With a vote of 4-1, the Delaware County Council approved a 19% property tax increase on Wednesday night. The increase will cost a home owner an average of an extra $16 a month, and comes after the council passed a 23% property tax increase for 2025. Council members explained their decision t o the crowd tonight saying this isn’t something they want to do, but something they have to do to keep the county from running out of money. The local lawmakers cite a current financial deficit, the depletion of federal COVID relief funds and inflation as key factors. “Even though I’m voting for this, I will apologize to the taxpayers that we have to, but we do,” said Councilmember Kevin Madden. “Our primary responsibility is to make sure this county is on solid ground, and make no mistake, in absence of this increase tonight, we would run out of money.” However, their decision was met with a lot of pushback from residents of Delco who say they’re already pinching pennies to make ends meet.  “Homeowners and taxpayers can’t take much more of these taxes,” said one resident at the meeting before the vote. “A lot of people are frustrated. A lot of people aren’t happy with this tax increase, especially we begged you guys not to do it, and you went the other way.” ...read more read less