Lower Merion Citizens for Responsible Budgeting (CRB)
Sunshine Letter to the Editor, May 7, 2009 - Mainline Times
May 8 , 2009
Donna Powell, Gladwyne
Unfortunately, while much progress has been made, too many decisions are still made in the back room. We, the citizens, need to continue to demand transparency and open government, and the best place to start is at the local level.
California or LM, Tactics are the same
May 8 , 2009
Peter Wolf - Lake Forest, Calif.
How can a state with 28% growth in state employees and 80% growth in spending over the last decade be cutting to "the bone"?
It's an old trick in California to scare the public with the threat of reduced police and fire protection to get them to cave into more taxes. These scare tactics should be vehemently denounced by every citizen in California.
Read Complete Opinion
Sunshine Letters to the Editor, April 30, 2009 - Mainline Times
April 30 , 2009
Several Township residents write in support of Sunshine and open Meetings
Read letters at Mainline Times
Regarding Clowns for Open Government 4/23/09
April 30 , 2009
Michele von Plato
I write in response to Kenneth E. Davis’ slam of the Sunshine Movement and representative democracy.
How despicable to describe citizens who want to understand how their tax dollars are being spent as “clowns”. Ken seems oblivious to how important this is to most of us. I wonder how the five Commissioners who voted for open meetings feel about being called “naïfs”. Democracy sure can be inconvenient to those with agendas, especially lobbyists. It’s our money Ken; we have a right to know what you are doing with it.
Do the math: We’re spending more in LM
April 23, 2009
David O'Connell
Regarding the April 17, 2009 letter “Pennywise and pound-foolish,” the author identifies the recent bond issue as saving taxpayers $1.5 million in debt service. He is correct that the refunding portion ($20 million) will save substantial amounts in financing costs and the township manager has wisely taken advantage of this opportunity. Mrs. Brown endorsed the refunding; it’s the new money that is problematic.
The new money ($7 million) will add interest and principal payments to township expenses for 20 years. The annual payment is approximately $516,000, so over 20 years the township will repay the $7 million plus $3.5 million in interest. You have heard “Spend More, Save More” in advertising, yet you know when you do the math you aren’t saving more; you are spending more.
Sunshine is American Principal
April 9, 2009
Mainlinetimes - Commissioner Jenny Brown
Judging by the diversity and size of the group of residents who respectfully protested the closed Ad Hoc Budget Committee meeting last week, the Sunshine Movement in Lower Merion cannot be marginalized or dismissed. There were Democrats, Republicans, Independents, senior citizens, college students, at least one high-school student, men, women, residents from eastern, central and western Lower Merion, workers and retirees. What this diverse group obviously shared was a passion to improve the results of government for all, increase public participation and deepen public trust.
Read Complete Opinion
Sunshine is a Popular Issue
March 31 , 2009
Save Ardmore Coalition
When did local government stop being about the people? Audrey's desire for these meetings to be open is not only about CIP and budget issues, and neither was Radnor's school board records or Bashore stuff a single issue. These issues are symptoms of a larger problem: Openess and transparency in government. Another openess and transparency issue? The contrived meetings at odd times of day between Lower Merion and St. Joe's brokered by former commissioner and lobbyist Ken Davis, right?
Read Complete Opinion
Sunlight is the Best Disinfectant
March 30 , 2009
L. Gordon Crovitz - WSJ
Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis had made the point that "sunlight is the best disinfectant," and the Securities Act of 1933 mandated the information that public companies would have to share. One indicator that disclosure was more important than regulatory power is that it wasn't until the following year that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) was created.
Read Complete Opinion
Main Line Media Sunshine Opinion
March 11 , 2009
By Tom Murry
There is currently a controversy going on in Lower Merion where certain commissioners want to meet behind closed doors to discuss budget concerns. This ad-hoc committee wants to discuss certain problems and then bring its findings to the residents.
Like Radnor and Tredyffrin, Lower Merion is filled with residents who not only expect open government, but demand it, and one resident that brought this to our attention has vowed to fight the recent decision by the commissioners to keep this discussion behind closed doors.
Read Complete Opinion
Fight for the right to know
Pa. public officials cannot close meetings when it suits them. That's against the law.
March 17, 2009
By Michael Berry - Philly.com
An attorney with Levine Sullivan Koch & Schulz
The Inquirer's "Heard in the Hall" feature recently included a stunning headline: "Council members hold private meeting to discuss public process." It reported that Philadelphia's City Council had met in secret to discuss whether to hold public budget meetings in the city's neighborhoods. Although the idea of meeting with people around the city is admirable, the decision to meet behind closed doors first threatened to undermine public confidence.
It was no isolated incident. The following week, Lower Merion's Board of Commissioners took the opposite approach: It met in public to discuss whether its budget committee should meet in private. Remarkably, the board's majority voted to bar the public from future budget committee meetings.
