Lower Merion Township Proposed 12.7\% Tax Increase

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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.

2060 Signatures

  • David O'Connell
    • Comments
    • Spending must be reduced to levels that taxpayers can afford. Increasing taxes annually does not address the systemic spending problem.
    • Village Name (Example: Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, etc)
    • Gladwyne
    • Taxpayer in Lower Merion Township
    • No
  • Lance Rogers
    • Comments
    • This proposed budget is absolutely absurd!
    • Village Name (Example: Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, etc)
    • Penn Wynne
    • Taxpayer in Lower Merion Township
    • No
  • Bob Guzzardi
    • Village Name (Example: Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, etc)
    • Ardmore
    • Taxpayer in Lower Merion Township
    • No
  • peter J wallace
    • Village Name (Example: Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, etc)
    • Gladwyne
    • Taxpayer in Lower Merion Township
    • No
  • David Lees
    • Village Name (Example: Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, etc)
    • Bryn Mawr
    • Taxpayer in Lower Merion Township
    • No
  • Meena
    • Comments
    • It is imperative to reduce expenses NOT increase them! Government needs to be more efficient.
    • Village Name (Example: Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, etc)
    • Narberth
    • Taxpayer in Lower Merion Township
    • No
  • brian daley
    • Comments
    • stop spending to buy your votes. we are the wealthiest township in the state because of fiscal responcibilty of its citizens. if you can't manage this township in a modest fashion, then step aside.
    • Village Name (Example: Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, etc)
    • gladwyne
    • Taxpayer in Lower Merion Township
    • No
  • ALICIA PAYNE
    • Village Name (Example: Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, etc)
    • GLADWYNE
    • Taxpayer in Lower Merion Township
    • No
  • Brian Wargon
    • Village Name (Example: Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, etc)
    • Gladwyne
    • Taxpayer in Lower Merion Township
    • No
  • Diane Krause
    • Comments
    • Who will be able to afford Lower Merion?
    • Village Name (Example: Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, etc)
    • Penn Valley
    • Taxpayer in Lower Merion Township
    • No
  • William Annesley
    • Village Name (Example: Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, etc)
    • Gladwyne
    • Taxpayer in Lower Merion Township
    • No
  • kimberly j lageman
    • Comments
    • I'd like to know how many of the board members have recieved raises at their jobs over the last 2 years during this recession. Most people are not getting raises at all, let alone raises of 12.7\% so how can the average Lower Merion resident afford these tax increases? I realize we're an affluent township but this is sheer stupidity under the current economic conditions.
    • Village Name (Example: Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, etc)
    • Gladwyne
    • Taxpayer in Lower Merion Township
    • No
  • gary cohen
    • Comments
    • This tax increase is unsustainable and punitive to your residents.
    • Village Name (Example: Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, etc)
    • Penn Valley
    • Taxpayer in Lower Merion Township
    • No
  • Stephen ler
    • Village Name (Example: Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, etc)
    • Haverford
    • Taxpayer in Lower Merion Township
    • No
  • Fatema Burkey
    • Village Name (Example: Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, etc)
    • Gladwyne
    • Taxpayer in Lower Merion Township
    • No
  • Wally Heppenstall
    • Village Name (Example: Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, etc)
    • Gladwyne
    • Taxpayer in Lower Merion Township
    • No
  • Lynn Spector
    • Village Name (Example: Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, etc)
    • Gladwyne
    • Taxpayer in Lower Merion Township
    • No
  • Andrew Spiegel
    • Village Name (Example: Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, etc)
    • Gladwyne
    • Taxpayer in Lower Merion Township
    • No
  • Amy Cornell
    • Comments
    • enough already!!!
    • Village Name (Example: Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, etc)
    • Gladwyne
    • Taxpayer in Lower Merion Township
    • No
  • Kathy Crothall
    • Comments
    • The proposed increase is irrresponsible and reckless!
    • Village Name (Example: Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, etc)
    • Gladwyne
    • Taxpayer in Lower Merion Township
    • No
  • Lane Spector
    • Village Name (Example: Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, etc)
    • Gladwyne
    • Taxpayer in Lower Merion Township
    • No
  • Viren Kapadia
    • Village Name (Example: Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, etc)
    • Gladwyne
    • Taxpayer in Lower Merion Township
    • No
  • Pasquale Casale
    • Village Name (Example: Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, etc)
    • Bryn Mawr
    • Taxpayer in Lower Merion Township
    • No
  • Sonje Moore
    • Village Name (Example: Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, etc)
    • Penn Valley
    • Taxpayer in Lower Merion Township
    • No
  • Graeme Crothall
    • Comments
    • The proposed increase is irrresponsible and reckless!
    • Village Name (Example: Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, etc)
