NorthPennNow.com, in partnership with MoreThanTheCurve.com, AroundAmbler.com, and GlensideLocal.com, provided questions to all candidates running for Montgomery County Commissioner in the Democratic and Republican primaries. Five of eight candidates responded to the questions. Below are the answers unedited and without comment.
There are three candidates running for two seats in the Republican Primary: Liz Ferry, Tom DiBello, and incumbent Joe Gale. Gale did not respond to the questions. He did not seek endorsement from the county Republican Committee, but Ferry and DiBello both received endorsements.
There are five candidates running for two seats in the Democratic Primary: Incumbent Jamila Winder, who was appointed to replace resigning Commissioner Dr. Val Arkoosh and who has received endorsement from county Democrats, Tanya Bamford, Kimberly Koch, Neil Makhija, and Noah Marlier. Makhija and Marlier did not respond to questions.
Two Democrats and two Republicans will move on to the November Primary. Democratic Commissioner Ken Lawrence is not seeking re-election. The open third seat is reserved for the minority party.
Public Transportation
SEPTA recently canceled its plan to extend rail to King of Prussia. It also has paused plans to improve parking at three train stations in the county (Philmont, Gwynedd Valley, and Noble stations) and recently considered, but dropped, a plan to remove a direct bus line between Plymouth Meeting and the city. How do you feel SEPTA can best serve Montgomery County?
Liz Ferry, Upper Dublin Township Commissioner: Every day, tens of thousands of Montgomery County residents take SEPTA into Philadelphia for employment as well as the reverse commute into the suburbs. During the pandemic, SEPTA’s regional rail schedule was substantially reduced due to low ridership. Now that the pandemic is over, SEPTA needs to add trips to its schedule to better serve the residents of Montgomery County. Its focus should be on ensuring its trains and buses are in a state of good repair and the safety of its riders.
The proposed King of Prussia rail line was unaffordable and inconvenient for residents who would rather drive than transfer to ride the train. Facing a $250 million operating budget shortfall next year, SEPTA is in no financial position to build the line whose ridership was questionable. Instead, SEPTA should work with municipalities to determine future growth and expand bus service. As an example, in Upper Dublin
Township, SEPTA has proposed to cancel a bus route from the Fort Washington Train Station into the Office Park at a time when the Office Park is expanding its business and residential communities. SEPTA should support bus routes that take residents and workers from train stations to office parks and main streets and maintain bus service to and from malls and Center City.
Tanya Bamford, Montgomery Township Supervisor: Connecting residents across the county with the essential resources they need is critical to the long-term health and prosperity of our community. Toward that end, public transportation plays a key role in removing barriers to access critical resources. SEPTA can best serve Montgomery County by continuing to work with organizations like the The Partnership TMA (Transportation Management Association), as well as state, county, and municipal officials to address the gaps in service that currently exist in our public transportation system. As commissioner, I will support SEPTA’s implementation of a micro transit service that bridges these gaps to enable people to more efficiently get to and from their homes to work, school, healthcare centers, as well as recreation and entertainment destinations. I would also encourage SEPTA to return some of their existing bus and rail service to pre-pandemic schedules, where demand indicates.
Jamila Winder, Montgomery County Commissioner, former East Norriton Township Supervisor, former Norristown Area School Board member: SEPTA can best serve Montgomery County by improving regional service between Montco and the City but also by investing in better local service. Right now, there are few options for public transportation between the major population centers in Montgomery County. Big expensive projects like the KOP rail line can be helpful but we also need some medium size projects to better connect people to places to work, play, and live throughout Montgomery County
Tom DiBello, former Spring-Ford School Board director: It was very unfortunate to hear about the cancellation of the King of Prussia Rail extension because like many people I thought this would be a wonderful addition to the community. With that said I grew very concerned about the projected costs to build the Rail extension. One would have to wonder why the costs were soaring into the billions to complete the project and how would the ROI ever be realized. Also, what was $30+ million to date spent on and how would any of that money get reimbursed to the county?
