TT BoS – BAWG JUNE 10
Please Attend
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
at 7:30 p.m.
at The Tredyffrin Twp. Bldg.
1100 DuPortail Road, Berwyn, PA 19312-1079
The Tredyffrin Township Budget Advisory Working Group (BAWG)
Remember the Tredyffrin Twp. Board of Supervisors’ (TT BoS) Budget Meetings in Nov/Dec 2008…
which increased our taxes for the second year in a row? Since then, the TT BoS created the Budget Advisory Working Group (BAWG) [http://www.tredyffrinbawg.com], and appointed the volunteers.
The BAWG will hold a public meeting on Wed. June 10 at 7:30 p.m. in the Tredyffrin Twp Building to gather public input. There is a possibility that an Earned Income Tax (EIT) could be reconsidered by the group.
I hope you will bring a friend, and join me in giving the clear message that increasing our taxes is NOT an option, and that Tredyffrin Township must work within its budgetary boundaries just like we do. I hope you will get involved – democracy works best when normal folks like us are involved - and budgets need not be regarded as overly-complicated.
- Evelyn “E.J.” Richter, A Pen in The Woods
P.S. Things that may be discussed include:
- Salaries, benefits and longevity pay for staff. (Non-union staff received longevity pay, cost of living increase, and 100% medical coverage for 2009.)
- Size and scope of the police department
- Subsidy levels for fire companies, libaries and the Woodland School
- Outsourcing of Township services (think park and vehicle maintenance)
- Sidewalks
- Taxes, user fees
- What services are most important to local residents?
- What are residents’ views on the current and future tax burden?
- Would residents prefer to increase taxes in order to maintain or expand services?
- What services would local residents be willing to see reduced or eliminated?
We’re Invited!
The Tredyffrin Township Supervisors have appointed a volunteer group, The Budget Advisory Working Group, or BAWG, to advise them, and BAWG will hold an open meeting for TT residents.
Please Attend
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
at 7:30 p.m.
at The Tredyffrin Twp. Bldg.
1100 DuPortail Road, Berwyn, PA 19312-1079
The Tredyffrin Township Budget Advisory Working Group (BAWG)
TT BAWG requests your feedback…
What services are most important to local residents? What are residents’ views on the current and future tax burden? Would residents prefer to increase taxes in order to maintain or expand services? What services would local residents be willing to see reduced or eliminated?
See you there!
- A Pen
Structural Deficit Defined
“Structural Deficit” is a misnomer currently used by the Tredyffrin Township Board of Supervisors. It is meant to convey that there is a deficit, it is years old, and it is not their fault. Instead, they should call it a “Chronic Deficit.” Since, they have confirmed that this deficit has been around for years, and though they knew this, they continued spending. That is the definition of fiscal irresponsibility – knowingly spending more than you’ll receive.
Budgets do not not get out of control when Supervisors are careful with money. They go haywire when Supervisors foolishly mistake their “wants” for actual “needs.” We could benefit from this recession if Supervisors would reflect on how they waste our money.
The fiscally responsible thing to do is trim the budget without delay. It is the Supervisors’ most important responsibility, and we elected them to do it. We did not elect a citizen’s panel of their choosing. We elected them.
-A Pen
You Are Cordially Invited
Your presence is requested at the
Tredyffrin Township Board of Supervisors Meeting
Finalizing the 2009 Proposed Budget
on
December 15, 2008
beginning at 7:30 p.m., ending ?
at
Keene Hall, 1100 DuPortail Road, Tredyffrin
If you don’t want a TT Tax increase, with a scoop of TESD Tax increase, topped with a Cherry – Chester County Tax Increase, please come! We’d love to see you there, though some of the BoS’s won’t! Many of your neighbors spoke against any tax increase at the 11/17/08 TT BoS meeting, but they’re still planning to raise taxes.
Attire: Dress is casual, but show your spirit – wear Structural Deficit Red!
Activities: Listen to the BoS’s. Find out who is naughty or nice. Step up to the karaoke microphone – raise your voice. Bring a small (or large) sign with a “no-tax increase” message, in case public comments are cut short as on 11/17/08. Or sit quietly, and witness the TT government spending your hard-earned wages.
R.S.V.P. To be certain your elected officials get your message, please contact all of the following: tredyffrin@tredyffrin.org, bos@tredyffrin.org, and 610) 644-1400. You may also leave a comment on this blog. :)
- A Pen
No More Taxes, Please.
If you weren’t planning to go to the Tredyffrin Twp. Supervisors’ meeting on Monday November 17, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. at the township building, this may change your mind.
1. The township projects a $3 million shortfall for 2009, based on Twp. Manager, Mimi Gleason’s preliminary budget. The township currently has millions in reserves, and by year-end will have $11 million in its reserves.
Wait a moment. They have SURPLUS? That is, the monetary need was satisfied, and they have left over money. That was our money, they could have returned it or taxed us less the next year. Why did they continue collecting excess money year after year? Aren’t there risks involved with having $11 million sitting in an account somewhere?
2. A tax increase of 5% is being considered. Last year it was increased 3.3%, and this 2009 increase would be the 5th in 11 years. The township has not cut anything from its budget in the last 9 years.
Nothing cut from their budget in 9 years? Unbelievable! Imagine running your household that way, or if your employer running his/her business with no budget cuts. Your child is potty trained, and you continued to buy diapers. Your beloved dog died, and you still buy dog food. Your commute doesn’t require you to buy a monthly SEPTA pass, but you buy one anyway. The point here is, as times change, so do the needs for our money. It’s very likely that there are items to cut from the budget.
Four years ago, our family went through a tough patch. My husband did not go to his boss, and take money out of his wallet. Instead, we gutted our budget; we adjusted. We refinanced our mortgage, changed our telephone/internet subscriber, reevaluated our insurance needs, hung-up the monthly cellphone package, scrapped eating out, skipped summer camps, sunk our summer pool membership, and had a very inexpensive vacation.
The benefit? When my husband got a new job and a better salary, we didn’t reexpand our budget to previous levels. Now we give much more to charity, save regularly, and know how to live under-budget.
It could be same with the Township budget. Clear away the non-essentials while times are bad, and when the economy improves, they can continue to work off of the smaller budget, or if the taxpayers want, they can add services.
3. Non-union staff receive a “Longevity Pay” bonus at the end of the year based on how many years they’ve worked for Tredyffrin.
4. Non-union staff receive 100% Medical Insurance coverage.
Wow, sign me up! 100% Is amazing, and way better than the 80% most people receive from their employers.
Please help us stave off this tax increase by attending this meeting, or by sending a letter to the Board of Supervisors, Tredyffrin Twp. Building, 1100 Duportail Road, Berwyn, PA 19312-1079, phone (610) 644.1400.