Read Complete CommentaryBipartisan Transparency Killed
March 11 , 2009
By Audrey Romasco
What could be more bipartisan than the issue of transparency? It promotes no value judgment one way or the other. An ordinance change? A budget enhancement? A budget reduction? Transparency cares not what side is taken, merely that it is done in the public eye.
Read Complete Opinion
Majority of Board chooses "secret" meetings
Feb. 20, 2009
By Audrey Romasco
“It is my experience that the most thoughtful and productive budgeting process involves an open and thorough exchange of opinions. I was seriously taken aback last week when I realized that the Ad Hoc Budget committee and the Ad Hoc CIP committee were constituted in such a manner to circumvent the presence of a quorum and thus open meeting laws."
I urge you to contact your individual commissioner and the Board as a whole and tell them to follow the Sunshine Act and open the Ad Hoc Committee meetings.
Lower Merion capital improvements collide with deep economic crisis
Jan. 21 , 2009
In December, months into the financial crisis, the Board of Commissioners approved a staggering capital improvement plan (a plan which the Township Manager has consistently cautioned is “aggressive”) which calls for more than $55 million in project spending, some paid for by grants, for the next two years alone. Discretionary projects include $24 million for existing libraries and $4 million for a two-mile recreation trail
Spending, Not Taxes Is the Real Issue
January 14, 2009
Property values are instrumental in determining the taxes on an individual home. However, to focus on property values and assessments to control tax increases misses the point ("Calls Grow to Cap Property Taxes," U.S. News, Jan. 5).
Ronald A. Medhurst
Port Orange, Fla.
New Jersey Is the Perfect Bad Example
Look here to see what high taxes do.
December 30, 2008
By William McGurn - WSJ
During the last recession, we began to feel the full weight of these burdens. Other states responded by cutting back on spending and getting their houses in order. Not New Jersey. Then-Gov. Jim McGreevey added to the burden by borrowing and spending and raising the corporate tax -- including the imposition of an alternative minimum tax on business. And we've been paying for these bad choices ever since.
Capital Improvement Program Overly Aggressive
In the next six years the CIP calls for Lower Merion to spend $155,061,000 on capital improvements
December 3 , 2008
Audrey Romasco
I note from the Five Year Forecast that debt service is expected to rise by 7.9%. In fact, debt service, driven by the CIP, is projected to be 14% in the 2009 budget alone. In spite of this line item being singled out as one of the three driving factors in a 2009 Budget increase, we are projecting “normal” $10M bond issuances for fiscal years through 2012.
Read Complete Remarks to Commissioners - 12/3/2008
Alice in Wonderland Approach to Spending Must End
November 14 , 2008
David O'Connell
More Commissioners must wake up to the carnage being wrought by the financial crisis. The Alice in Wonderland approach of the current Board majority is worsening the impact of the crisis on the residents of Lower Merion. The focus must be shifted to spending restraint and belt tightening rather than enormous spending and taxing
Read Full Letter To the Editor of Mainline life
Our Spendthrift States Don't Need A Bailout
Governors need to learn to use fat years to prepare for lean ones
November 17, 2008
Steve Malanda
Last year at this time, many governors and state legislators were imploring Congress to let them spend more money by expanding the State Children's Health Insurance Program. Since the states share the cost of the program with Washington, the expansion would have allowed them to cover families with incomes up to 300% of the poverty level (more in some cases). It also would have meant hundreds of millions in additional state spending, and an estimated $24 billion in additional federal spending. President Bush vetoed the bill.
Taxes, Representation And Property Rights
November 10 , 2008
Sephen W. Reed, Pasadena, Calif.
Owners of real property are routinely denied the opportunity to vote concerning the assessment of taxes on their own property simply because they do not happen to live in the electoral jurisdiction where the property is located. While few would advocate a return to the former days when only property owner were permitted to vote, it is singularly unfair to deny property owners the right to vote on matters that directly affect their own property. That is real taxation without representation.
President Bruce Reed advocates for Larger RET increase
October 29th , 2008
For CRB, Michele von Plato
As a non-partisan organization, it is not CRB’s role to divide the Commissioners along party lines. However, when they divide themselves along party lines, it is in the public’s best interest to know.
We witnessed such a divide on October 22nd.
Voting in favor of the motion seeking a budget with no tax increase were: Jenny Brown(R), Lew Gould(R), Lance Rogers(R), Phil Rosenzweig(R), and Scott Zelov(R).
Voting against the motion for no tax increase: Jane Delheim(D); Brian Gordon(D); George Manos(D); Paul McElhenny(D); Maryam Phillips(D); Bruce Reed(D); and Liz Rogan(D).
Read Full Letter To the Editor of Mainline Life and Mainline Times
Moving Forward (CRB)
Sept. 4th , 2008
Lower Merion Township’s Board of Commissioners is preparing for its non-public budget “workshop” on September 24 and for public budget hearings later in the fall. At this critical time, it is important to review recent budget history. ..
