Hatfield Township — earned income tax increase (0.25%) for open space (Montgomery County)

What it does

Do you favor the imposition of an increase in the earned income tax at the rate of twenty-five one hundredths of one percent (0.25%) to be used by the Township of Hatfield for the purposes of preserving undeveloped land and expanding opportunities for outdoor recreation; retiring indebtedness incurred in purchasing interests in real property and making additional acquisitions of real property for those purposes; and for expending funds for any purpose relating to the acquisition, planning for acquisition, preservation, improvement and maintenance of open space for an open space benefit?

A YES vote means

Hatfield Township would increase its earned income tax by 0.25% to preserve undeveloped land, expand outdoor recreation, buy land for those purposes and pay related debt.

A NO vote means

Hatfield Township would not increase its earned income tax by 0.25% for open space.

Needed to pass

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Left–right lean

Unclear: our AI read of the official summary isn't confident enough (we require 70%) to place this on the left–right spectrum, so we don't. Read the summary and decide for yourself.

The YES and NO lines are SpectrumVote's plain-language reading of the official text above; the official text is what you vote on.

Official text: source

Background

The Hatfield Township Board of Commissioners approved Ordinance #716, authorizing this referendum, 5-0 on July 22, 2026 after a public hearing, according to the meeting minutes.

The county's interpretive statement says the question would raise the township's earned income tax from 0.5% to 0.75% under the Open Space Lands Act; the tax applies only to earned income, not pensions, Social Security or other fixed income.

The statement says the revenue would be used to acquire open space and related real property interests, with up to 25% usable to develop, improve and maintain open space land, and could pay off a bond used to buy open space.

At the hearing, the township manager said the full 0.25% would raise about $2.1 million a year, and that the tax could be started and stopped at any time if approved.

Put on the ballot by Hatfield Township Board of Commissioners, 5-0, July 22, 2026 (Ord. #716).

From official source 1, official source 2.

Next elections here

• Pennsylvania election 2027 · November 2, 2027: County, city, borough, township and school board offices statewide, plus judicial elections
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Quick answers

What does a YES vote on Hatfield Township mean?

Hatfield Township would increase its earned income tax by 0.25% to preserve undeveloped land, expand outdoor recreation, buy land for those purposes and pay related debt.

What does a NO vote on Hatfield Township mean?

Hatfield Township would not increase its earned income tax by 0.25% for open space.

How many votes does Hatfield Township need to pass?

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Should I vote yes or no on Hatfield Township?

SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.

When is the vote?

The general election was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counts are unofficial until each state certifies its results over the following weeks; your state or county election office has the official results.