Lower Merion Citizens for Responsible Budgeting
08 Proposed BudgetLetter to Editor Mainline Life Re: Open Records Challange
September 12 , 2007
To the Editor:
Citizens for Responsible Budgeting “CRB” (www.lmcrb.org), read with interest your September 5 Editorial concerning the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association’s Open Records Challenge 2007 and the surprising and disappointing reaction from some public officials. CRB agrees that public officials should not discourage citizens from asking for information such as open records and, moreover, that such citizen involvement and understanding of their government are indeed critical to democracy. The Open Records Challenge and the struggle for transparency and open government are currently being played out right here in Lower Merion in the context of a request for information by CRB.
CRB is a movement started in response to the growing concern about increasing taxes and unrestrained government spending in Lower Merion Township and which seeks to increase public awareness of the budget process and to promote common sense fiscal policy outcomes in the Township. Recently, in order to increase public awareness of the Township’s budget and long-range impact on property taxes, CRB requested the public release of the long-range budget projection documents that Township Staff provides to our elected Township Commissioners. The Township summarily denied CRB’s request, citing discussion with the Township’s Solicitor. CRB asked that our elected Commissioners intercede and, on September 5, the Commissioners announced that they would publicly consider whether to release the projections at their September 19 meeting. By releasing the projections, our elected Commissioners can show their clear and strong support for transparency and open government.
While we appreciate the volunteer public service of our elected officials and the dedication of Township employees, it is not disrespectful to remind them, as you did in your Editorial, that “they work for us.” Taxpayers deserve to see the long-range projections of the budget and the corresponding tax liability; after all, they pay the bills! By releasing the requested projections to the public, our elected Commissioners can (1) increase public awareness of the budget process, (2) foster openness, public debate and, ultimately, democracy, and (3) send the strong message that they understand who they work for. We hope that we will not be surprised or disappointed by the reaction of our own local public officials to a reasonable request for information.
Michele von Plato
Penn Valley