READING — City of Reading landowners may see a 6% increase on their property tax bill next year, but the extra revenue may not be enough to keep the city from dipping into its reserve funds to cover 2026 costs.
Reading Finance Director Jamar Kelly outlined the proposed $284 million budget to the City Council on Oct. 6. Officials called the tax increase a difficult decision that they had successfully avoided for four years, before exiting the state’s financial distress program (known as Act 47).
Property taxes are one of municipalities’ primary tools to raise revenue to cover essential services, such as police, fire, and public works. Kelly estimated the additional tax revenue to bring in about $2 million…