By David O'Connell
Read Full Letter To the Editor of Mainline Life and Mainline Times
LMT's Triple A in danger (CRB)
July 16 , 2008
Identifying “options” to reduce Lower Merion Township spending is important; however, policymakers (the Board of Commissioners itself) clearly must also guide Township staff
By David O'Connell
Read Full Letter To the Editor of Mainline Life and Mainline Times
2004 Survey used as cover by Politicians (CRB)
June 30 , 2008
At the June 25, 2008, Lower Merion Township budget workshop, the Township’s 2004 Resident Survey (Available at the Township web site and www.lmcrb.org) made yet another appearance. .
By David O'Connell
Read Full Letter To the Editor of Mainline Life and Mainline Times
Sewer Rate Increase, June 2008 (CRB)
June 9 , 2008
Chalk another one up for unnecessary rate increases in Lower Merion Township – this time, the sewer rate.
By David O'Connell
Read Full Letter To the Editor of Mainline Life and Mainline Times
2008 Proposed Budget (CRB)
December 10 , 2007
Last week, Lower Merion Township held its second and final public hearing on the 2008 Proposed Budget. A vote is scheduled for ....
By Michele von Plato
Read Full Letter To the Editor of Mainline life
Open Records (CRB) 
September 12, 2007
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 ....
By Michele von Plato
Read Full Letter To the Editor of Mainline life
Request for release of multi-year budget forecasts (CRB) 
August 29, 2007
Chalk up a win for closed government and record a loss for transparency. So far at least, Lower Merion taxpayers have come out on the losing end of another struggle over transparency in local government....
Read Full Letter To the Editor of Mainline life
Tax burden growing faster than other expense obligations (CRB) 
August 14, 2007
According to the Wall Street Journal, the typical Family pays substantially more to the government than its combined mortgage, automobile and health insurance expenses. The article compares the tax and expense burden of the typical 70's family with one income, to the typical two-income 2000's family. Mr. Zywicki, the author of the article, continues with "Although income rose 75%, and expenditures for the mortgage, car and health insurance rose by even less than that, the tax bill increased by… a whopping 140%"
Although the article does not include property taxes, property taxes in general, have also been escalating much faster than core inflation. While municipal governments like to use a different price inflater (CPI-W )than is often cited for consumers, the problem persist that Lower Merion Township's expenses are growing faster than inflation and private sector wage increases. If the Township's budget continues to grow 5%-6% per year, one thing Lower Merion residents can count on, is property taxes rising much faster than wage increases.
Township's Budget expected to out spend revenue (CRB)
August 10, 2007
After several discussions and presentations by LMT's staff, CRB is convinced that the township's expenses will outpace revenue growth in the 2008 budget. Although the Township Manager and head of Finance have not directly answered our questions about a 2008 tax increase (The official response to date is "It is too early to say."), we have received comments about the townships "Systemic" revenue problems. ( Township Managers complete email response, Monday, June 18, 2007 )
With a 2007 budget that increased 5.3% and a tax increase of 2%, will this increase and systemic problem with revenue be repeated in the 2008 budget? Not likely. The current model which includes a budget increase of 5-6% in 2008, would most likely result in a more substantial tax increase of 6-8% in the 2008 budget.
The Systemic spending problem, not the revenue problem, is what will continue to require large tax increases. Without incentives for our staff, or goals by our staff to control spending, and the lack of guidance by the leadership of the Board of Commissioners, we can only conclude that the township will recommend the easiest revenue enhancer available to the township. That enhancer, is of course, a real estate tax increase.
Real cost containment has not been realized from reduction in unneeded services nor have better business practices been encouraged to streamline existing services. Although many options are available to a tax increase, the options have not been considered. Other than " rear yard" trash pickup, discussions about cost control have not been encouraged, and in the case of rear yard trash pickup, the conversation continues to return to increasing revenue.
Lower Merion's Township Manager Response to CRB's question about future tax increases
June 29, 2007
On May 29th, CRB and other citizens meet with township staff. At the beginning of the meeting, Mr. Cleland (Township Manger) stated that we could expect tax increases every year due to the nature of the revenue stream. For Mr. Cleland's complete email response to our question for clearification, please read…
Township Manager's complete email response, Monday, June 18th, 2007
Tax Debate, Letter to Main Line Life (CRB)
January 2007
CRB consistently argued that a tax increase was not needed, and therefore, was not justified for the 2007 Budget. Ultimately, the vote on Commissioner Rogers’ motion to eliminate the tax increase was lost. Commissioner Rogers is the BOC’s only registered Independent, and CRB was hopeful that his motion would bridge the partisan gap that had developed…
Reserves and Credit Rating Letter to Main Line Times (CRB)
January 18, 2007
“The most useful tool for evaluating credit risk is through examining the way [these] four key areas interact” (The Determinants of Municipal Credit Quality Government Finance Review, December 1999). A Moody’s representative recently confirmed that the 1999 article still reflects Moody’s methodology. The level of reserve is only one financial statistic used to evaluate the finances of a municipality and financial factors are only one of the four key areas considered. Therefore, a fixation on the level of reserves can be misleading, and most certainly did mislead a majority of Commissioners in the 2007 Budget discussion.