#NewtownPA Rescue Squad Faces Soaring Costs, Seeks Boost in Borough Funding

The source for this podcast - a Newtown Patch article plus comments - details an escalating contractual dispute between Newtown Borough and Newtown Township over the price of fire services for the upcoming year of 2026.

While the Borough is insisting the Township honor a previously negotiated "good faith" offer of $275,000, the Township's Board of Supervisors has officially countered by demanding a higher fee of $350,000. This higher demand was approved by a 3-2 vote, overriding the recommendations of the Township's own negotiating team who supported the lower number.

The majority of the Supervisors and concerned residents argue that accepting the Borough’s lower offer would force Township taxpayers to subsidize the service, especially since some evidence from a state analysis suggests the actual rational cost is closer to $375,000.

In response, the Borough council has directed its legal counsel to formally reject the $350,000 proposal and resubmit the original $250,000 figure, maintaining that the higher rate is unreasonable.

The Newtown Bucks County Joint Municipal Authority (NBCJMA) officially ended its plans to construct a controversial $128 million wastewater treatment plant after facing months of significant grassroots opposition and threats of litigation from residents across multiple surrounding townships.

The Authority, which currently sends its wastewater to Philadelphia, had acquired the necessary 17.5-acre site near the Newtown Bypass via eminent domain but acknowledged that it failed to adequately educate the public about the proposed facility.

Following the project's termination, the authority has begun the process of offering the land back to its original owners within a 90-day window, or it must petition the court for permission to sell the property publicly. While the site was previously slated for a large apartment complex, local supervisors have expressed a strong preference that the land ultimately remain undeveloped for the benefit of the community.

A 29 November 2025 NewtownNow.com article outlines the controversial and abrupt closure of Rocco’s at the Brick, an upscale restaurant located inside The Brick Hotel, stemming from escalating conflict between the operating tenants and the hotel owner, Verindar Kaur.

The immediate point of failure was an alleged threat by Kaur to revoke the essential liquor license, which the restaurant’s management claims necessitated their immediate shutdown after Saturday service. However, Kaur publicly denied issuing this threat, stating she was surprised by the closure and that the restaurant was free to vacate the premises.

Beyond the licensing dispute, Rocco's management - Dana Gray, the secretary for restaurateur Marc Gelman, the operator of Rocco’s at the Brick - cited long-term issues related to the leased space, including concerns over water damage, mold, and a broken boiler, while Kaur maintained the building was in good repair. Following the closure, police were called to oversee the tense removal of restaurant equipment, and

Rocco's management announced they are now seeking a new location for the concept on Sycamore Street - most likely Guru's Indian Restaurant, which was recently put on the market. More on that here... sco.lt/5Oc4Xo

The 25 November 2025 Newtown Township Board of Supervisors (BOS) meeting centered on local safety and infrastructure, authorizing the Township Engineer to study Fountain Farm Lane traffic in response to resident requests for parking relief and speed control.

A significant portion of the session was dedicated to reviewing Zoning Hearing Board applications, resulting in the BOS voting to send the Solicitor to oppose sign variances sought by FirstTrust Bank and Melange on Sycamore.

Discussions concerning the 2026 draft budget highlighted friction among supervisors over fiscal priorities, specifically the necessity of reallocating funds from police vehicle purchases to address severe deficits in road paving maintenance.

Procedurally, the meeting was tense, marked by the removal of the contentious Drug Education Vehicle purchase from the agenda and disagreements over why the Township Engineer was instructed not to attend the public session.

The meeting also addressed the termination of the proposed Newtown Sewer Authority plant and formally approved the adoption of the 2021 International Fire Code ordinance.

More details...

The November 25, 2025, Newtown Township Board of Supervisors (BOS) meeting centered on local safety and infrastructure, authorizing the Township Engineer to study Fountain Farm Lane traffic in response to resident requests for parking relief and speed control.

A significant portion of the session was dedicated to reviewing Zoning Hearing Board applications, resulting in the BOS voting to send the Solicitor to oppose sign variances sought by First Trust Bank and Melange on Sycamore.

Discussions concerning the 2026 draft budget highlighted friction among supervisors over fiscal priorities, specifically the necessity of reallocating funds from police vehicle purchases to address severe deficits in road paving maintenance.

Procedurally, the meeting was tense, marked by the removal of the contentious Drug Education Vehicle purchase from the agenda and disagreements over why the Township Engineer was instructed not to attend the public session.

The meeting also addressed the termination of the proposed Newtown Sewer Authority plant and formally approved the adoption of the 2021 International Fire Code ordinance.

