alternative proposal that would have implemented a $7 monthly stormwater fee in lieu of a higher millage rate.
Unity
The Unity supervisors voted in late December to double the township’s general-purpose property tax to 4.4 mills. The move is expected to generate an additional $600,000 to cover rising expenditures.
Township Supervisor Mike O’Barto noted that this increase is the first in more than 50 years. Even with the change, O’Barto emphasized that Unity’s millage remains among the lowest in the region, necessitated by the rising costs of essential materials such as asphalt, salt and public works piping.
Hempfield
The Hempfield supervisors also voted to double property taxes for 2026, moving the rate from 3 to 6 mills. The 3-mill increase creates a dedicated fire tax to fund the township’s fire department.
This marks the first property tax hike in Hempfield in more than 30 years. The board approved the $17.8 million budget in a 4-1 vote, with Supervisor Doug Weimer dissenting.
The board had considered a version of the budget that would have kept the rate steady for the 36th consecutive year but ultimately moved forward with the fire tax.
Adamsburg
Adamsburg is raising property taxes by more than 100%, jumping from 2.8 mills in 2025 to 5.8 mills this year. However, council President Bill Lasko noted that even with the hike, the borough remains one of the least taxed jurisdictions in the state.
“At 2.8 mills, we only collected $15,000 in total property taxes,” Lasko said. “We haven’t raised taxes in 30 or 40 years, so it’s to get some additional revenue for projects and maintenance that needs to be done.”
Lasko added that the borough recently had to cover the full cost of road projects after anticipated grant funding fell through.
Greensburg
City council passed a 2026 budget that keeps the millage rate steady, despite a $2.6 million drop in assessed property valuation for the new year.
That decrease in total assessed value will result in about $21,500 less in property tax revenue.
When initially preparing the 2026 spending plan, fiscal director Jason Paha estimated the total assessed value would go down by about $1.5 million.
“It went down a lot further than what we thought it was going to go down,” said Councilman Randy Finfrock.
The total assessed value in Greensburg for 2026 is $124.5 million, compared to $127.1 million in 2025, said Westmoreland County chief assessor Camdon Porterfield.
Money was moved around in the budget to make up the shortfall after the actual figure was provided in November by Westmoreland County Tax Assessment. The budget keeps the property tax rate steady at 27.95 mills for Greensburg property owners.
Allegheny Township
The Allegheny Township supervisors made a very small bump in the township’s property taxes to bring its debt-service millage back to previous levels. Township tax officials said the debt-service millage was reduced to 1.85 mills in 2025, and brought it back to 2 mills for 2026.
Ligonier Township
The township supervisors raised millage from 6 to 7.5 mills.
“We’re setting aside funding for bridge repair, which we haven’t done for while,” said Township Manager Michael Strelic. “That, along with general inflated expenses, is driving the tax increase.”
Countywide
The Westmoreland County commissioners passed a $466 million budget for 2026 that held the line on property taxes despite a nearly $15 million deficit.
The shortfall will be offset by surplus funds. To reach the final figure, commissioners slashed an anticipated $30 million deficit in half through personnel cuts, the postponement of capital projects and the reallocation of federal funds.
Holding the line
Among the Westmoreland communities that passed a 2026 budget without a property tax hike are Export, Delmont, Greensburg (see above), Jeannette, Latrobe, Monessen, Murrysville, South Greensburg, Southwest Greensburg, Washington Township and Penn Township.
