The 2026 Butler Township budget will once again be balanced without a tax increase for residents.
Butler Township administrators and department heads presented their needs to the commissioners as part of the annual budget meeting.
According to Township manager Tom Knights, the size of the budget is expected to decrease by about $4 million to nearly $17 million. This figure is lower because it does not include the expense of three fields and two buildings at the Pullman Recreation Complex although it does include a support building, restroom, and parking lots at the complex as well as the first phase of dredging ponds at Pullman Park.
Budgetary expenses include replacing a couple of police vehicles as well as new Tasers for the officers. A mini-excavator and a dump truck have been proposed for use by the road department.
Township officials will have used about $9 million of the proceeds from the sale of BASA assets on the recreation complex as well as to pay off the rest of what was owed on the township building. However, they still expect to end next year with about $5 million more than they received from PA American Water with interest from the remaining sum.
The commissioners will pass a preliminary 2026 budget with a vote Monday before finalizing the plan for next year in December.
