The information presented in this article provides a “past, present, and future” glimpse of East Marlborough Township, based on data and a review of its budget history.
While acknowledging the past, the supervisors rely on the support of an engaged and informed community to invest in the township’s future.
When making budget decisions, East Marlborough Township’s Board of Supervisors considers all aspects of the township’s demographics and tax base (such as retirees, people nearing retirement age, and working-class residents), the services offered by the township, and its projected growth over 5- and 10-year periods.
From approximately 1996 to 2025, the township did not increase its General-Purpose Tax. Despite this, service levels grew significantly over the three decades. In 2002, the township established a part-time Police Department with part-time officers and a part-time chief. In 2007, a full-time Police Chief was hired, and in 2019, a full-time Sergeant joined the force. While the general-purpose tax remained the same, service levels increased significantly as the population grew, and infrastructure expanded. Between 2021 and 2025, the number of part-time police officers doubled from three to six. The costs to maintain the township’s 65 miles of roads have exceeded both state and township revenue sources for years. To cover rising operating expenses with these expanded services, the township increased the General-Purpose Tax from 1.05 mills to 1.75 mills, including an annual transfer of $500,000 to the Capital Improvement Fund. For 2025, the township allocated more of its own funds ($360,000) than it received from the state ($329,440) to maintain just one mile of township roadway, ensuring the township stays on course with its 20 Year Road Maintenance Program.
After 2000, the township levied taxes beyond the General-Purpose Tax by adopting the Open Space Tax of 0.2 mills and the Library Tax of 0.183 mills in 2003. In 2012, the Fire Protection Tax was introduced at 0.3 mills and gradually increased over the next three years to 0.75 mills (a 0.45-mill increase). Finally, in 2018, in response to the creation of the Kennett Fire and Emergency Services Regional Commission, the township imposed an Emergency Services Tax of 0.075 mills to fund medical response services and adjusted the Fire Protection Tax to 0.675 mills. Due to the current need for fire and emergency services through the Regional Commission, the total millage rate for 2025 has increased to 2.75 mills (comprising 56% of the total township tax bill).
To put this in perspective, the township’s population as of July 2022 was 7,756, representing a 6% (405 people) increase from April 1, 2020 (7,306 people). Of the 7,756 residents who call East Marlborough Township home, 22% are under 18, 25% are over 65, and the remaining 53% are between 18 and 65 years old. The township population is dispersed at a density of 474 people per square mile (a 4% increase from 2010), based on 15.5 square miles of land area (United States Census Bureau, 2021).
The U.S. Census Bureau’s 20-Year Forecast predicts that the township will increase from 7,756 to 10,235 residents (i.e., a 32% increase).
This census data demonstrates that the Township has grown exponentially to a point where elected officials must reassess township services in response to the needs of their taxpayers beyond the annual budget.
The median age of residents in the Township is 49, which is about 20 percent higher than the median age in Chester County and the State of Pennsylvania (i.e., 40 years old) (United States Census Bureau, 2021).
- 35% of the population is at retirement age.
- 48% of the population is over 50 years old.
The Township features a healthier-than-average housing stock, with 90% of homes owner-occupied. The median home value is $474,100.00, surpassing the national average of $346,653—Zillow.com. According to the American Community Survey 5-year estimates for East Marlborough Township, the median owner-occupied home value is $474,100, which is 25% higher than the average in Chester County ($384,100) and more than double the amount in Pennsylvania ($197,300) (United States Census Bureau, 2021).
The U.S. Census Bureau reported in its 2020 Census that there are 2,787 families in the township, with an average household size of 2.56 people.
East Marlborough Township’s median household income is $135,625, about 25 percent higher than Chester County’s ($109,969) and nearly double Pennsylvania’s ($67,587) (United States Census Bureau, 2021).
In summary, the chart indicates that East Marlborough Township has a per capita income of $75,545, approximately 25 percent higher than Chester County’s ($55,702) and nearly twice that of Pennsylvania’s ($37,725) (United States Census Bureau, 2021).
The Township has been working with the Kennett Fire and Emergency Services Regional Commission (KFESRC) to gather more accurate financial data, a process that is still ongoing. The graph below shows that the township’s obligation to the KFESRC has increased by 175% since 2021. Presently, the KFESRC has not identified a ceiling date or a monetary amount sufficient to sustain services for a longer-term period (5-10 years).