I would like to see SEPTA identify one key project to enhance service and once elected, we can work together to see what state and federal funding exists to offset the project costs. Let’s start with one win for the community.
Kimberly Koch, Whitpain Township Supervisor: Montgomery County can better partner with SEPTA to serve all who use public transportation. While the King of Prussia rail line was canceled, we should still look for other funding opportunities (federal and state) to modernize, streamline, and upgrade aging facilities. SEPTA has been – and will remain – an important part of our transportation puzzle. Yes, the King of Prussia rail line is off, but that does not mean we stop working to make it more efficient and better run.
Pandemic’s Impact on Commercial Real Estate
The aftermath of the pandemic has resulted in many more people working from home, which is forecasted to negatively impact the commercial real estate market in the coming years. What do you feel the county can do to encourage businesses to relocate to Montgomery County?
KOCH: It is simple to answer that we can and should work to offer tax incentives to businesses who invest in people and equipment here in Montgomery County. The fact is that state and county governments regularly offer companies financial incentives (rebates, grants, and tax credits) to urge them to relocate or expand operations. The key for us will be maximizing our incentives. My belief is that counties that offer the most effective business attraction solutions do so by developing a comprehensive economic-development strategy, which reflects specific, measurable goals to boost sustained employment by businesses following when (and where) we invest county resources.
For example, one option could be to offer a job-creation incentive as an annual cash rebate of up to a certain percent of payroll, and then add a discount for hiring workers who live in Montgomery County and even more for those who are veterans or for those who serve as fire fighters or first responders.
Finally, we can evaluate if non-financial incentives will assist in recruiting businesses to Montgomery County: do we have the right amount of public transportation (if not, where can we make appropriate upgrades), can we offer assistance to permit new workers to attend local colleges (such as Montgomery County Community College) and to provide new degree programs matching their skills.
FERRY: Businesses locate in areas based on many factors, most importantly taxes, public safety, infrastructure, and access to talent. Working to lower taxes and reduce county expenditures will attract and help retain companies. Areas with high property taxes don’t get a second look. Over the past three years alone, Montgomery County Democrats have raised taxes by 21%. The county should work more closely with its economic development partners and site selectors to promote the county throughout the nation and world about the tremendous assets we have here such as our highly qualified and educated workforce. Counties should also work with municipalities to ensure modern and efficient roadways and bridges. As a township commissioner in Upper Dublin, I successfully championed a new zip ramp into the Fort Washington Office Park for easy access and to reduce congestion on local streets.
BAMFORD: Although working from home and other trends such as online shopping began impacting the way people interact with the built environment before the onset of COVID-19, there is no question the pandemic accelerated the impact on commercial real estate.
I do not know where demand for office and retail space will settle. In this era of remote workforces, hybrid work arrangements, and ecommerce, many businesses are still wrestling with basic questions. How much space do we need? How should the space be configured? Where should it be located? As a result, decisions regarding real estate occupancy are frequently delayed. That said, there are some things Montgomery County can do now to be well positioned to compete while it all shakes out.
Economic development is not just about new business attraction, it is also about business retention and creating an environment where existing county businesses can prosper and grow. In either case, a skilled and available workforce is critical if Montgomery County is to attract and retain family-sustaining jobs.
Workforce quality is often one of the top factors cited by site selectors. Whether Montgomery County residents are working from their homes or company facilities, workforce development must be a top priority if the county is to remain competitive.
Some business leaders including Kenneth Frazier, the former CEO of Montgomery County’s largest employer, Merck, and government leaders such as Governor Josh Shapiro have argued a four-year degree requirement is often an unnecessary barrier to employment. As more leaders come to the same realization that skills and aptitude may be more important than a four-year degree for many positions, the county’s workforce can be well positioned to seize the opportunity.
Montgomery County can:
1. assist Montgomery College Community College leadership in identifying resources necessary to further enhance and grow both its credit and non-credit offerings, with a particular focus on career training and professional development; and,
2. evaluate the workforce development programming administered through MontcoWorks to ensure it meets the needs of employers and career seekers in this environment and identify opportunities to leverage or establish new public-private partnerships.
