UProv 2012 Budget Review, Now Open to the Public

I received this email from a neighbor this morning:

I went to the Supervisors meeting yesterday. The budget was not really presented. It was stated that the budget is 'available' for review at the township building for the next two weeks. Residents are allowed to view it and leave commentary. I didn't get the impression that you can take it home and review.

I suggest we all go down there and review and if there is nothing for road calming that we ask for $500K to be budgeted. That way it at least removes one roadblock toward progress. Also we should comment if there are pay raises over 2 percent, if they still pay 100 percent of health care, and if they still pay 50 percent pension and still have the DROP program. These are very costly programs that the township can no longer afford and meet the needs of residents.

I don't know about you, but I don't have time to sit in the Township office and make notes. I wrote to George Waterman, township manager, and he sent me PDF copies of our 2012 budget presentation. Please note that I said "our."  

All the work has been done with your taxes or fees, whether federal, state, county or local. Everyone should have unrestricted access to this document and the budget planning process.

Thank you, George, for your timely response. Can we get it all posted to the Township website?  

No finding a link to it there, I decided to make sure my neighbors get a copy. It's too important to leave unread or unseen.  

Check the link to the PDF.  

Collect your questions and go to the next Supervisor's meeting and ASK!  

• There are healthy pay increases for township employees. Anyone else in the private sector getting 5 percent this year?
• Ask how much employees contribute to their benefits. (Clue: many of the township employees get health benefit packages worth almost $25,000 per year.)
• Ask about their DROP retirement program. We can't afford it anymore.
• What's the employee contribution to pension? Does your employer pay that much?
• Compare township salaries to the private sector. What do you find out?
• Check how much we (you) are spending on the recreation center and all the associated employees and their benefits. They compete with private day cares, the YMCA and other private sector businesses offering workout classes, gym spaces and fitness training, all neighborhood businesses who pay taxes. Is this what you want your money paying for?
• Find any more surprises? 

Here's the notice from the front of the document:

The proposed budget for fiscal year 2012 for the Township of Upper Providence, Montgomery County, PA, has been prepared and is available for public inspection at the Township Administration Office, 1286 Black Rock Road. Adoption of the budget is planned for the Dec. 19, 2011, 7 p.m. meeting of the Board of Supervisors, to be held at the Upper Providence Township Hall, 1301 Black Rock Road. The public is invited to attend and comment on the proposed expenditures. (Emphasis added)

There's the deadline—Dec. 19. Be there, speak up, or fork over your bucks—taxation without representation.