By Josh McKnight | The McKnight Team
Three school boards in our area just voted to raise property taxes for the 2026-2027 school year. Neshaminy approved a 4.1 percent increase. Bensalem approved 4.2 percent. Upper Perkiomen in Montgomery County approved 0.75 percent. If you own a home in one of these districts, your monthly payment is about to change. If you are buying one, the number on the listing sheet is already out of date.
Here is what passed, and what it means for your wallet.
What the Three Districts Approved
The Neshaminy School Board passed a $228.7 million budget with a 4.1 percent property tax increase. The district expects more than $161 million in local tax revenue, nearly $59 million from the state, and $2.7 million from the federal government. That federal number has been shrinking for years. Personnel costs are the biggest line item at just over $150 million for salaries, benefits, and pensions.
Bensalem Township School District adopted a $194.6 million operating budget in an 8-1 vote. The tax increase is 4.2 percent, bringing the millage rate to 188.947. The board also pulled $1.9 million out of its fund balance to close the gap. That fund balance is now down to $4.5 million. This comes after the board voted in April to cut 31 positions.
Over in Montgomery County, the Upper Perkiomen School Board approved an $88.17 million budget in a 5-4 vote. The tax increase is smaller at 0.75 percent, moving the millage rate from 28.8081 to 29.0242. But the district still had to use $2.2 million from its reserve fund to cover the deficit, leaving about $2.8 million in savings.
Notice the pattern. Two of the three districts are spending down reserves to make the math work. Reserves are a one-time fix. The bill comes back next year.
How This Shows Up in Your Monthly Payment
Most homeowners never write a check to the school district. Your taxes get paid out of escrow, and your lender recalculates escrow about once a year. So the increase arrives quietly, as a higher mortgage payment.
Run the math on your own house. If your school tax bill is $7,000 and it goes up 4 percent, that is $280 more a year. About $23 a month. That alone will not break anyone. But lenders also collect a catch-up amount when escrow runs short, so the first year can sting more than the number suggests.
The bigger issue is what it does to buying power. Higher taxes mean a higher monthly payment, and a higher monthly payment means a smaller loan approval. Buyers who were qualified in the spring may be qualified for slightly less this fall.
For context on where prices sit, the median sale price in Bucks County was $538,385 in May 2026, up 7.5 percent from a year earlier, according to Redfin. Montgomery County came in at $484,547, up 0.4 percent over the same period. Bensalem specifically posted a median sale price of $423,746, up 4.6 percent, per Redfin data from May 2026. Prices are holding. Carrying costs are climbing. Those two things pull in opposite directions.
What Buyers Should Do Before Writing an Offer
Do not trust the tax figure printed on the listing. It is last year’s number, and in these districts it is already wrong.
Ask for the current millage rate and the property’s assessed value. Multiply them. That is your real annual bill. Two houses at the same price in different districts can carry payments that are hundreds of dollars apart each month, and that difference is permanent. It follows you for as long as you own the home.
If you are shopping in the Doylestown area or up toward Lansdale, the same rule applies. Every district in our market sets its own rate, and those rates move every June.
What This Means for You
If you own a home in one of these three districts, expect a higher payment and plan for it. Check your escrow statement when it comes. If you are selling, understand that sharp buyers are running the tax math and it affects what they are willing to offer. Be ready with real numbers instead of guesses. And if you are buying anywhere in Bucks County or Montgomery County this year, build the increase into your budget before you fall in love with a house. Knowing the number ahead of time is the difference between a smooth deal and a painful surprise at closing.
Thinking about buying or selling in Bucks County or Montgomery County? Let’s talk.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much are school taxes going up in Bucks County in 2026?
It depends on your district. Neshaminy approved a 4.1 percent increase for 2026-2027 and Bensalem approved 4.2 percent. Every district sets its own rate, so your increase depends on where your home sits.
Will higher school taxes lower my home value in Bensalem?
Not directly. Bensalem’s median sale price was $423,746 in May 2026, up 4.6 percent year over year according to Redfin. Higher taxes do reduce what some buyers can borrow, which can soften demand at the margins, but strong local demand has held prices up so far.
How do property taxes work when I buy a house in Pennsylvania?
Your annual bill is the property’s assessed value multiplied by the local millage rate. Most buyers pay it through an escrow account attached to their mortgage, and the lender adjusts that escrow each year as rates change.
Can I appeal my property assessment?
Yes. Both Bucks County and Montgomery County have an annual appeal window through the county Board of Assessment Appeals. An appeal challenges your assessed value, not the tax rate itself.
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