Lower Southampton Township Predicts $1.3 Million Budget Shortfall

In the Lower Southampton Township Summer 2011 newsletter, the Board of Supervisors and township Manager Ted Taylor announced that the township may face a $1.3 million budget deficit.

According to the newsletter's message from the board, they plan to "find a solution to this shortfall and will do everything in [their] power to prevent any tax increase." The board members state that they will look at all expenditures and costs in each department to ensure that the township is getting the "biggest bang for its buck."

"Ahead lay difficult recommendations to be made impacting resident services and their tax dollars," Taylor states in the "Manager's Message" portion of the newsletter. Though all of the budget decisions are made by the board, Taylor as the township manager will offer the board recommendations and help them throughout the budget process.

"We will be scrutinizing every line item...a million dollar shortfall takes drastic measures to abate," Taylor said. 

"Through this process, our continued goal is to balance the budget, avoid a tax increase, maintain a healthy reserve, provide quality service, maintain efficiency and stay afloat during this severe local and national economic downturn," Taylor said.

On top of a potential budget deficit, the township's contracts with public works and clerical workers expire this year. At Wednesday's board meeting, the board unanimously approved a 10 percent health care contribution by non-contract township employees, which will go into effect October 1, 2011.

Board Chairman John McMenamin said Wednesday that the board "deemed it necessary in this fiscal time" for township employees to contribute toward health care.

According to McMenamin, the board will do "everything we can to get back in our means." He also said Wednesday that they will begin the budget process early in August.