At the 25 November 2025 Newtown Board of Supervisors (BOS) public meeting, local officials will discuss using opioid settlement funds to help pay for a police “surveillance truck.” Some residents questioned whether this use aligns with the funds’ intended purpose—prevention, treatment, and recovery. Concerns included transparency, whether the purchase actually addresses opioid harm, and the need to prioritize community-based services. Supporters argued the vehicle could help investigate drug-related activity, while critics said it diverts money away from direct public-health needs.

To many people, a local planning commission meeting sounds like the definition of tedium—a dry, procedural exercise in zoning ordinances and setback requirements. The common perception is that these gatherings are best left to municipal officials and directly affected property owners, offering little of interest to the wider business community.

In reality, these meetings are often fascinating, real-time case studies in the friction between community rules, business needs, and the pressures of modern life. They offer a tactical roadmap for how businesses can successfully navigate local bureaucracy—or fail spectacularly. By observing the Newtown Township Planning Commission's November 18, 2025 meeting, I uncovered several surprising and counter-intuitive lessons for any business owner.

Read more...

A recent Newtown supervisors meeting turned emotional as residents of a retirement community near the Newtown Bypass described what they view as a daily hazard — the crosswalk on South Sycamore Street that divides the Chandler Hall campus.

As a result, Newtown Township supervisors unanimously voted to authorize township engineers to prepare a cost estimate and design options for crosswalk safety upgrades near Chandler Hall on South Sycamore Street.

Read the story for more details...

The sources provided for this podcast focus on the Newtown Bucks County Joint Municipal Authority (NBCJMA) board meeting held on 18 November 2025, detailing the proceedings, agenda items, and public discourse.

The agenda confirms routine matters like approving minutes, reviewing finances, and receiving various reports (Engineer’s, Solicitor’s, Manager’s, and Field), while also highlighting the motion to terminate the authority's controversial plan to construct a wastewater treatment plant.

Public comments and an associated document reveal specific concerns, including a complex technical question regarding the discrepancy in Equivalent Dwelling Unit (EDU) calculation standards between NBCJMA and the Bucks County Water & Sewer Authority (BCWSA).

Furthermore, the meeting addressed the significant consequences of terminating the proposed waste water treatment plant plan, particularly the process for offering the condemned land back to the original owners and the potential impact on resident sewer rates that had been raised to finance the land acquisition. The board ultimately voted to terminate the plan and discussed the legal process regarding the future of the land.

Quick Highlights

• Meet Mack Monday Recap: Budget, road paving, fire services, and Fountain Farm Lane parking were reviewed with residents.
• Consent Agenda: Bills list of $587,098.60 (plus $1,507.66 in transfers) approved 5–0.
• 413 Durham Road Sewage Planning Module: EDU/GPD calculation discrepancy flagged for clarification.
• Fire Apparatus Grant: Resolution to seek $1,000,000 LSA grant for new aerial truck and pumper.
• Fire Services Agreement: 2026 agreement with NFA approved 5–0; operational benchmarks removed.
• Borough Fire Services Payment: After resident input, BOS increased 2026 requested payment from $275,000 to $350,000 (3–2 vote).
• Police Report: Monthly stats for October 2025 presented; questions raised about missing speed board data.
• 2026 Budget: 4-mill tax increase, questions on revenues, HR position, police vehicles, and tech spending.
• Road Program: Only 1.85 miles of paving funded vs. ~3.56 miles needed annually.

More...

This video is a segment from the 12 November 2025 Newtown Board of Supervisors (BOS) vote on the township sending a letter to the borough specifying the financial terms of the former providing the latter with paid fire services.

The issue is whether or not the previous consensus of a 1-year contract with a $275,000 fee was a fair agreement considering that township residents would be paying a lot more per household than the Borough. The alternative of $350,000 was suggested and ultimately voted on. passing by a 3-2 vote.

Featured: Public comments by resident Eric Pomerantz swayed the final vote despite opposition from BOS Chair Elen Snyder.

[Listen to this 10-minute "Deep Dive" podcast: “#NewtownPA Township Taxpayers Force Fire Fee Increase for Services to Borough”]

The source for this "Deep Dive" podcast is the transcript of the 12 November 2025 contentious Newtown Board of Supervisors meeting concerning a proposed fee for borough fire services.

The central conflict revolves around the borough's contribution for fire protection, with many township residents, including speaker Eric Pomerantz, arguing that the suggested payment of $275,000 is unfairly low and forces the township to raise their own taxes via a millage increase.

The residents and several supervisors maintain that the borough should pay at least $350,000, a figure apparently supported by a Harrisburg calculation, to ensure an equal share of the burden.

