From the 'better late than never' department...My last post suggested that our BOS consider donating part or all of their pay back to the Township to help close our budget gap, especially since a couple of them have thrown staff layoffs on the table for consideration. I suggested that true leaders don't ask their employees to do things they themselves would not - in this case, they were being asked to find more ways to cut expenses out of the budget.In that spirit, because I walk my own talk, at our Zoning Hearing Board meeting Tuesday night, I and another ZHB member donated our stipends back to the Township, with the condition that the funds be earmarked for the always chronically underfunded Parks & Rec budget. A third ZHB member later indicated he, too would follow suit.
I have to give kudos to supervisor Chris DiPaolo for apparently following our lead and my suggestion. I had to leave tonight's Board of Supervisors meeting early to pick my son up from an event at the high school, but I understand that after I left, Chris donated his stipend (I believe the entire amount) back to the Township's general fund. Although I still contend that these actions originate with true leaders, regardless of when or why he did it, I am truly glad that he did and that the Township will have a little more money to work with in 2011. That's something every resident can celebrate.
8 comments:
Janice we should send you to the county meetings and see if you can get the three amigos to give back any perks they receive (esp Jimbo Mathews). They don't do anything but spend our money anayway.
Janice,
I think you should bring up the real problems that are happening in Lower Providence community that are important to all of us and our children. It has become obnoxiously apparent that kids from Philadelphia, Norristown and other areas with impoverished schools are using false addresses to be able to come to our superb school district without bearing any of the costs, thus increasing our school taxes and burden on real members of the community. I know of quite a few families that are currently doing this. Does this community NOT CARE? Are we going to let this continue to happen until are school system is as bad as the other ones previously mentioned? Are we so afraid of being labled prejudiced or being labeled not politically correct that a blatant act like this is swept under the rug? Do you care that your children are being robbed of their education by our standards being lowered due to low test scores that they will not be able to get into a good college?
Hey Janice, besides the stipend, do your supervisors receive medical insurance paid by the township. I know others such as the Hatfield Commissioners do. Several have made motions to end it, but it has never carried. It is an expensive benefit.
Really! you have to wonder if our government bodies are doing all they can to cut costs. My daughter tells me the high school is roasting hot inside. How high do they have the temp turned up?
I see state rep Marcy Toepel gave back her cost of living raise to the state of PA. Let's hope more of our leaders at every level see fit to do at least that much.
Yes, I would be happy to donate the last two cost of living raises I got on my Social Security to the township to help them balance their budget. Not a problem for me, this is the only tax I feel comfortable in paying, the school tax and county tax are both outrageous for what you get in return. I see the county is floating another 60 million dollar loan, I guess it is to balance their budget. It is high time for those three guys to move on and give someone else a change. Any idiot could do no worse.
You know what, everyone wants elected officials to give back their cost of living wages, nice thing to do. But let me ask you this, when was the last time you or Janice gave back ther raise to the company they workd for, please tell me.
Elected officials have expenses like everyone else, food, clothing, college education expenses, etc. You people just don't get it, public officials for the most part get a bad rap. They do put in a lot of time and effort on our part, let's give them their due.
There's a big difference between a for-profit company and a government entity. My company is earning more money than it did before, so we are not facing budget cuts at this time (although we got no raises last year). Most government entities are facing cuts. While I & my coworkers have not been asked to give some percentage back, if it were for the good of the company and saving jobs I suspect most of us would. BTW I have several friends who work for companies with unions; the unions have asked them to give back 10-15% of their wages to save the company money, and the unions have gone along with it.
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