The Gettysburg Borough Council voted last night to approve the 2026 municipal budget, concluding a months-long review marked by rising costs. The borough’s new $7,516,659 spending plan in the General Fund represents an 8 percent increase over last year’s $6,941,860 budget, underscoring the financial pressures facing the community.
The main budget was balanced in large part through a 4.39% real-estate tax increase, equal to a 0.2-mill rise over the 2025 rate, as well as the use of the last American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.
Much of the borough’s spending is locked into mandatory or contractual obligations, including a 19 percent increase in health-insurance premiums, ongoing debt payments, and utility and service contracts. Only about nine percent of the budget is considered discretionary, leaving council with limited room to adjust.
Council’s review unfolded over a series of public workshops held in October and November.
The budget’s largest expenditures reflect the scale of the borough’s public-safety and infrastructure responsibilities. Police services account for the single biggest share of spending, totaling $2,747,323, or 36.5 percent of the General Fund. Public Works follows at $1,323,948 (17.6 percent), covering street maintenance, facilities, and essential services. Interfund transfers—primarily supporting other borough funds and obligations—total $787,132 (10.5 percent). The Borough Manager’s office, including administrative operations, accounts for $541,415, or 7.2 percent of spending.
The council noted that 2026 is the final year for ARPA funds, with all remaining money allocated in this year’s budget, and acknowledged that ARPA had previously been used to hold taxes flat for three years but is now exhausted. Members emphasized that with ARPA expiring on December 31, 2026, the borough can no longer rely on it to offset rising costs.
Other notable cost drivers in the 2026 plan include a request to fund a 14th police officer and continued increases in employee benefit obligations. To limit rising expenses, borough leaders discussed shifting from a full-time custodian to two part-time positions, which would reduce benefit-related costs. Council President Matt Moon said that adding personnel in the police department was a costly budget commitment.
The budget also includes a $100,000 allocation to support a large-scale reenactment of Abraham Lincoln’s 1863 arrival in Gettysburg, scheduled for Nov. 18 and 19, 2026. The event is presented as part of the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration.
Other approvals included the Fire Protection Services Fund, expected to generate about $243,000 for equipment and training through a dedicated property tax of ~0.5000 mills. The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Fund includes roughly $127,000 in Federal money and interest income to be used for sidewalk accessibility improvements. The Revolving Loan Fund is expected to receive about $9,374 in revenue and the Liquid Fuels Fund is expected to receive about $179,366 in revenues.