WINDER: The County Commissioner's through our Planning Commission have been working to address this very real issue. The pandemic has fundamentally changed the way many businesses operate. Fortunately, we have seen a gradual return of many businesses to the more typical office-based workforce, but many industries may never fully return to pre-pandemic norms. Montgomery County and many municipalities are getting creative through promoting the implementation of mixed-use zoning initiatives as well coordinated redevelopment strategies through local business corridors. All options and incentives must be on the table as we evolve from traditional retail and office-based businesses to a new transformative-based commerce system.
DiBELLO: To encourage businesses to come to Montgomery County the annual average 7% tax increases need to stop. As one of the next county commissioners, I will work hard to eliminate all wasteful spending, implement better budgeting procedures to reduce and eliminate tax increases. Most certainly, we have to address the growing crime occurring throughout the county. My goal is to make Montgomery County awesome and business friendly so that business want to come, grow and stay.
To follow-up on that question, if the occupancy rates drop, what do you think the county can do to encourage municipalities to allow for additional uses or conversion of office buildings?
DiBELLO: That’s more for the county planning commission to work out with the municipalities. However, I would definitely want to encourage municipalities to do their best to also help attract businesses to occupy available real estate. Most municipalities have multi-use defined with the code so utilizing the buildings isn’t the issue its finding businesses that want to make the investment which circles back to reducing high taxes and high crime.
KOCH: Montgomery County can do what we are starting to do in Whitpain Township. With commercial occupancy rates dropping, we are evaluating our comprehensive plan to determine if there is a way to partner with property owners to convert office space into quality apartment homes. We can offer incentives to developers to provide housing opportunities for teachers, police officers, firefighters, carpenters, and electricians (to name just a few professions). Montgomery County needs to be a place where members of our community can both live and work.
FERRY: Municipalities, residents, real estate professionals and developers are best equipped to determine the best use of office buildings. In Upper Dublin, some of the older outdated office buildings are being updated and converted to other uses and new residential buildings are being proposed and built.
BAMFORD: I believe there will be commercial buildings in some markets that will likely be considered redundant or obsolete. Buildings may need to be repurposed and/or sites reimagined to accommodate mixed-use development. In terms of sustainability, it is better to encourage the reuse of existing buildings, than to build new ones. Although this is sometimes easier said than done. There are some things we can do in Montgomery County to help municipalities that want to proactively deal with redundant or obsolete commercial buildings including:
1. the Montgomery County Planning Commission can provide municipalities with technical assistance, model ordinances, and design guidelines to provide for greater flexibility in zoning and building regulation; and,
2. municipalities that identify buildings and sites that are potential candidates for repurposing or redevelopment can work with the Montgomery County Commerce Department to promote the projects.
WINDER: Again, we need to partner with municipalities to innovate other uses for office buildings to address the affordable housing crisis. We can offer incentives to developers who carve out a percentage of their developments in every part of the county. Montgomery County needs to be a place where members of our community can both live and work.
Bail Reform
Montgomery County transitioned to a pre-trial services system in recent years, which has led some residents to question why MDJs no longer set bail in their communities and instead have been moved to a countywide on-call rotation. Do you believe MDJs should set bail in the communities they’re elected to serve? What are the advantages to the county-wide system?
WINDER: The Commissioners supported the formation of a new oversight department called Supervision Services to streamline operations of all Court Supervision Departments. Supervision Services is responsible for the operational management of all Court Supervision Departments, including: Adult Probation Department, DUI Administration, Juvenile Probation Department, Pretrial Services, and Treatment Courts.
Community Supervision is a public safety-focused alternative to incarceration that allows offenders to work, attend school, stay connected to and support their families, and make restitution to the victims of their crimes. It acknowledges a person’s ability to change when afforded the appropriate resources and opportunities.
