NOTES

 

In attendance were E. Thomas Scarborough, Jr, Vice Chairman; Walt Berry, Barbara Eisenhardt;  Cynthia Philo; and Stephanie J. Mason, Township Manager. Absent: Barbara N. Lyons, Chairman.

 

Mr. Scarborough opened the meeting.

 

Ms. Mason gave a brief indication that the Ways & Means Committee, that the Board of Supervisors formed earlier this year, had been meeting and reviewing various financial information and has developed questions that they would like the Board to review and provide them with insight.

 

Brenda Bray, Merrill Peirce, and Carolyn Pauloski were in the audience.

 

The questions: 

 

1.                  What is the vision and operating strategy of the Township?

2.                  Is the Township really living beyond its needs?

3.                  Can the Township truly meet its goals at current revenue levels?

4.                  Is that Township prepared to cut staffing including police and/or benefits and how deep?

5.                  Would the Township increase taxes in order to meet its goals and by how much?

 

In response to the first question, Ms. Philo indicated that the Township should provide affordable quality services and stability by economically making the budget the best we can to allow the diverse socio economic environment for residents to enjoy living in the community. That we push forward as a whole for the Township community. Drive, develop and adapt, infrastructure, efficiency, be accountable and the township supervisors do this through the budgeting process. Accountable to the people so that we don’t go over or under in our budgeting.

 

Mr. Berry asked what the committee had done to generate the five questions.

 

Mrs. Bray and Mrs. Pauloski indicated that they looked at a number of trends, reports, financial data, current year, past years, and interviewed department heads.

 

Mr. Berry asked what results and conclusions they have generated. How they believed things stood now. How do they view the Township?

Ms. Pauloski indicated that the committee wants to know what the Board of Supervisors expect, especially on capital assumptions and what should be set aside for capital purchase, for staffing, in terms of spending for debt service. They know the figures but they do not know the philosophy.  Things that are envisioned in the pending Joint Park Recreation Open Space Comprehensive Plan. The visions from the strategic plan from the late 90’s.

 

Ms. Philo commented that first and foremost the budget has to be able to be presentable for everyone to understand.

 

Ms. Eisenhardt indicated that she believes that it is important to look at questions #2 along with questions #1. Sort of look at where we were and where we are going. Making the format user friendly.  She also indicated that page one should be a summary of what we did in the past year. You can compare line items from year to year and see an increase or a decrease. She also indicated that sometimes it is difficult if a piece of equipment brakes down and you couldn’t project that and what changes that piece of equipment might have on the budget. But again, agreed that affordable quality services, a user friendly budget document, being able to have it on the website for enough people to see.

 

Mr. Scarborough agreed that a new format is what the committee is being charged to developing. As a liaison, he knows they have been working on this. It is very important to see the experience.

 

Ms. Philo, regarding questions #4 & #5 about cutting services including police and /or benefits or increasing taxes, she wanted to know from the committee what they have found. They indicated that they believe public works is somewhat understaffed. Ms. Philo asked the committee if they could develop three scenarios regarding cuts, leaving things the way they are,  increasing, and what those fixed financial impacts are to the Township. This might help the Board. Each scenario would have a different impact. What might be good, what might be bad, and how to look at things?

 

Mr. Pierce indicated that the committee is looking to be able to update the capital plan so that all decisions can be looked at from a long term perspective.

 

Ms. Philo questioned the pier groups and whether we are the crown jewel or whether someone else is and what are we trying to achieve.

 

Ms. Pauloski indicated that in 1999 the long term plan benchmarked with Manheim, Whitpain, Upper Ukland Township, Newtown Township. They were similar communities and ones that we were trying to strive to similar to.

 

Ms. Eisenhardt commented again on the format and what we have now is not necessarily optimum.  She would like to see fine tuning of the coding for the different departments from budgeting and the book she referred to from PSATS and liked it improved.

 

Mr. Gaver commented about the increase in public work staff.

 

Mr. Pierce indicated that the Township has an aging work force and that training and certification that they’ve obtained will need to be required for new hires in the future. This may make salaries increase because the new staff would already be certified. Somewhat of a shortage in staff and making due in public works, parks, code enforcement. Also, unfunded mandates from the State such as in the areas of ground water are impacting the budget as well. In addition over the years things have increased such as the size of the number of roads, parks, and open space and calls for service that the Township receives.

 

Ms. Philo indicated that perhaps a priority list from each board member might be helpful.

 

Mr. Berry commented on and agreed with Mr. Pierce on the legislative mandate with no funding.

 

Mr. Pierce indicated that the committee is looking for guidance in these areas. Looking for input from the board regarding the questions raised would be helpful.

 

Mr. Steven Downs indicated that the Township should come up with a set of assumptions from the Board of Supervisors as a base for structure, such as guidelines based on the assumptions to increase or not to increase.

 

Mr. Pierce indicated that that would be helpful to know that there was no increase for taxes above a certain percentage, or no reduction in staffing, or no reduction by the fund balance by

 “X” amount, or that there needed to be a budget reserve of “X” percent. Something to play with, some guidelines. Benefits and contributions, number of retirees in the future in the Township and the impact upon the revenue stream coming into the Township, the economic changes on the revenue side, such as transfer taxes going down, less EIT coming in, need to consider along with the market as well.

 

Ms. Philo suggested that the board take two weeks and get the information to the committee. It was also suggested scheduling another work session in the evening.

 

Being no further business the Budget Work Session adjourned at 6.40 PM.