No More Taxes, Please.

2008 November 14 at 10:34 pm (Politics) (increase, Politics, Taxes)

If you weren’t planning to go to the Tredyffrin Twp. Supervisors’ meeting on Monday November 17, 2008  at 7:30 p.m. at the township building, this may change your mind.

1.  The township projects a $3 million shortfall for 2009, based on Twp. Manager, Mimi Gleason’s preliminary budget.  The township currently has millions in reserves, and by year-end will have $11 million in its reserves.  

Wait a moment.  They have SURPLUS?  That is, the monetary need was satisfied, and they have left over money.  That was our money, they could have returned it or taxed us less the next year.  Why did they continue collecting excess money year after year?  Aren’t there risks involved with having $11 million sitting in an account somewhere?  

2.  A tax increase of 5% is being considered.  Last year it was increased 3.3%, and this 2009 increase would be the 5th in 11 years. The township has not cut anything from its budget in the last 9 years.  

Nothing cut from their budget in 9 years?  Unbelievable!  Imagine running your household that way, or if your employer running his/her business with no budget cuts.  Your child is potty trained, and you continued to buy diapers.  Your beloved dog died, and you still buy dog food.  Your commute doesn’t require you to buy a monthly SEPTA pass, but you buy one anyway.  The point here is, as times change, so do the needs for our money.  It’s very likely that there are items to cut from the budget.  

Four years ago, our family went through a tough patch.  My husband did not go to his boss, and take money out of his wallet.  Instead, we gutted our budget; we adjusted.  We refinanced our mortgage, changed our telephone/internet subscriber, reevaluated our insurance needs, hung-up the monthly cellphone package, scrapped eating out, skipped summer camps, sunk our summer pool membership, and had a very inexpensive vacation.

The benefit?  When my husband got a new job and a better salary, we didn’t reexpand our budget to previous levels.  Now we give much more to charity, save regularly, and know how to live under-budget.  

It could be same with the Township budget.  Clear away the non-essentials while times are bad, and when the economy improves, they can continue to work off of the smaller budget, or if the taxpayers want, they can add services.  

3.  Non-union staff receive a “Longevity Pay” bonus at the end of the year based on how many years they’ve worked for Tredyffrin.  

 First, paying bonuses from tax money is improper.  As you know, companies usually pay a bonus in profitable years, and the bonus is paid from the surplus generated that year.  The government doesn’t compete with anyone.  Government salaries are paid only by forcibly removing money from us, so the only way they can run a profit is by over-taxation.  

Second, this bonus is paid based on years of bench-warming.  The more years you sit at your desk, the more money you make.  In the real world, bonuses are linked to performance.  

Third, “Longevity Pay” should be called “Yearly Bonus” which clearly indicates that it is not “pay” or “salary,” and that it is paid annually, regardless of merit.  

4.  Non-union staff receive 100% Medical Insurance coverage. 

Wow, sign me up!  100% Is amazing, and way better than the 80% most people receive from their employers.  

Please help us stave off this tax increase by attending this meeting, or by sending a letter to the Board of Supervisors,  Tredyffrin Twp. Building, 1100 Duportail Road, Berwyn, PA  19312-1079, phone (610) 644.1400.

-A Pen in The Woods