By Josh McKnight | The McKnight Team
Mayor Ed Brown’s proposed 2027 budget raises the Upper Darby trash fee by $100 a year, from $325 to $425, and adds $20 to the sewer fee. The property tax rate stays at 14.02 mills. If you own in Upper Darby, your 2027 trash and sewer charges would come to $120 more than this year, before any change council makes.
The Upper Darby trash fee is a flat charge, so it lands the same on every home no matter what it is worth. KYW Newsradio reported that Brown wants trash and sewer to pay for themselves. Council has two budget hearings left and is expected to vote in December.
Why the Township Is Leaning on Fees
The pressure shows up in two places. As of September 21, Upper Darby had collected about $9.2 million in earned income tax against a $17.8 million projection for the year, according to the Daily Times. That 1% tax only took effect on January 1, 2026.
Taxable assessed value has also fallen about $209 million since 2024. At 14.02 mills, that drop takes roughly $2.9 million a year out of potential real estate tax revenue. Raising fees instead of millage spreads the cost across every property, and it keeps the headline tax rate flat.
Who Pays More Under the New Upper Darby Trash Fee
Upper Darby homes sold for a median of $270,000 from April through September 2026, with a median of 8 days to contract, per Bright MLS data in our Delaware County housing market report. The county median was $380,000.
Our read: a flat fee does not care what your house is worth. On a $270,000 home, $425 a year is a bigger share of the carrying cost than it would be on a home at the county median. Buyers at this price feel every fixed charge in the monthly payment.
If your home is worth less than most, you pay a larger share of its value under a flat fee than you would under millage. Owners of higher value homes come out ahead compared with a tax increase that would bring in the same money. Landlords pay the fee too, and many will pass it through to renters at the next lease.
Who Comes Out Ahead
Owners who would have faced a millage increase save, at least on paper. A tax hike large enough to cover the same gap would have hit the highest assessed homes hardest. Sellers also benefit when a buyer compares tax bills across towns, because the millage on the listing does not change.
Township officials told KYW they would work with the mayor to reduce the increases, so the final number could come in lower than $100. It could also stay where it is.
Before You Buy or Sell in Upper Darby
If you are selling in 2027, list the trash and sewer fees with the taxes so a buyer sees the full annual cost up front. Surprises at the end of a deal cost more than the fee. If you are buying in Drexel Hill, Highland Park or any other Upper Darby neighborhood, add $425 for trash and the new sewer charge to your budget before you make an offer. Ask for the last two years of trash and sewer bills so you can see the trend for yourself. For prices just over the line in Haverford Township, see our Havertown market report.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Upper Darby Trash Fee
How much is the Upper Darby trash fee in 2027?
Under Mayor Ed Brown’s proposed 2027 budget, the annual trash fee rises by $100, from $325 to $425. Council is expected to vote in December, and officials have said they will try to reduce the increase.
Is Upper Darby raising property taxes in 2027?
The proposed budget keeps the real estate tax rate at 14.02 mills. Instead, it raises the trash fee by $100 and the sewer fee by $20 a year, which every property pays no matter its assessed value.
Why is Upper Darby raising fees instead of taxes?
Earned income tax collections were about $9.2 million against a $17.8 million projection as of September 21, and taxable assessed value has dropped about $209 million since 2024. Fees spread the cost across every property.
Do renters pay the Upper Darby trash fee?
In most cases the owner of the property pays the fee, including landlords on rental homes. Many landlords build their fixed costs into rent, so renters may see some of the $100 increase when their lease renews in 2027.
Thinking about buying or selling in Upper Darby? Let’s talk.
