Montgomery Township Chair Tanya Bamford (Credit: Montgomery Township video screenshot)
Second Class Township Code allows budget amendments in January following a municipal election
The Montgomery Township Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 Monday night to reopen the township’s adopted 2026 budget, setting the stage for revisions tied primarily to fire department funding, capital reserves, and overall fiscal planning.
New Township Chairwoman Tanya Bamford, newly re-elected Supervisor Beth Staab, and newly-elected Supervisor Eric Pelletier voted in favor of reopening the budget, with Supervisors Audrey Ware-Jones and Candyce Chimera dissenting.
Supervisors also voted 3-2 to authorize township staff to amend an ordinance with the new proposed fire tax millage amendment to 1.0 mills, and then voted 3-2 to appoint an independent consultant at an estimated $47,000 cost.
The action followed a lengthy discussion among board members after a motion was introduced to reopen the budget under provisions of the Second Class Township Code, which allows budget amendments in January following a municipal election.
Township staff outlined the required timeline, noting the board must act by mid-February and advertise any amended budget before adoption: A majority vote – three supervisors – must be made to reopen the budget, and then all discussions and decisions must occur at advertised public meetings.
The board must advertise the availability of the proposed amended budget at least 10 days prior to adoption. Then, it has until Feb. 15 to adopt an amended budget.
Now, the board will, at its Jan. 26 meeting, be required to present an amended budget for review, discussion and ultimately an authorization to advertise. On Jan. 28, the township would advertise the amended budget for public inspection on the website and in-person.
On Feb. 9, the supervisors would then adopt the amended budget, and notifying new tax collector Tina Stoll the next day of any changes to the real estate tax millage and fire tax, if applicable.
During board discussion, proponents of reopening the budget cited concerns with the structure of the previously adopted millage increase, which had been largely dedicated to fire department expansion. They argued the budget did not sufficiently address capital reserve replenishment or long-term financial stability and expressed a desire to reallocate millage across multiple funds, including fire, capital reserves, and the general fund.
“The 2026 budget, as it was passed last year, included a provision for a significant tax increase that was associated with an expansion of our fire department. At the time, I voted against that because we did not provide any provision for our capital reserves,” Bamford said, adding that the fund could be depleted by 2027.
“I felt very strongly that the proposal for the firefighter expansion needed to be revisited by an independent consultant to ensure that even though the plan was solid, it had never been independently verified,” she said. “What I would propose is that we reopen the budget, dial back the millage increase to 1.0 mills instead of 1.15 mills, and re-apportion that millage increase across the fire fund (.44 mills), the capital reserve fund (.45 mills), and leave a small portion for the general fund (.11).”
Several supervisors emphasized the need to revisit assumptions underlying the fire staffing plan and called for an independent study to evaluate operational needs, response coverage, and long-term staffing levels. They argued that reopening the budget would allow the township to move forward with limited staffing increases while gathering additional data before committing to larger expenditures in future years.
“My concern throughout the year was that the fire department proposal numbers kept changing. To make a decision based on numbers that I did not trust as a resident, I would agree that reopening the budget and looking at a comprehensive study is appropriate,” said Pelletier, who was sworn in Monday night. “We need to look not just at staffing, but also infrastructure and equipment, because that affects how many firefighters we can afford to add.”
Montgomery Township Supervisor Eric Pelletier (Credit: Montgomery Township video screenshot)Other board members opposed reopening the budget, stating that the fire staffing plan had already been developed through extensive internal analysis and discussion. They warned that reopening the budget could delay progress, undermine previously approved public safety initiatives, and introduce uncertainty. Concerns were also raised about the cost, scope, and potential outcomes of an independent study, including the possibility of recommendations that could significantly increase future financial obligations.
“I am not in favor of reopening the budget. I think the fire chief gave us a great plan for what we need in our township,” said Supervisor Audrey Ware-Jones.
Chimera said she was not in favor of reopening the budget. She said former chief Bill Wiegman gave a great plan for what the township needs to be successful, and said no one is taking into consideration the “unintended consequences” of an outside study.
“When someone from the outside comes in and gives us their data, we do not know what they are going to say. They could say we have to hire 20 people or buy four new fire trucks,” Chimera said. “There’s so much unknown that could blow the budget way out of line.”
Bamford said there was confirmation bias built into the proposal presented to supervisors. If an independent study confirms the proposal put forward, then wonderful, she said.
“I have a strong sense that more information will be uncovered and other potential solutions will be explored. Dialing back the budget in this manner provides for some increase, approximately six full-time additional firefighters. And that’s just this year,” Bamford said. “If the study indicates we need additional resources assigned, that’s something we can explore as part of next year’s budget.”
Bamford said putting .44 mills would generate $957,952 in revenue.
Public comment focused heavily on fire department staffing, response times, and public safety. Members of the fire service and residents expressed concern over delayed emergency responses, declining volunteer numbers, and the recent departure of the fire chief. Speakers described the impact of staffing gaps on emergency operations and urged the board to prioritize immediate action rather than further study.
A career firefighter named Anthony read a statement from Montgomery Township Local 4890, the professional firefighters union in the township.