    • Gladwyne
    • Taxpayer in Lower Merion Township
    • No
  • Carlyn Messina
    • Village Name (Example: Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, etc)
    • Gladwyne
    • Taxpayer in Lower Merion Township
    • No
  • Debra Erdman
    • Comments
    • We should be finding ways to cut spending and cut taxes. Irresponsible spending and financing is not what we want LM to be know for.
    • Village Name (Example: Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, etc)
    • Gladwyne
    • Taxpayer in Lower Merion Township
    • No
  • Barbara Braden
    • Village Name (Example: Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, etc)
    • Penn Valley
    • Taxpayer in Lower Merion Township
    • No
  • Rachel Schwartz
    • Village Name (Example: Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, etc)
    • Haverford
    • Taxpayer in Lower Merion Township
    • No
  • Connie Waterman
    • Comments
    • Increase in taxes locally plus Obama imposing taxes at the end of the year for every American is a bad idea in economically stressful times. $200k is not "rich" in Lower Merion.
    • Village Name (Example: Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, etc)
    • Connie Waterman
    • Taxpayer in Lower Merion Township
    • No
  • Geoffrey L. Braden
    • Comments
    • The Township should be as fiscally conservative and responsible as we are with spending in our personal lives. Everyone has had to cut back in these difficult economic times. Thank you.
    • Village Name (Example: Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, etc)
    • Narberth-Penn Valley
    • Taxpayer in Lower Merion Township
    • No
  • Francis P. Lukens
    • Comments
    • You can't keep taxing us. At some point, we will all have to leave the Township for a more affordable community.
    • Village Name (Example: Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, etc)
    • Gladwyne
    • Taxpayer in Lower Merion Township
    • No
  • Christine Jones
    • Comments
    • Increases in taxes should be carefully considered, well thought through at any time, but especially so in times of financial crisis. How much can average citizens tolerate/afford?
    • Village Name (Example: Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, etc)
    • Gladwyne
    • Taxpayer in Lower Merion Township
    • No
  • Nancy Wingo
    • Village Name (Example: Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, etc)
    • Penn Valley
    • Taxpayer in Lower Merion Township
    • No
  • Joseph C Bright
    • Village Name (Example: Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, etc)
    • Bryn Mawr
    • Taxpayer in Lower Merion Township
    • No
  • magen kauffman
    • Village Name (Example: Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, etc)
    • Bryn Mawr
    • Taxpayer in Lower Merion Township
    • No
  • Philip Karter
    • Village Name (Example: Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, etc)
    • Gladwyne
    • Taxpayer in Lower Merion Township
    • No
  • Lawrence Ferracci
    • Village Name (Example: Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, etc)
    • Gladwyne
    • Taxpayer in Lower Merion Township
    • No
  • Beverly Morse
    • Village Name (Example: Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, etc)
    • Gladwyne
    • Taxpayer in Lower Merion Township
    • No
  • francesca rothseid
    • Village Name (Example: Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, etc)
    • gladwyne
    • Taxpayer in Lower Merion Township
    • No
  • Paul Glat
    • Comments
    • Stop Raising TAXES!!!!
    • Village Name (Example: Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, etc)
    • Gladwyne
    • Taxpayer in Lower Merion Township
    • No
  • steven dagowitz
    • Comments
    • Our country is in recession; unemployment is at record levels; the economy is faltering and new jobs are not being created to offset losses; pa govt officials which did not guarantee "no- tax- increases" were not voted in - do you think lower merion is immune to all of this? spending has to come down and we are counting on you to make this happen! NO TAX INCREASES
    • Village Name (Example: Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, etc)
    • gladwyne
    • Taxpayer in Lower Merion Township
    • No
  • Gilead Morse
    • Village Name (Example: Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, etc)
    • Gladwyne
    • Taxpayer in Lower Merion Township
    • No
  • Richard Brown
    • Village Name (Example: Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, etc)
    • Gladwyne
    • Taxpayer in Lower Merion Township
    • No
  • labron k shuman
    • Village Name (Example: Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, etc)
    • Penn Valley
    • Taxpayer in Lower Merion Township
    • No
  • GILEAD Morse
    • Taxpayer in Lower Merion Township
    • No
  • Marc D. Miller
    • Village Name (Example: Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, etc)
    • Penn Valley
    • Taxpayer in Lower Merion Township
    • No
  • Joel & Janet Cooper
    • Village Name (Example: Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, etc)
    • Gladwyne
    • Taxpayer in Lower Merion Township
    • No
  • Janet Giuliani
    • Village Name (Example: Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, etc)
    • Narberth/penn Valley
    • Taxpayer in Lower Merion Township
    • No
  • Kenneth Laudenbach
    • Village Name (Example: Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, etc)
    • Bala Cynwyd
    • Taxpayer in Lower Merion Township
    • No