Township Approves 10.8% Tax Increase for 2011

Township commissioners approved a 10.8 percent tax increase for 2011 after hearing public comment and participating in a lengthy debate largely filled with speeches by commissioners at a Wednesday night meeting that carried into Thursday morning.

Tension over the proposed ordinance to raise taxes piqued at about 2:15 a.m. when board members entered a yelling match triggered by Commissioner Paul McElhaney's introduction of a report he prepared that he said shows the majority of the board approved 98 percent of last year's spending, particularly regarding contractual workers' salaries.

Commissioner Phil Rosenzweig vehemently disagreed with McElhaney's assertion, calling it an "interesting piece of fiction." Commissioner Jenny Brown also said she doubted the legitimacy of the report, when she considered how she's voted in the past. While Board of Commissioners President Bruce Reed responded to Brown, McElhaney countered Rosenzweig.

When order was regained, Commissioner Cheryl Gelber expressed concern about the outburst.

"I'm embarrassed that this board should be raising their voices to each other, especially at 2:30 in the morning," said Gelber, who had previously thanked the public for its calm demeanor.

Much of the public comment had revolved around three big-ticket items in the Capital Improvement Plan: the Bala Cynwyd Library, Cynwyd Trail and Bala Avenue Streetscape projects.

Some echoed the sentiment from previous budget hearings of a desire for planned projects versus a necessity. Two people referenced Mick Jagger's lyrics, "you can't always get what you want." Realtor and 35-year township resident Joan Hindon said potential clients are reluctant to buy homes in the area because they hear taxes are high and continuing to increase.

But many others who spoke supported the budget as it stood, and argued that Lower Merion stands for providing a better quality of life and would not be able to continue doing so without increasing taxes next year.

Commissioners then responded to a number of concerns expressed by residents.

"This evening we have heard from many happy residents of Bala Cynwyd where apparently money is limitless and the sky is always blue," Rosenzweig said. "We are driving Rosemont and Villanova from this township as we sit here. I have not been contacted by one or two, but by dozens of my constituents who are finished with the wonderful experience of living in Lower Merion."

He said public implications that raising taxes is the only way to maintain the quality of life within the township is "simply silly." His opposition to Bala Cynwyd projects in the upcoming year is not motivated by politics but by finances, Rosenzweig said, and that while the Cynwyd Trail was the most worthwhile project being considered by the board, he thought it should be rebid.

Commissioner Scott Zelov also emphasized that his constituents had told him the proposed tax increase was too high. He, too, expressed the importance of the Cynwyd Trail, while restating that the bids that came in were over budget.

However, Reed said that Rosenzweig, who had briefly left the room, mischaracterized some township residents' funds as "limitless" and that their comments at the meeting had been more indicative of their desire to invest in the community.

This sparked a brief argument between Brown and Reed because Brown was "disappointed" he made his comments regarding Rosenzweig when he wasn't present to hear them.

Before the final vote on the tax increase, commissioners made a number of motions to reduce the 2011 tax hike, including: hourly parking meter cost increases (Reed) or parking ticket cost increases (Gelber), board approval of township vehicle purchases and a reduction in the equipment fund contribution (Zelov), creating an ad hoc committee to examine employee benefits (Gelber), and laying off 7 percent of non-police township employees (Rosenzweig). All motions were either withdrawn or failed.

McElhaney made a motion to put the position of deputy chief fire marshal back into the budget but not to fund it until Township Manager Doug Cleland deems it necessary to fill the position. The motion passed 8-5, with Brown, Zelov, Gould, Rosenzweig and Gordon opposed.

The ordinance was adopted at 2:30 a.m. in an 8-5 vote with commissioners Brown, Gelber, Rosenzweig, Zelov and Lewis Gould opposed. Commissioner Mark Taylor was absent because of an unavoidable family commitment.

Other Meeting Highlights

--  There will be a $150 fee ($5 per day) for Parks and Recreation 6-week summer program.  This will recover the about $43,000 in cost of the program. It was approved 7-6 and was supported by Brown, Zelov, Gould, Rosenzweig, Gelber, Brian Gordon and Rick Churchill.

--  Commissioners voted to reduce the townships surplus funds from 17 percent to 16 percent of the planned expenditure, and lower tax increase from the originally proposed 12.7 percent to the now 10.8 percent. It was approved in a 7-6 vote, supported by Brown, Zelov, Gould, Rosenzweig, Gelber, Gordon and George Manos.

--  Township Manager Cleland has been directed to prepare a plan to reduce township-owned passenger vehicles, due by the end of February. Brown, Zelov, Gould, Rosenzweig, Gelber, Gordon, Churchill, Manos, McElhaney and Jane Dellheim approved it in a 10-3 vote.

--  Board approved 2011-2016 Capital Improvement Plan by a 7-6 vote, with Brown, Zelov, Gould, Rosenzweig, Gelber and Gordon opposed.

--  The construction of Cynwyd Trail was approved 8-5, with Brown, Zelov, Gould, Rosenzweig and Gelber against.