“The past three weeks have been among the most challenging in our department’s history. First, we lost our fire chief. Now, we have lost the very funding that he worked tirelessly to secure, funding that was critical for maintaining effective fire protection in Montgomery Township,” he said. “Some members of the board made it that their plan was to open up the budget tonight. That decision alone is disappointing. The greater loss is the departure of our fire chief.”
The union continued, stating their concerns that a fire chief like Wiegman who was widely respected and trusted throughout the region was not afforded the same level of trust by those who employed him.
“We would like to express our sincere appreciation to the members of the board who supported Chief Wiegman throughout this process. He had a deep understanding of this department, relied on data-driven analysis, engaged directly with his personnel, volunteer and career, and consistently produced measurable results. He listened, he evaluated and he led by example. Now, as you just mentioned, everything is on pause until a study is completed,” the letter said.
“When this study confirms what has been stated consistently for the past 14 months, that Montgomery Township requires significant staffing increases, we hope the board is prepared to act,” the firefighter said. ““It took a Montgomery Township fire truck 12 minutes and 51 seconds to arrive on scene (to a recent township gas leak). This is not an isolated incident. It is a pattern.”
Former Supervisor Annette Long, who lost in the Democratic Primary to Pelletier, said it is the primary responsibility of the board of supervisors is to ensure stability and fiscal responsibility while also ensuring the health, safety, and welfare of its residents.
“Montgomery Township is now on clear notice that deficiencies in response times exist and that increasing fire staffing is critical,” Long said.
Other residents supported reopening the budget, arguing that additional oversight and independent review were consistent with fiduciary responsibility and long-term planning. Some questioned whether revisiting the budget necessarily conflicted with public safety goals, stating that further evaluation could strengthen decision-making.
Winter Morris said that she has not, from her perspective, seen where Wiegman was “so much pushed out.”
“I do not understand how, if this was such a very competent proposal that he had, where is the objection to having another set of eyes as a fiduciary responsibility?” Morris said. “If this is a good plan, it should stand up to a second set of eyes. I don’t understand why someone with his skills and experience would leave rather than allowing a second set of eyes. I think it’s very unfortunate that he made that decision and obviously a lot of people love him very much. But I believe it was the right decision to request another set of oversight on it.”
Resident Chris Murphy said he and his family have felt very protected by the fire department.
“When I learned there was not 24/7 staffing, I got really concerned. I’m OK with spending a little bit more money. What’s the cost of one of our kids or somebody in our family that’s not going to be around because we didn’t deal with the safety aspects of things?” Murphy said. “The conversation needs to be about safety, not about politics.”
Board weighs fire services study following vote to reopen budget
After voting to reopen the 2026 budget, supevisors turned its attention to whether the township should commission an independent study of fire department operations and staffing needs, a topic that drove much of the earlier budget debate.
The study could take as long as six months to complete, Bamford said.
Township Manager Carolyn McCreary said a majority consensus of the board was to obtain quotes from consultants and report back. McCreary said three firms were contacted: Center for Public Safety Management LLC, Municipal Resources Inc., and Aspirant Consulting Group LLC.
Costs for the study from Aspirant Consulting ranged from $16,500 to $23,450, she said, with a cost not to exceed $25,000 for Phase One.
Center for Public Safety Management proposed a $47,560 fee for a full study, including staffing, she said. Municipal Resources proposed $25,000, plus travel and expenses, for a management letter related to staffing concerns and $45,000 plus travel and expenses for a full study.
Supporters of reopening the budget reiterated that the purpose of revisiting the budget was not to halt all fire department expansion, but to reassess long-term planning assumptions before committing additional funding. They argued that an outside consultant could provide a comprehensive, data-driven evaluation of staffing levels, response coverage, scheduling, infrastructure, and equipment needs, allowing the township to plan not only for 2026, but for the next decade.
Several supervisors emphasized that an independent review would help validate or challenge existing assumptions and provide clarity on whether current staffing proposals sufficiently addressed gaps in coverage. They stated that having this information would allow the board to make more informed decisions in future budgets, rather than reacting year to year.
Other board members pushed back on the idea of a consultant-led study, stating that the fire department’s internal planning had already been extensive and well thought out. They expressed concern that an outside study could produce recommendations that significantly exceeded the township’s financial capacity, potentially forcing the board to confront costly outcomes such as major staffing increases or equipment purchases. Some cautioned that studies not acted upon quickly could become outdated and represent an unnecessary expense.
The discussion also touched on timing, with concerns raised that delaying action in favor of further study could leave existing response gaps unaddressed. Opponents of a study questioned whether waiting for external analysis would improve safety outcomes in the near term, particularly given known issues related to response times and volunteer availability.
Public comment that followed reinforced the divide. Members of the fire service and residents urged immediate action on staffing, citing response times, operational strain, and recent leadership changes within the department. Others supported the board’s consideration of additional oversight, stating that an independent review was consistent with fiduciary responsibility and long-term planning.
Ultimately, supervisors voted 3-2 to hire CPMS for the independent study at $47,560.
“I think if we're going to do this, we have to do it right. This is something that was for sure the most comprehensive and they seem like they're ready to do what we what we've asked them to do,” Staab said.
"I also felt strongly that the proposal was the most comprehensive and their bench of consultants had the greatest experience in the fire services," Bamford said.
Editor's note: The article was amended to reflect a 3-2 vote to hire a third-party firm for an indepedent fire study.