Specifically, Pretrial Services has been a priority of the current administration. It provides accurate and timely information to assist the court in making informed decisions regarding pretrial release; to supervise and provide services for defendants while utilizing cost effective measures for the community; to promote compliance with court orders and court appearances; and to support public safety. The program has been up and running for over a year and is starting to show results based on its data-driven approach.
FERRY: I believe MDJ’s should set bail in the communities in which they are elected. The Montgomery County Police Chiefs Association has raised concern about the pre-trial services system. The pre-trial serves system has resulted in criminals being released and repeating their unlawful behavior. Crime is on the rise throughout our region and the Board of Commissioners should work with local law enforcement and the state police to fight crime. We should be more concerned about the victims of crime than the people who break the law.
BAMFORD: Recent reforms to the pre-trial services system have received mixed reviews. While some feel the recent reforms have reduced the number of people being held in detention before their court appearances — something which has disproportionately impacted Black and brown communities historically — others feel that removing this control from the MDJs in their communities has not only created a disconnect between the local judges and the people they were elected to serve, but has resulted to the overuse of unsecured bail and increased rates of recidivism.
Among the challenges of the county’s pre-trial services system are the general lack of information or educational resources surrounding the new system and how it works. There is also an overall lack of transparency about adjustments which are made by the Court of Common Pleas during bail review.
DiBELLO: I absolutely agree that it should go back to the MDJs to hold preliminary arraignments and set the proper bail established by bail guidelines used for years. This again is an example of a process that wasn’t broken and for some reason the current leadership felt the need to change. Many police chiefs aren’t happy with nor support the change. I haven’t been able to identify any advantages to the change of a county-wide system.
KOCH: I certainly support our local MDJ’s and their role in our criminal justice system. But our policy should not unfairly punish those without the financial resources to pay bail, particularly those individuals who are facing non-violent charges and who are judged to not be a flight risk.
Bail Reform – Follow-up
As a follow up, in light of recent incidents involving defendants accused of violent crimes being bailed out only to reoffend while awaiting proceedings, do you believe the pre-trial services unit needs to be adjusted? Or do you believe these incidents are outliers?
KOCH: Again, bail should not be an impossibility for someone purely because of their financial circumstances. To be sure, there is a significant difference between violent offenders and those facing non-violent charges. I support the county providing guidance to the local MDJ’s.
FERRY: As I noted previously, I think the program needs to be adjusted working with our law enforcement community and our MDJs.
BAMFORD: As Commissioner, I will support a thorough review of the system to evaluate whether the reforms have achieved their initial objectives, and whether additional modifications are warranted to identify and, where necessary, correct for any unintended consequences that have resulted from the new system.
WINDER: There is always room for improvement and the current pre-trial services effort is showing promise. We are collecting data to ensure we understand the rate of recidivism and its effects on public safety.
DiBELLO: Pre-trial services need to be readjusted and proper bail needs to be set on individuals accused of violent crimes. We have seen over and over where bail reform was put in place and crime has risen, especially violent crime, including a growing list of repeat offenders. We don’t have to look very far to see what is occurring in Philadelphia. This is one of the reasons I’m running so that we can put proper procedures back in place demonstrating crime isn’t welcomed in Montgomery County.
Top Issue
If you win election, what policy or reform will you want to be remembered for after you have served?
DiBELLO: In the previous questions, we talked about Bail Reform being addressed by putting back stricter bail policies especially for violent crime. I would also focus on election Integrity. Many voters have lost faith in the system. I will review all processes and procedures including the chain of custody with mail in ballots; cleanup voter rolls, and lobby the state to get out of the ERIC system if other states continue to leave the system. The ERIC system was a way for multiple states to share voting information but if states drop out of using the system it becomes less reliable and shouldn’t be used. I will analyze the use and purpose of drop boxes and most importantly, I will be observing very closely when ballots are being counted. I want to be able to stand in front of all the constituents in the county and confidently tell them I take election integrity very seriously and I trust the results. Hopefully that will start to restore their faith in the system.
