Commissioners discuss funding for nonprofit groups

administratively we’re vacating positions, we’re making reductions,” he said. Then at the last minute funding for these groups is “added in at the full amount,” he said. “What it constantly does administratively is it puts the manager in a pickle.” Cuts come from things the township itself rather than to these outside organizations, he said.

Another idea is an allocation of the millage, a fixed number, said White.

“We’re at $1.2 million and change this year (funded by taxes),” said White. Another $54,000 through land or parking revenue sharing arrangements went to the Wayne Business Association and Wayne Presbyterian Church for 2019. From tax revenue, the Radnor Memorial Library received $874,480; Wayne Senior Center was given $145,000; Surrey Services received $50,000; the Wayne Art Center received $17,500; and $15,000 was given to the Radnor Historical Society.

“How do other townships do it?” asked Board President Lisa Borowski. “This is our way of proving those services that are beneficial to township residents.”

White said that some of the neighboring townships own and run their libraries. While in Radnor there is a separate library board, although the library building is owned by the township and leased to the library.

“If we do give them money…somewhere on their literature it should say these services are funded in part by Radnor Township and buying goods in Radnor will help with these services,” said Sean Farhy. People should patronize Radnor businesses to keep the circle going.

“The elephant in the room is…funding these groups is a drain on the township resources for other areas,” Borowski said.

“These are services the Board of Commissioners has thought about and say are important enough to fund,” said Commissioner John Nagle. “The only one that’s relatively new, like five years, is the historical society.”

White said that he was not making a “value judgment” about funding the organizations. Rather he was asking

the BOC to weigh in about how best to do it.

“If our revenue is down I think they need to take the haircut with us,” said Commissioner Luke Clark, who noted that revenue from the business taxes was down in 2018.

“We are, no offense to any of these organizations, viewed as the Bank of Radnor,” said township Manager Robert Zienkowski. “There are no stipulations placed on anybody who gets money…We

are the only public agency in the township that gives money to these organizations.”

Although, the library and senior center do get some money from the county. They also did not include funding for the fire companies in the list of separate organizations the township funds.

“I know I’ve spoken before about specific funding levies for police and fire,” said Zienkowski. The staff will be giving the BOC specifics on that proposal.

Booker said the library with its board costs less than what the township would pay if it did it itself.

The other entities might also save the township money for services, too. He suggested the $1.2 million for these organizations be listed on the residents’ tax bills.

White suggested that the organizations submit their operating budgets with their funding requests.

Farhy said these services buttress property values and he would not like to see the organizations leave.

Borowski we have consensus that we want to continue to support these services

Commissioner Jake Abel questioned the funding for Surrey Services, which is based in Devon, and asked how many Radnor residents use it.

“I think Jake’s point is well made,” said Booker. “There seems to be redundant senior subsidies.”

Library Board Vice President Bill Lawlor said the library gets three quarters of its budget from the township.

“If you went to any of your constituents you would hear the township runs the library…Think a little bit about a distinction without a difference.” He warned the BOC to be careful about separate formulas.

“In the almost four years I’ve been on this board I’ve realized no one really cares that much about what we do or knows,” said Clark. “However, when the library was shut down (for renovations), it was not fun to be on the BOC…People were not happy about that.”

Sarah Mehra, co-president of the library board, said most people in the township do think the library is a township entity. The library board would be happy to comply with any documentation the township needed, she said. Mehra also asked that the library budget not be broken off as a separate millage line.