Ultimately, a motion was made by Supervisor John Mack and passed by a three-to-two vote to send a letter demanding the higher $350,000 fee for the year 2026. The discussion also included strong criticism toward certain supervisors accused of advocating for the borough's interests over those of their own township constituents.

[View the video: "#NewtownPA Resident's Comments at BOS Meeting Swayed the Vote on the Township/Borough Fire Services Agreement"]

The 2026 Budget spending focuses on hiring unneeded additional Newtown Twp staff, purchasing multiple police cars, a dump truck, and other things... but NOT on roadwork! Taxes are up 30% while new road paving miles are down 25%!

This isn't just a one-year shortfall; it points to a structural problem. When a town consistently paves fewer miles than required for basic upkeep, it creates a long-term infrastructure deficit. Roads will likely degrade faster than they can be repaired, leading to more significant and costly problems down the line.

MY PROPOSAL

PennDOT District 6 (Bucks County): averages $350K–$600K per lane mile for resurfacing under state contracts. To get to 3.5 miles of paved roads, an additional 1.6 miles of road need to be paved requiring about $760K more funding would be needed (using an average of $475K per mile base on PennDOT numbers). For a more realistic goal, I proposed finding additional fund to pave a total of 2.5 miles of roads (same as in 2025).

If ONLY 2 new police cars were approved, $170K would be available for road repair. Add to that a savings of $205K by removing a new dump truck from the budget, you would have $375 available – enough to add nearly 0.8 miles to the total. That would then be enough to pave 2.6 miles of road!

The differences between the 2026 Fire Services Agreement and the 2020 Fire Services Agreement touch upon the duration of the agreement, organizational structure, funding specifics, operational requirements, and reporting details.

To summarize the operational shift: the 2026 agreement reflects a more integrated and formalized structure ("Newtown Fire Rescue") that relies heavily on a unified "Operations Manual," while eliminating specific performance metrics (like response times and specific initial funding) and detailed internal procedures found in the 2020 document, moving those details into the new manual or generalized language. It also introduces the Township's right of refusal on equipment.

This agreement between Newtown Township and the volunteer Newtown Fire Association will come up for approval by the Newtown Board of Supervisors at its November 12, 2025, public meeting.

Listen to this "Deep Dive" podcast...

What You Need to Know

WEDNESDAY, November 12, 2025, starting at 7 PM

Newtown Supervisors meet Nov 12 to review major township issues — including a $587K bills list, Township Fire Services Agreement with NFA, and a $1M grant application for new fire trucks. 

The 2026 budget and road paving shortfall are under scrutiny, with residents raising concerns over a steep 4-mill tax hike, police car purchases, and the need for an HR Director. 

Also discussed: zoning variances, EMS and police funding, and questions about missing speed board data.

To prepare for this meeting, I prepared detailed notes that I know you will find informative. The notes include summaries of and links to the official documents that the supervisors will vote on. Also included are comments from residents and questions I plan to ask at the meeting. Hopefully, by reading these notes you will also have comments and questions to ask at the meeting.

 👉 Read full pre-meeting notes

Public comment will also be taken via e-mail during the course of the meeting. All public comment must contain the commenter's name and confirmation that the commenter is a Township resident or taxpayer, and should be as succinct as possible. Emailed comments will be read aloud. Address comments to: Comments@newtownpa.gov

When a headline announces a local tax increase, it’s easy to feel a familiar sense of resignation. But what if the numbers on the page are only a fraction of the story? A recent "Meet Mack Monday" community meeting, hosted by Supervisor John Mack, pulled back the curtain on Newtown's 2026 draft budget. Beyond the expected figures, the discussion and subsequent Q&A revealed several surprising and impactful truths about how the township operates, where our tax dollars really go, and the quiet challenges shaping our community's future.

Welcome to the November 3, 2025, Meet Mack Monday Zoom meeting presentation!

John Mack, Newtown Twp Supervisor, hosted this meeting.

The goal of Meet Mack Monday Zoom meetings is to inform residents of township issues that impact them and to get feedback and comments from residents about such issues. This helps Supervisor Mack keep better informed of residents’ concerns when I vote on the issues at Board of Supervisors meetings.

Agenda:

• 2026 Draft Newtown Township Budget
• 2026 Road Paving Program
• Fire Services Non-Agreement with the Borough
• 22 October 2025 BOS Meeting Summary
• Fountain Farm Lane Parking Problem
• My Plans After BOS

Listen to the Q&A Session that followed: https://rebrand.ly/MMM-3Nov25-QandA

The financial statements of Newtown Township for the year ended December 31, 2024, were audited by the firm Maillie LLP. The findings and context of this audit are crucial for understanding the reliability of the financial data.

