Petition 2011 Lower Merion Township Proposed Budget

Economic indicators demonstrate that our Country is still struggling to recover from recession.

Since 2002, Lower Merion Township has raised the real estate tax millage rate by a total of 44.3\% and has doubled its indebtedness (from $56 million to $112 million).

Lower Merion Township has raised the real estate tax millage rate in seven (7) of the last eight (8) years.

In 2010, Lower Merion Township raised trash collection fees between 10\% - 41\% for most residents.

Now, the Township Manager of Lower Merion Township has proposed a 12.7\% increase in the real estate tax millage rate for 2011 which, if passed, would mean a cumulative increase of 62.6\% since 2002, the year in which the current Township Manager was appointed.

The Lower Merion Township Manager proposes to increase 2011 spending by 5.5\% over 2010 spending, which adds to past additional spending and represents a cumulative increase in spending of 45\% since 2002.

By contrast, since 2002, inflation has increased 20.44\% (through September 30), and overall national wages have grown just 22\% (through 2009).

Further, the Township Manager has targeted a 17\% General Fund Reserve Balance. The Townships reserve policy has a goal of maintaining the General Fund Reserve Balance in the range of 15\% - 18\% of the Townships prior year general fund expenditures.

While it is the Township Managers role to propose a budget each year, it is the responsibility of elected Township Commissioners to determine the amount of spending to authorize and to approve a final budget.

We believe that a 12.7\% real estate tax increase is an unaffordable, unsustainable and unacceptable outcome and implore the Township Commissioners to significantly reduce proposed 2011 general fund expenditures, to draw down the General Fund Reserve Balance to 15\%, and to avoid much or all of the proposed real estate tax increase at this difficult economic time.