Radnor Township eyes $35.5M 2020 budget
“And now we’re paying tens of thousands per month.”
Tree management costs have also increased.
The draft budget shows $35.5 million in revenue and $35.2 million in expenses.
“We have a positive net revenue of $256,000 estimated for 2020,” said White. “But we know there are more requests out there than we have money for.”
There are projects expected to cost $5.3 million in the capital plan, but not all of those will go forward, he said.
Both the police and public works departments are requesting additional staff, said White. The police would like additional patrol officers and a new crime unit. Public works is requesting a tree crew.
The township may also hire a consultant to help with planning items, such as new zoning. The Ready for 100 team is also requesting a consultant to help the township meet goals of decreasing the use of fossil fuels. There will also be funding requests from the fire department, library and other community organizations.
Commissioner Richard Booker pointed out that the taxpayers had tax increases in 2016 and 2019 of more than 10 percent. White said in 2016 the increase was to pay debt service for bonds that were issued for parks, trails and the library renovations. Last year, the commissioners adjusted the millage rate to continue paying down the OPEB obligations. The township has always made the minimum municipal obligation for the pension plan but is amortizing losses in that program, said White.
Meanwhile the business privilege, mercantile, real estate transfer and local services taxes make up 37 percent of the budget, said White.
After the recession the business privilege taxes grew year after year, hitting $9 million in 2013 then plateauing, said White. The revenue from that tax has fallen in the last three years, he said. The mercantile taxes have been fairly stable, he said.
The sanitary sewer and stormwater have separate funds dedicated to those categories.
Commissioner Lisa Borowski asked if the community groups were given any direction to help the board compare their requests. White said they are each unique so their presentations and requests would be similar to the way they were presented last year. She said they should include how many township residents they serve.
Booker said that except for the library, the others are nonprofits and wondered if there was a way for residents to get a tax write-off for money toward those groups.
In other business, the board approved an ordinance to permit rooftop dining in the Wayne business district in a 6-1 vote. Both the township and Delaware County Planning Commission had recommended approval.
Township staff also recommends approval, said Steve Norcini, township engineer.
Booker, who voted no, questioned whether permitting restaurants to include rooftop dining would increase traffic and worsen parking in Wayne, especially when Villanova University holds its parents weekends.
“As the township is aware there are parking lots with plenty of parking available even on those evenings,” said Nick Caniglia, a lawyer for the Hemcher Family Partnership, owner of the Great American Pub, which requested the zoning change. “And even on parents’ weekend, which the businesses love in Wayne…a lucrative time for them. I know the Great American Pub has always been able to accommodate the people for parents’ weekend, as have Christopher’s and the other restaurants in Wayne, as well. I don’t see it as an issue.”
Norcini said there are under-utilized parking lots in Wayne and the proposal would solve that with valet parking.
“A lot of people don’t like to hand their $200,000 car to somebody to go and drive it to the parking lot,” Booker said. “I’m just saying. Nobody specific.”
Caniglia said he is glad when Wayne is crowded and it helps the township.
“It’s great to see a vibrant downtown Wayne,” said Caniglia. “And this is what we’re hoping to accomplish with this rooftop dining.”
Commissioner Sean Farhy said many people now take ride-sharing services.
“People under 30 don’t drive anymore,” said
Caniglia. “They Uber.”
“This is a tremendous business,” said township Manager Robert Zienkowski. “It’s such an asset to our community and what they have done. The reality of it comes down to people are lazy. They don’t want to walk. Yet in West Chester they will walk five or six blocks. In Conshohocken they will walk six or seven blocks. So the issue is, we’re not adding more. We have lots that are under-utilized…I think this is a great plan, a great proposal and I think it will be a great asset to this community to stay competitive with our neighbors.”
Outside the meeting, Mark Hemcher said they still need approval from the township’s design and review board but hope to begin work on renovations for the rooftop dining in the spring.