Haverford commissioners pass budget with 3.3% tax hike, honor fire chief

Haverford Township commissioners have approved a 3.3% property tax hike as part of the 2026 budget. Commissioners unanimously adopted the increase to fund the $57.9 million general fund 2026 budget.

There is also a $5.6 million sewer fund, $4.2 million in remaining ARPA funding and a $14.5 million capital budget for a total over $81 million. At a prior meeting, Township Manager Dave Burman reviewed the budget saying “the township is living within its means.” He noted one driver of the increase is health insurance, which is up 12 percent over the past two years.

Burman said that in a built-out community such as Haverford, revenues from real estate become flat while costs rise through inflation, which is a structural challenge. Burman said they will also be using $2.6 million in the General Fund Reserve in a targeted and limited manner to support operations and maintain pension stability.

“It’s not a sign of mismanagement, it’s simply the math of local government finance,” Burman said.

He said for the coming year increases are focused, minimal and strategic.

“Inflation rose a lot faster than our tax rate,” he said. “It’s a testament to our township employees who worked very hard to maintain services and help us avoid passing the full impact of rising costs onto our residents.”

The tax rate will rise from 4.545 mills to 4.695. The trash fee will be $295 per year for residential dwelling, a $12 a year increase from last year. There will be no increase in the sewer tax.

Burman said that for the average residential assessment, which is $346,000, the impact of the tax would be $51 per year. For the median assessment, which is $306,000, the tax would be $46 a year.

Commissioner Sherry Forste-Gruppe credited the budget for remaining within the rate of inflation. A crowd was on hand for the meeting, not to protest the budget but to honor a retiring fire chief and welcome new police officers.

Commissioners honored Brookline Fire Company Chief John Viola for his 58 years of service to that department. Viola is also the police chief in the township, and was reappointed for an additional year.

Viola began as a volunteer firefighter at 18 at Brookline Volunteer Fire Company on Sept, 9, 1967.

He rose through the ranks, beginning as an engineer in 1970 and becoming the fire chief in March 1983. In May 1991, he rescued a 3-month-old child from a house fire on the 1400 block of Kingsley Road.

Commissioners congratulated his commitment to the fire service.

Viola said the fire service runs deep in his heart and he will remain involved in projects at the station.

“It’s been an honor and a pleasure to serve in the fire service in Haverford Township,” Viola said. “My fire service is deep in my heart and runs in my veins, through and through.”

Police department commissioners also approved a number of staff changes in the police department. Two officers were promoted to the rank of sergeant, Kimberly Huganir and Lawrence Howard, and Sgt. T.J. Long was promoted to deputy police chief.

Commissioners approved the hiring of six entry level officers for 2026:

• Lorenzo Juveres, 29, who was an officer for three years in Philadelphia and is a captain in the Army Reserve.
• St. Lawrence Teti-Cassidy, 25, who graduated from Ridley High School in 2017, then worked as an officer in Mesa, Arizona, in 2022.
• Jack Esher, 22, a Haverford native and Bonner graduate. He was deployed overseas during his time in the Army Reserve. He is attending the Montgomery County Police Academy and will work alongside his father, John Esher.
• Umar Afgan, 34, graduate of the John J. Jay College of Criminal Justice, who has been a Philadelphia officer for eight years. He will serve alongside his wife, Brittany, also a township officer.
• Jenna Haley, 33, a graduate of Archbishop Prendergast and Rosemont College. She will attend Montgomery County Police Academy.
• William McGoldrick, 26, graduated from Bonner in 2018 and the Delaware County Police Academy and served with the Chester Police Department.

Viola also took a moment to thank Deputy Chief Joseph Hagan, who is retiring in January.

“Outstanding deputy chief, outstanding supervisor, he’s always two steps beyond what I am thinking, which works out well because we are almost always on the same page,” Viola said. “I want to recognize Joe for his service to the community and police department over the years.”