Tempers Flare as Buckingham Sups Approve Budget

After months of talks about next year's budget and taxes, Buckingham Township's proposed $14.8 million budget should have been easily approved.

But the measure took a detour Wednesday night that set it on a bumpy ride.

While the budget was finally adopted on a 2-1 vote, discussion turned contentious, as calls of financial misconduct and name-calling ensued.

At the 11th hour and with no prior suggestion of discontent, Supervisor Henry Rowan, the lone Democrat on the three-person board, proposed decreasing the township's 5.5-mill tax rate by 1.5 mills.

Rowan cited a $500,000 surplus the township has in its coffers that he believes shouldn't be held in reserve.

"We, as a government, should not be banking money that should go into the economy," he said.

Part of the money is funding the township has earmarked to buy open space following a referendum held a few years ago. The 2011 budget includes expenditures for the bond the township took out for open space at $1.584 million.

Rowan said the township should extend the debt by up to 30 years to allow future generations to pay their fair share.

"You're stealing from this community; you're putting money into reserve accounts that has no justification," he said.

Supervisor Vice Chairman Maggie Rash argued that finances need to be held in reserve as the township continues to negotiate on properties that might be purchased through money set aside for open space.

"I'm not going to make land preservation a political bone," she said.

During the heated exchange, Chairman Jon Forest fired accusations at Rowan, citing political patronage, frivolous lawsuits and other alleged "pet projects."

"You are an offensive human being," Rowan shot back.

Forest and Rash in past months have credited township administrators with keeping costs down to hold the line on the township's 5.5-mill property tax bill. With the average Buckingham home being assessed at $48,000, the homeowner's tax bill would remain at $264.

"We've been working for months on this budget, and never once has this come up," Forest said following the meeting. "It's political hay."

Finance director Jill Pistory, who has said at past meetings that township administrators have worked hard to keep a stream-lined budget, defended the financial decisions that created the 2011 budget.

"We're trying to be proactive and avoid increasing any additional debt," she said.

Unlike some neighboring municipalities that pose a whopping tax increase after a long period of no rise, Pistory says planning ahead is key.

"We don't go on crisis mode."

The township's 2011 budget lays out revenue of $14.9 million and total expenditures of $14.8 million. Of that, $6.5 million is devoted to the general fund, which covers most day to day operating costs.