Forward Township passed a nearly $2 million budget for 2026 without a tax increase.

The budget, which was approved by supervisors at their meeting on Thursday, Dec. 11, is projected to be a balanced one. Both revenues and expenditures stand at $1,937,404. The municipal property tax rate will remain at 2.78 mills, along with a fire tax rate of 1.5 mills.

“I’m very proud of the fact we have not had to generate more income ... other than the introduction of the fire tax a few years ago,” Wilson said.

According to Wilson, the township is expecting to earn $1,820,033 in revenue for this year — $150,000 more than what it initially budgeted for.

Wilson attributes the rise in revenue to higher earnings from taxes due to population growth in the township.

“We have more money coming in than we thought we would have,” Wilson said. “That’s actually good in the way the economy is right now. ... It’s largely due to the growth in the township, particularly in the housing plans. People moving in are adding a lot to the local service tax and the earned income tax.”

The majority of the township’s projected revenue for 2026, $1,076,558, will come from taxes. Wilson noted real estate taxes make up a surprisingly small amount of that total at only $168,347.

“The earned income tax is generating about 39% of our (total) revenue, 17% comes out of the liquid fuels, Act 13, and 13% is from the real estate tax,” Wilson said. “The earned income tax and the Act 13 money are increasingly the major portions of our money in the township to finance what we do.”

Nearly half the township’s projected expenditures, $969,005, are set aside for public works; $274,756 will go toward road maintenance and repairs; $138,695 is earmarked for road worker regular wages and $255,132 is for work on an improvement project on Marburger Road.

In addition, $86,099 in expenses are budgeted under the “health and human services” section of the budget, a jump from the $60,000 set aside for the category in 2025. This is due in large part to $25,000 that has been set aside by the township for America250 celebrations.

The township is also increasing its annual grant funding to its three EMS providers from $25,000 to $26,099.