The Bensalem School Board’s proposed budget includes an 8.25% property tax increase. Here’s what that means in actual dollars for homeowners across different price points.
The Bottom Line
The Bensalem School District’s preliminary 2026-27 budget proposes raising the property tax rate from 181.3315 mills to 196.3004 mills—an increase of 14.97 mills, or 8.25%. For the typical Bensalem homeowner, this translates to an additional $248 to $621 per year, depending on home value, or roughly $21 to $52 more per month.
How School Taxes Work in Bensalem
Understanding your tax bill requires knowing two key numbers: your property’s assessed value and the millage rate.
In Bucks County, assessed values are significantly lower than market values. The county uses an assessment ratio of approximately 4.4%, meaning a home worth $400,000 on the market has an assessed value of around $33,000. This system dates back to Bucks County’s last countywide reassessment in 1972.
The millage rate is how many dollars you pay per $1,000 of assessed value. At the current rate of 181.3315 mills, a homeowner pays $181.33 per $1,000 of assessed value. The proposed rate of 196.3004 mills would increase that to $196.30 per $1,000.
What You’ll Pay: Real Examples
Here’s what the tax increase looks like for homes at different price points. These calculations use the current homestead exclusion of $337.64, which provides modest tax relief for primary residences:
$200,000 Home
- Assessed value: $16,598
- Current annual school tax: $2,672
- Proposed annual school tax: $2,920
- Annual increase: $248 ($20.70/month)
$300,000 Home
- Assessed value: $24,896
- Current annual school tax: $4,177
- Proposed annual school tax: $4,550
- Annual increase: $373 ($31.06/month)
$400,000 Home
- Assessed value: $33,195
- Current annual school tax: $5,682
- Proposed annual school tax: $6,179
- Annual increase: $497 ($41.41/month)
$450,000 Home (Near Median)
- Assessed value: $37,344
- Current annual school tax: $6,434
- Proposed annual school tax: $6,993
- Annual increase: $559 ($46.58/month)
$500,000 Home
- Assessed value: $41,494
- Current annual school tax: $7,186
- Proposed annual school tax: $7,808
- Annual increase: $621 ($51.76/month)
Why the Increase?
The district’s current 2025-26 budget totals $188.4 million in expenditures. The proposed 2026-27 budget increases spending to $204.2 million—a jump of $15.8 million, or 8.4%. This creates a significant funding gap, as projected revenues of $197.7 million fall short by $6.5 million.
Special education costs represent a major driver, with $50.9 million allocated to special education programs in the preliminary budget—a substantial portion of the overall instructional budget.
The district’s financial situation is particularly concerning because the 2025-26 year already ended with a modest unassigned fund balance of just $2.7 million. The proposed 2026-27 budget would drain that reserve entirely and leave the district with a projected deficit of $5.5 million by June 2027.
Because the proposed tax increase exceeds the state’s Act 1 Index limit of 4.2%, the district must apply for a Special Education Exemption to implement the full increase. The district estimates the tax revenue will exceed the state cap by approximately $4.57 million.
Tax Relief Programs
Bensalem offers several programs that can reduce property tax bills:
Homestead Exclusion
All homeowners who use their Bensalem property as a primary residence qualify for a homestead exclusion, currently worth $337.64 annually. The district’s budget allocates $3.95 million for homestead exclusions in 2026-27, though the per-homeowner amount for next year hasn’t been finalized.
To qualify, you must file a homestead application with the Bucks County Board of Assessment. If you haven’t already applied, forms are available at www.buckscountyboa.org.
Senior Citizen Tax Rebate
Bensalem offers property tax relief of up to $1,050 for seniors who meet income requirements. To qualify, residents must be 65 by December 31, 2024, and have an annual household income below $22,500. Applications are due by June 30, 2025.
What Happens Next
The preliminary budget is just a starting point. The school board will hold public hearings and work sessions before adopting a final budget in May 2026. State approval of the Special Education Exemption is also required for the tax increase to take effect.
Homeowners concerned about the increase are encouraged to attend upcoming school board meetings or submit written comments. The board’s next budget work session is scheduled for February.
Calculate Your Own Tax Impact
To estimate your specific tax increase:
- Find your property’s assessed value on your current tax bill or at www.buckscountyboa.org
- Multiply your assessed value by 0.1963004 to get your proposed gross school tax
- Subtract the homestead exclusion ($337.64, subject to change for 2026-27)
- Compare that to your current year’s school tax bill to see the difference
For example, if your assessed value is $30,000:
- $30,000 × 0.1963004 = $5,889.01 gross tax
- $5,889.01 – $337.64 = $5,551.37 net tax for 2026-27
Context: How Bensalem Compares
Bensalem’s current effective property tax rate of 1.99% is already higher than the national median of 1.02%, but lower than Pennsylvania’s state median of 2.81%. The median annual tax bill in Bensalem is approximately $4,812, which is $2,412 higher than the national median of $2,400.
School taxes make up the largest portion of property tax bills for Bensalem homeowners. The school district’s current rate of 181.3315 mills far exceeds the township’s 15.50 mills and the county’s rate.
Note: Tax calculations are based on the preliminary budget and current homestead exclusion amounts. Final figures may differ when the budget is adopted.
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