For the 35th consecutive year, the millage rate in Hempfield will stay at 3 mills in 2025.

Township supervisors Wednesday unanimously approved the $17 million spending plan for next year. The millage rate has been unchanged since 1990.

“We are pleased to provide a balanced budget going into 2025 with no increase to the tax millage rate,” said manager Aaron Siko.

Whether that streak would continue was up in the air in October when township supervisors were presented with two preliminary versions of the 2025 budget — the one that ultimately passed and a second that would have doubled the millage rate for revenue, specificially for the township’s 10 fire departments. The board narrowly rejected the proposed tax increase in a 3-2 vote, and the majority settled on keeping the millage rate steady.

The fire tax was proposed by Supervisor Tom Logan as a way to keep up with rising fire department expenses without cutting into other services. Under the budget approved Wednesday, the township’s road paving budget was slashed from $2.5 million in 2024 to $1.8 million in 2025.

Hempfield has the lowest property tax millage rate among the 21 townships in Westmoreland County. Supervisor Doug Weimer said he is proud to continue that 35-year streak.

The average assessed property value in the township is $27,266. The township brings in about $530,000 per one mill of property taxes.

Expected revenue for the $17 million budget includes about $15.4 million from general government, $543,000 from community development, $583,000 from parks and recreation, $385,000 from public safety and $150,000 from public works.

Expected expenses include about $6.6 million from general government, $874,000 from community development, $364,000 from finance, about $1.5 million from parks and recreation, about $2.2 million from public safety and $5.5 million from public works.

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