HARRISBURG — Harrisburg residents were hit with a court-mandated income tax increase Monday when a state judge sided with the financial receiver who is managing the city and ordered the city council to double the earned income tax.

Commonwealth Court Judge Bonnie Brigance Leadbetter said raising the rate from 1 percent to 2 percent was a critical component of the debt-strapped state capital’s recovery plan. Someone who earns $50,000 would see a $500 tax increase.

She said courts generally should not intrude into such a legislative task under the separation-of-powers doctrine, but that can be appropriate under “compelling circumstances.”

Council member Brad Koplinski, who chairs the budget and finance committee, said the council will consider whether to appeal.

“It puts an undue burden on the citizens of Harrisburg,” Koplinski said. “They did not get us into this mess, and they should not be expected to get us out. ”