2013 Budget Vote, Friday Dec 28, 6:30pm Borough Hall

Comment

Comment by Kenneth Harper on December 31, 2012 at 11:24am

Jared, the residents of Ridley Park have been noticing what is going on with the leadership of the council of "OUR" borough.  I am sure there will be changes in this council come Nov. 2013.  Want to wish everyone in Ridley Park a "HAPPY NEW YEAR".

Comment by Jared Brennan on December 29, 2012 at 9:22pm

Breaking News on the comments about the budget.  Bob Berger and Jim Glenn told an absolute and bold-faced lie to the Daily Times about a supposed comment that Sue Murtha made in our November 28 special budget meeting.  Instead of defending their inept budget, Bob and Jim reverted to trying to slander the character of Sue Murtha.  I guess when you are so desperate and cannot defend what you've presented to the public, you attack someone's character.  What a feeble and callous duo we have on council.

 

Jared Brennan

Comment by Kenneth Harper on December 29, 2012 at 3:55pm

Charlie, there will be at least 6 more property tax assesments appeals for a reduction that I have heard about for 2013.  We could make some money for the borough on red light cameras on Chester Pike. This would also make it safer for everyone.  Happy New Years everbody !!

Comment by Charlie Maurone on December 29, 2012 at 3:38pm

Jared Brennan: Sir, your statement makes a great deal of sense. If the budget was prepared properly, there may have been no need for a tax increase, and with proper procedure and time, maybe a tax reduction was possible. The public copy of the budget proposal I picked up early in the week at Borough Hall was dated 12/17. Understand a new proposal was made available the day  before the vote and was for council members only.  The Berger, Glenn, Mattus, Boland-Omahoney budget they voted for last night, is full of holes. (Snow was absent; do not know if she supported this last minute budget)

As I sat in the Borough Hall council meeting room witnessing the final vote, (only 2 other people were in the audience, possibly because of a last minute, or, insufficent public notice, and it is Christmas week) the major discussion on the budget was from Murtha and Brennan, most other members of the council remained silent and cast their vote.

 

Headline in today's DELCO Times  warns Colwyn going over the fiscal cliff.  Hopefully Ridley Park will avoid a fiscal calamity in 2013.  This 2013 budget in Ridley Park will not stand the test of time.

Comment by Nina on December 29, 2012 at 3:02pm

Jared, thanks for explaining this budget so carefully. Residents need to understand where their money goes

Comment by Jared Brennan on December 29, 2012 at 2:09pm

The budget was voted on last night.  The vote:  4 yea vs. 2 nay, councilor Snow was absent.  I voted nay.  Mr. Berger commented the 4 votes were for no new taxes and 2 against no new taxes.  How fitting that the arrogant Mr. Berger thinks that how he sees things are the way everyone sees or interprets a vote.  I guess it's the world according to Bob.

I personally would love to know that our taxes are not going up.  I still struggle every week wondering if I can hold on to my home with escalating bills.  What I did vote against was a budget that was unprofessionally prepared and "plagiarized".  My opinion is that this budget committee had no idea how to prepare a budget.  The only thing that was obvious that they spoke of was the millage remained at 7.79 ,PERIOD.  The preparers of the budget literally took last year's budget numbers and repeated them in most funds.  They increased the General, Fire, and Library funds.  They slightly decreased the Police fund due to the retiring Chief salary vs. incoming chief salary.  The only problem was that they used the same millage number from 2012.  Several properties assessed values were decreased this past year (even voted on in October or November council meeting to decrease).  Yet the committee used the same millage number.  Reduction in assessment means less incoming revenue.  Mr. Glenn, the head of finance, stated at the November 28 special budget meeting that we were looking at a $600,000 shortage and possible increase in taxes; where did we make that up in 30 days?  You need to get a total assessed value of properties in Ridley Park from the county to prepare a budget.  That gives you and idea of revenues so that you can predict incoming tax revenues.  We raised our expenditures, decreased our revenues, and kept the millage the same.  We may be in fiscal hardship come September 2013 with projections of this current budget committee .  I sure hope not for the tax paying residents sake.

The Capital Reserve Fund was an interesting place to look.  Over the course of 2012 we withdrew  $100,000 from the fund.  We did purchase a fountain and aeraters for the lake, but not for over $100,000.  There was also $205,000 from the Sewer refund in the Capital Reserve Fund plus the 44,326 balance, but now we only have $59, 146 left in the fund.  Amazingly the committee projects the budget for Capital Reserve will be $452,192.  That will be an increase of $342,416 this year.  Where is that revenue coming from?

This "open and transparent" council gave the number 7.79 millage but could not show how each fund's individual millage equalled that 7.79 rate.  I guess only time will tell. 

The final budget was placed in my borough mail box on December 26 at 4pm.  Giving me one night to go over the budget and be prepared to vote on it December 28 this past Friday.  I remember Jim Glenn demanding that Sue give us the final budget by Thanksgiving in 2012 so that he could adequately review it before he had to vote last December.  The childishness and hypocracy by some of the current councilors amazes me.  $600,000 in the red on November 28, 2012 and no increase in taxes on December 28, 2012, am I being cynical when I question the 0% increase in taxes due to it being an election year?

 

Jared Brennan

Comment by Kenneth Harper on December 28, 2012 at 10:42am

Thanks Jared for this important information.  I remember when I served on council, Sue would have the budget ready alot sooner.