The audit process identified risks of management override and improper revenue recognition for planning purposes and noted a material weakness in a separate communication to the Board of Supervisors. Specifically, the auditors noted that Newtown Township did not consistently record revenues in the proper accounting period. Specifically, certain revenues related to intergovernmental grants and charges for services were recorded in the incorrect fiscal year.

Key themes: 2026 budget & millage changes, paving plan, Newtown Gate parking enforcement, and sewer plant project update.

Jump to:

• 2026 Budget
• Road Paving
• Public Comments
• Planning Commission
• Solicitor & ZHB Items
• Consent Agenda: Bills
• September 2025 Fire Incidents Report
• Fire Services Contract

This issue of the Newtown News of Interest newsletter provides an overview of local government news and controversies in Newtown, Pennsylvania, primarily focusing on topics discussed at various Board of Supervisors meetings in late 2025.

Key issues detailed include a contentious showdown over the 2026 Fire Services Agreement between Newtown Township and the Borough, where officials disagreed on payment amounts for fire protection. Additionally, the text highlights zoning and land-use debates, such as objections to a proposed mini-storage facility and a request from the Newtown Athletic Club for a variance regarding an improperly placed sign.

Other important subjects cover the approval of an Intergovernmental Agreement for a new pedestrian bridge over Newtown Creek and ongoing safety and parking disputes along Fountain Farm Lane, which led to residents receiving tickets. Finally, the article mentions a request from the Council Rock Little League for township assistance in funding water access to make baseball fields safer for children..

 Read the issue...

Newtown Township’s 2026 Proposed Budget outlines a balanced yet cautious financial plan — addressing rising costs and public safety needs while keeping taxes regionally competitive. The $16.9M budget uses part of the Township’s fund balance to offset a $3.2M deficit, maintaining reserves above policy limits.

A 4-mill real estate tax increase—3 mills for fire protection and 1 for the rescue squad—will strengthen emergency services and prepare for future staffing needs. Even with this adjustment, Newtown’s tax burden remains among the lowest in Bucks County, reflecting a fiscally responsible path forward.

Read more details here...

Newtown Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Chief Evan Resnikoff has asked Newtown Borough Council to double the borough’s EMS tax millage from 0.5 to 1.0 mills to help cover rising costs and major capital expenses. The request comes as the squad faces the need to replace two ambulances ($600K total), five heart monitors ($50K each), and an aging HVAC system at its Eagle Road headquarters.

Resnikoff said operating costs have “grown exponentially,” with insurance premiums expected to reach $200,000 next year and reimbursement rates failing to cover actual expenses. The department staffs personnel 24/7 and serves Newtown Borough, Newtown Township, Upper Makefield, and parts of Solebury Township, covering 32 square miles with 55 employees and eight volunteers

.

He emphasized that Newtown Borough enjoys some of the fastest EMS response times in Bucks County and highlighted national recognition for clinical excellence in heart and stroke care. Borough Council will discuss the tax request at its special budget meeting on Thursday, Oct. 23 at 5:30 p.m. at Borough Hall.

The Newtown Township Police Department Activity Summary for the week of October 10 through October 16, 2025, presents preliminary police data that is subject to revision.

The summary provides statistical metrics for the period, noting a total of 492 calls for service, including specific numbers for events like traffic crashes (14 total), thefts (02), and medical emergencies (30). Furthermore, the document includes an incident blotter detailing six specific incidents, such as a reported assault, two instances of narcotics discovered during traffic stops, and reports concerning credit card fraud and a scam attempt.

The report concludes with a caveat that these are highlighted incidents and do not constitute all weekly police activity.

Access the report,,,

The provided source for this "Deep Dive" podcast is the "Newtown Borough Fire Protection Study 2022," prepared by the Governor’s Center for Local Government Services in Pennsylvania to assess the fire service costs for Newtown Borough, Bucks County.

This analysis was requested by the municipality to evaluate the cost of fire protection, which is currently provided through a symbiotic relationship with Newtown Township.

The report examines the history and current structure of fire protection, noting that the service is delivered by a combination of the Newtown Fire Association and the Newtown Township Department of Emergency Services.

A major component of the study is the Fair Share Cost Analysis, which calculates various potential fee structures for the Borough's contribution to the Township's fire protection budget using methods like the ratio of calls, population, and assessed valuation. Ultimately, the document presents several fire protection options for the Borough, ranging from reaching a new long-term agreement with the Township to establishing its own municipal fire department.