Reporter's Notebook: Silver Spring supervisors battle
budget blues
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Supervisors in Silver Spring Township’s final budget meeting had an unusually reflective opening Tuesday when board Chairwoman Jan LeBlanc asked the other members about the “philosophy” they applied in making their proposed cuts.
The original draft of the budget, approved in November, included $370,000 more in expenditures than in revenue and Tuesday’s meeting was called to balance it out.
Board Vice Chairwoman Mary Lou Pierce-McLain said that, in her seven years of working on Silver Spring budgets, this year has stretched out the longest.
“I think we’re beating ourselves up over this,” she said.
Pierce-McLain said the township’s $3.5 million reserve fund could cover gaps to ensure some expenditures, like township employees’ raises.
Supervisor Vince DiFilippo agreed and also said he was optimistic about the local economy.
“We are in a very healthy financial position,” he said.
But other board members said they were wary of the economy and the original deficit.
“(We should) delineate needs from wants when we don’t have the extra funds available,” Supervisor Jackie Eakin said.
Although she didn’t want to see employees go without raises, she and Supervisor Nancy Konhaus Griffie agreed the shortfall was disconcerting.
Considering the unfavorable national economy, Chairwoman Jan LeBlanc said she was hesitant to take from the reserves.
“We could have tougher years than this year,” she said. “We don’t know.”
Recycling
Penn Waste is delivering new blue, 32-gallon recycling bins to customers in Silver Spring Township.
Residents who no longer need the old bin may return theirs to the municipal building or place them in a trash bag for pick-up with other items.
Santa to North Middleton
North Middleton Township welcomes Santa to the municipal building for the annual Christmas tree lighting at 5:30 Sunday, Dec. 7.
The Crestview Elementary School chorus of fourth and fifth grade students is scheduled to participate in the ceremony. The municipal building is at 2051 Spring Road.
Monroe news
Monroe Township will continue collecting recipes for the 10th annual Community Day Cookbook through Jan. 31, 2009.
Recipe categories are appetizers and beverages, main dishes, soups and salads, breads and rolls, vegetables, desserts and other.
To submit a recipe, stop by the township office for a submission form.
The book is to be sold for $10 in June, and advance sales are being taken at the township office, 1220 Boiling Springs Road.
Hampden cable agreement
Verizon FIOS service is to become available to Hampden Township residents within about six years.
Previously, a timeline for the installation was not available.
Now, residents in the southern portion of the township can expect service in about five years, while the northern part of Hampden is to see service the following year.
The installation is to be staggered because Verizon is investing much of its capital in nationwide upgrades.
Also, this is the last week of curbside leaf pickup in Hampden Township.
Kelly Wilson covers North Middleton, Monroe, Hampden and Silver Spring townships, Big Spring and Carlisle Area school districts and Perry County for The Sentinel. You can read her Reporter’s Notebook covering news and events on her beats every Wednesday. You can contact her at kwilson@cumberlink.com