FERRY: My first goal is to get Montgomery County’s fiscal house in order. I intend to work to reduce taxes, minimize debt, bring more companies into the county to help reduce the tax burden on residents, and develop innovative ways to provide services.
Despite being the only Republican on a seven-member board of commissioners in Upper Dublin Township, I effectively advocated reducing tax increases by doing my homework and finding budget savings. I was able to hold the line on taxes for the past two years. In 2021, I cut a Democrat proposed tax increase by 30%. In 2020, I did the same by 10% and in 2019, I was able to cut spending and a tax increase by 50%. A minority commissioner can be effective, but it takes hard work. Simply voting no and not playing a role gets us nowhere and only results in unchecked spending and tax increases.
KOCH: I will pick two:
1. Elections. Montgomery County’s elections are free and fair. I will work to keep it that way and let me assure everyone that the liars, criers, and election deniers will have to go through me.
2. Housing. Montgomery County needs to be a place where everyone who works in Montgomery County can afford to live in Montgomery County.
WINDER: I want to be known as the Commissioner that was an advocate for our employees to ensure that Montgomery County truly is a great place to work and that employees earn a competitive salary with good benefits. Our employees are the lifeblood of our County operations and we cannot deliver on our programs and services without top talent who care about supporting the residences of Montgomery County.
BAMFORD: When I retire from the Board of Commissioners, I would like my legacy to be improving morale for county employees. Currently, the county is facing staffing shortages across every department which compromises our ability to deliver services to our constituents. These positions are difficult to fill because the county isn’t paying a competitive wage. These prolonged staffing shortages have taken a toll on employees as they have had to shoulder heavier workloads. As commissioner, I am committed to making the necessary budget adjustments to course correct where necessary to ensure that county employees are not only fairly compensated, they are provided with opportunities for training, recognition, and wellness programs. By investing in the people who perform the critical work of our county, and aligning staff around our mission, we will ultimately improve not only our ability to recruit effectively, but job satisfaction and ultimately the experiences our constituents have when they interact with our staff.
Covanta
The county owns the property in Conshohocken (Plymouth Township) that is home to Covanta’s trash to energy plant. According to Energy Justice, the plant is the largest source of air pollution in the county. It has also in recent years experienced a series of malfunctions that have led to neighbor complaints about odors. What can the county do as the landlord of the property to improve the environmental and neighborhood impact?
BAMFORD: As a landlord, the county has some responsibility to ensure that their tenants are compliant with PA DEP regulations to protect the environment and the inhabitants of the surrounding community. I can see from Covanta’s recent Title V/State Operating Permit renewal application that there have been a series of violations and fines levied against Covanta’s Plymouth facility—one of a significant nature occurring in September, 2020. If it hasn’t already been addressed, when I’m elected I will ensure that staff reach out to both the PA DEP and Covanta for an update on the status of the company’s efforts to remedy those violations. I’ll also work to ensure that the updates are communicated appropriately with the residents nearby in Plymouth Township. Moving forward, I will work with the county’s solicitor to review contract language for leases to ensure that any parties leasing property from the county maintain compliance with PA DEP regulations and — if such language is not already present — incorporate strong language that would make those leases subject to termination should the leasing party fail to comply with the PA DEP within a reasonable time period.
KOCH: Montgomery County can and should partner with the Plymouth Council to look at options for some oversight and a comprehensive quality review of Covanta’s operations. Covanta’s facility has operated for decades and if the trash to energy technology works, that’s great. But over the years we have seen various well publicized problems that local neighbors deserve to have addressed and monitored by the county.
FERRY: The Covanta trash to energy plant has diverted tons of waste from landfills providing energy to thousands of homes. Ensuring residents have clean air to breathe is imperative. As county commissioner, I would work with the U.S. EPA Region III office and the state Department of Environmental Protection, Covanta, and its neighbors to determine the environmental impact on the community. Covanta is under both federal and state permitting requirements and is required to adhere to strict standards of safety.
