#NewtownPA Township Taxpayers Force Fire Fee Increase for Services to Borough

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 records a 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.

At the October 13, 2025 work session, Newtown Township supervisors clashed over how much Newtown Borough should pay for fire protection. The Borough offered $267K–$275K over three years, while Supervisor Phil Calabro demanded $330K plus annual increases, arguing township taxpayers shouldn’t subsidize Borough services. Chair Elen Snyder, John Mack, and Dennis Fisher supported a one-year $275K deal and a new state cost study to determine a fair share. Fire Chief Glenn Forsyth warned of worsening volunteer shortages and after-hours response gaps. The board is expected to vote on the contract before year’s end.

Source: Transcript of the October 13, 2025 Newtown Township Board of Supervisors Work Session.

The sources for this "Deep Dive" podcast are excerpts from the October 8, 2025, Newtown Township Board of Supervisors meeting where members of the Newtown Gate Townhouse Association voiced strong complaints regarding traffic congestion, speeding, and a sudden, strict enforcement of parking regulations on Fountain Farm Lane.

Chet Zaremba, the association president, detailed the residents' anger over new ticketing after 35 years of unhindered parking and questioned the fairness, pointing out that a township-employed tow truck driver was previously allowed to park there with impunity despite safety concerns.

Another resident, John Lagomarsino, suggested modifying the road's classification and white fog lines based on his engineering research, proposing designated parking zones as a solution to both the parking shortage and traffic issues.

Supervisors acknowledged the problem, with Supervisor Fisher committing to walking the area to seek solutions and Supervisor Mack suggesting hiring traffic experts, while the Police Chief confirmed that ticketing would continue due to the public safety hazard of cars encroaching into oncoming traffic to bypass parked vehicles.

This sign was visible from my car parked in the Adventure Aquarian parking lot in Camden, NJ, yesterday. What an atrocity - little of which is taught in schools and now against federal policy.

This history will never be know by our grand children. Perhaps even hard to find signs like this one - just facing the parking lot. not the sidewalk and street - will be taken down just as statues and monuments of racists will be re-erected!

Land use and zoning dominated part of the 24 September 2025 Newtown supervisors meeting, as the township planning commission presented updates on multiple proposals. These included a residential subdivision and a controversial mini-storage facility.

This video was produced by Google's Gemini-powered AI research tool NotebookLM from a Variance Request submitted to the Newtown Township Zoning Hearing Board by the Newtown Racquetball Association, operating as the Newtown Athletic Club (NAC), for a sign installed at 120 Pheasant Run.

[NOTE: The Planning Commission will consider this application at its 21 October 2025 public meeting.]

This request seeks to modify a previous decision to allow an existing "NAC" wall sign that was inadvertently installed facing the Newtown Bypass instead of the Penns Trail side of the building, which was the location contemplated in a 2014 zoning decision.

The application specifically requests variances concerning the sign's location within 1,000 feet of the Bypass, the number of signs allowed on the property, and the maximum permitted size for a wall sign, proposing an increase to 31.389 square feet.

Exhibits confirm the existence of a previous zoning variance history for the property and include a zoning violation notice from April 2025 regarding the improperly placed sign.

Refer to the "NAC Sign Variance Briefing Document" for details.

This summary of the 8 October 2025 Newtown Board of Supervisors (BOS) Meeting was prepared by Google NotebookLM & John Mack:

Executive Summary

• Newtown Creek Pedestrian Bridge moves ahead via a Township–Borough Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA); ~$1M grant-backed.
• Newtown Gate parking enforcement triggers resident outcry; Police cite safety hazards.
• Crosswalk safety upgrades at Chandler Hall/Sycamore authorized for cost estimate.
• Fire services: two new career firefighters sworn in; Borough–Township agreement talks delayed.
• Budget ’26 underway; bills, transfers, and park repairs approved.

Read the summary here...

This "Deep Dive" podcast reviews the Newtown's Anti-Discrimination Ordinance, enacted in 2018, which broadly prohibits discrimination in areas like employment, housing, and public accommodations based on numerous characteristics, including race, color, sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability.

More to the point with regard to recent news, the document explicitly prohibits "Conversion Therapy" for use with minors by mental health professionals.

Furthermore, the law established a local Human Relations Commission and details the procedures for filing complaints with the newly created Commission, including options for a fact-finding conference or expanded investigation procedures.

Finally, the ordinance ensures an aggrieved person has a private right of action to pursue remedies, such as emotional distress and exemplary damages, in court.

The Newtown Township Codes Department’s latest report offers a snapshot of active development and zoning matters heading to the Planning Commission, Board of Supervisors, and Zoning Hearing Board (ZHB). Several notable applications involve signage, additions, and a new mini-storage proposal on Upper Silver Lake Road.

Mediplex Property Group – 101 Pheasant Run

Mediplex, owner of the Rothman Orthopaedic Group building, seeks zoning relief to install an additional wall sign on the south elevation. The request would bring the total to three wall signs—one more than permitted. The applicant plans to amend and resubmit; the review timeline has been waived.

Newtown Athletic Club – 120 Pheasant Run

The NAC seeks several variances for a wall sign installed in 2019 on the Bypass side rather than the approved Penns Trail side. The sign exceeds both size and frontage limits and is within 1,000 ft of the Bypass. Reviews are set for Oct 21 (PC), Oct 22 (BOS), and Nov 6 (ZHB).

Firstrust Bank – 11 Durham Road (Goodnoe’s Corner)

Firstrust proposes a 6.8-ft-high, 22.9-sq-ft freestanding sign exceeding height, size, and frontage limits. Hearings are planned for late October and Nov 6 (ZHB); timeline waived.

1784 Holdings LLC – 98 Upper Silver Lake Road

The developer proposes a three-story, 36,604-sq-ft mini-storage facility and a 25 × 45 ft manager’s apartment on the former TD Bank site. Relief is needed for parking, loading, steep slopes, and other dimensional standards. The plan heads to Oct 21 (PC), Oct 22 (BOS), and Nov 6 (ZHB).

The report also notes continuing activity in building and use permit reviews, though project specifics were not listed. Most ZHB hearings are expected in late October and early November, with several applicants agreeing to timeline waivers to allow further staff and Planning Commission coordination.

Source: Newtown Township Codes Department Weekly Report, October 3, 2025.

The sources for this podcast comprise several emails between Newtown Township residents and officials regarding ongoing safety and parking issues along Fountain Farm Lane and surrounding streets.

The correspondence reveals that residents like Ed McCorry and Steve Bacher have repeatedly raised concerns about speeding, illegal parking that obstructs traffic, dangerous stop sign violations, and the lack of pedestrian crosswalks.

In response, an official relays that the police chief acknowledges the enforcement issue but notes that resources are limited, confirming that illegal parking on the fog line will result in ticketing.

Conversely, other residents, including Gary and Janice Malanowski and Vincent Luisi, express anger and surprise at the recent ticketing for parking on Fountain Farm Lane, arguing that this practice is new and asking for clarification on where residents and visitors should park, especially during the upcoming holiday season.