Property taxes in Delaware County have increased by an average of 28 percent over the last 10 years, adding around $1,387 to homeowners’ annual bills, writes Laura McCrystal for the Philadelphia Inquirer.

In Pennsylvania, property taxes are the prime source of local government and school funding. However, due to the increases, voters approved an amendment to the state constitution in November to exempt residents from paying them on their primary residence.

One of the biggest issues with the current system is that it relies on assessments of properties that are sometimes decades old.

“The reliance on property tax is the most archaic system for funding municipalities,” said Upper Darby Mayor Thomas Micozzie.

Property-tax increases in Delco vary from 11.9 percent to 54.7 percent over the last decade. The lucky homeowners in the county who have seen the smallest increase in property taxes (11.9 percent) are in Upland.

At the other end of the scale are homeowners in Haverford who have seen increases of 41.6 percent over the last 10 years, closely followed by Aldan with 45.2 and Upper Darby with 48.7.

Read more about the property-tax increase in the Philadelphia Inquirer by clicking here.