DiBELLO: I haven’t been read into all the detail regarding this situation so I would want to explore further before making any judgements or decisions. Obviously, there are many legal ramifications associated with this property and tenant. Once elected, I will meet with residents to understand their issues and make verified recommendations to ensure the facility is acting as a good corporate neighbor. I will also contact the proper government agencies to understand further the levels of air pollution measured and see what guidelines, if any, can be implemented.
WINDER: Unfortunately, the Covanta plant is a catch 22, it is a part of our counties infrastructure but also something we will have to do away with in the long term. The next commissioners to serve Montgomery County will have to make a decision regarding the plant that is informed by the needs of the local residents affected by the plant.
Housing
What are three things the county can do to encourage developers to consider including affordable housing within their projects?
WINDER: In August 2022 through our Recovery Office, we announced plans to invest $32.4 million dollars into housing priorities identified by our community. This funding will support 325 new affordable housing units, the creation of two new temporary housing facilities, preservation of existing affordable units, and support for future affordable housing.
In September 2022 the Commissioners also took action to allocate an additional $1.2 million dollars in funding to support the county’s unhoused population through increased street outreach and emergency hoteling services.
1. As Commissioner, I will not vote to allocate funding to residential developments that do not have an affordability component proposed as part of the project. If developers want public funding, they must offer a public benefit.
2. In addition, I will work to partner with our 62 local municipalities to support their efforts to bring affordable housing options in every part of the County. If every one of the 62 municipalities in the County ensured that some affordable housing units were being built in their community, we could largely solve this problem.
3. Lastly, I will find other creative ways to invest in affordable housing projects.
BAMFORD: In March 2021, the Homes for All report was prepared in partnership with Montco Planning Commission, Office of Housing and Community Development, and Commerce Department, as well as Capacity for Change, LLC. The report addresses how to meet the challenge of affordable housing. Some of the tools that can be used to encourage developers to incorporate affordable housing in mixed-use development include:
As Montgomery County Commissioner, I will support the expansion of this initiative and its rollout among our 62 municipalities—particularly those with properties which would be appropriate for this type of redevelopment.
DiBELLO: I would work with both state and federal agencies to find ways to create housing affordability programs that could be available to everyone who would qualify. Although we need to keep in mind that there are many communities throughout the county where housing prices are still very reasonable and affordable. There needs to be a better way to help people find homes that are more affordable and even possibly help them acquire those homes without impacting taxpayers.
KOCH: As noted above, in Whitpain we are actively working with developers on what I refer to as “workforce housing” – to ensure that professionals (such as teachers, cops, firefighters, administrative professionals as well as electricians, carpenters, plumbers and many other skilled professionals) can live near where they work. Montgomery County can similarly work (on a much larger scale) and incentivize developers to make it financially attractive to convert unused commercial space into apartment homes that fit within our local communities. Possible incentives can include tax rebates, green space credits, impervious surface requirements, and parking. And if we permit appropriate workforce housing, at the same time we hold the developers accountable for traffic impacts, school increases, and other needed infrastructure improvements.
FERRY: Montgomery County has a wide variety of housing. Zoning decisions are best made by local municipalities working with developers and residents. Increasing the state Property Tax and Rent Rebate Program could further assist families to afford housing. We should also expand benefits for our veterans to assist first-time home buyers and those struggling to find housing. In addition, public officials should
work with state representatives to examine expanding the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Fund to assist homeowners and those seeking housing.
Homelessness in Montco
In the past two years, homelessness has grown in the county, while shelter space and availability have decreased. As a commissioner, what would you advocate the county to do to alleviate this problem?
FERRY: The county needs to work with local municipalities, behavioral health professionals, and residents to ensure that those who need housing are helped. The county’s practice of providing tents to the homeless is a bad policy and helps no one. Currently, the county has 162 emergency shelter beds, which is insufficient. Homelessness requires a multi-pronged approach. Providing emergency shelters and temporary housing must also include mental health counseling, drug and alcohol counseling, financial counseling, and job placement assistance.
BAMFORD: The most recent PIT (Persons in Time) count identified 329 persons without homes living in the county. Although this is a significant decrease from 2022, it’s still far too many. Fortunately, a Homelessness Task Force was just formed to address this issue throughout the county. As commissioner, I look forward to working alongside the members of this task force to address this issue.
WINDER: Everyone deserves a home. Unfortunately, homelessness and hunger are a part of all our communities. In Montgomery County at least 330 individuals, including families, will sleep outside at night. Homelessness is a housing problem and Montgomery County needs affordable housing for all residents now more than ever. The County is always ready to fund affordable housing and other supportive housing. But we need the leadership and compassion of our municipal partners, developers, and residents to help make it a reality.
The County recently launched a Homelessness task force to bring together a centralized group of internal and external stakeholders who care about the homelessness challenge and will be working to implement actionable strategies to reduce homelessness. Programs like Your Way Home are helping to address homelessness in the County.
DiBELLO: Under used words: Bi-partisan solutions, Patriotism.
Taxes
The county commissioners passed an 8% property tax increase in 2022. What is one idea you have on how the county can save or reduce the amount of money it spends?
DiBELLO: Once elected, I plan on utilizing my background in dealing with large budgets to systematically review all expenses and sources of revenues. The goal is to reduce expenses without jeopardizing programs. There is a $20 million deficit currently in the budget that needs to be eliminated without increasing taxes. I also plan on recommending that a 7-year rolling budget is developed so that when looking at budgets we are using strategic budget forecasting. I also want to make sure there is a 20- year capital projects plan in place as well as a 5–10 year technology plan. This way, project related expenses are spread out over time. Too many times government agencies don’t plan accordingly and just add large projects to annual budgets without truly understanding the long-term effects on taxpayers. We need to find a find a pathway back to no tax increases in Montgomery County. We can’t continue with 7% average tax increases.
FERRY: The County Commissioners approved an 8% property tax increase in 2022 because they said they had a “structural budget deficit” of $18.6 million. That simply means that they have more expenses than revenues. They need to cut spending! The new $415 Justice Center will likely end up costing taxpayers $1 billion. That’s unacceptable. Our County Commissioners need to do their homework and cut out the excess waste from this unnecessary project. In addition, no county official should be voting for or accepting a salary increase while increasing taxes on its residents. It’s time to get the county’s fiscal house in order.
BAMFORD: Public officials have a fundamental responsibility to be good stewards of tax dollars. As a Supervisor in Montgomery Township, I encouraged staff to research grants and other funding resources as frequently as possible to help offset the costs of our capital projects and facility enhancements. With the support of our governing partners, Montgomery Township has been successful in obtaining hundreds of thousands of dollars in grant money to assist with efforts ranging from building accessible playgrounds to improving parks and trails. We also looked for efficiencies within each department, and reduced expenses when and where possible–particularly during COVID. As County Commissioner, I will continue to work in this capacity, to ensure that no grant goes unexplored to help finance new and strategic projects. We will also take a hard look at other areas of spending to seek out opportunities for greater efficiency so that critical initiatives requiring additional funding can be accomplished without the need to raise taxes.
KOCH: There are any number of ways to control spending, but one concrete step would be to improve our purchasing practices – this includes everything from supplies, materials, expenses, health care, and public works. Montgomery County can and should better leverage the size of our contracts/purchases to seek deeper discounts and cost controls for everything we do. Indeed, in Whitpain we committed to review all of our professional service providers at least once every five years to ensure the Township is getting value. Montgomery County can do it on a much larger scale.
WINDER: Over the past 3+ months I have been on the job I have already met with many department heads in Montgomery County. There are always opportunities to streamline processes and reduce redundancies in any large organization. During those meetings I have been taking note of the processes being used in each of our departments looking for ways to improve on what exists now. We definitely should continue to lean in on finding other revenue streams through grants and private partnerships to support our budgetary needs.
See also:
Everything Towamencin Residents Need to Know About Tuesday’s Ballot Question on Home Rule Charter
Primary Election 2023: When to Expect Results, How Vote Counting Will Work, and More
