Bristol Twp. Announces Budget Surplus, Hopes To Hold The Line On Taxes

According to Councilman Troy Brennan, Bristol Township is working now that it’s being treated like a business.

At Thursday’s council meeting, despite Township Manager Bill McCauley’s absence, a financial report regarding the township was delivered. McCauley had a family emergency, causing him to miss the meeting.

The financial standings of the township are “amazing,” considering the township was paying lawyers just a few years ago to look at bankruptcy paperwork, according to township solicitor Randy Flager.

“It’s not a miracle, Brennan said. “It’s under the guidance of Bill McCauley.” The councilman spoke of some residents’ negative feelings towards the township manager, calling him arrogant or rude. According to Brennan, it’s been that ruthless attitude that’s helped negotiate air-tight contracts and helped balance the township’s budget.

A 2014 grand jury investigation into the township that followed a crash involving an off-duty police officer who admitted to drinking questioned McCauley’s ability to run the township. Since the investigation was made public, members of the council have voiced their desire for McCauley to stay in office.

Despite the burden of paying for $84 million in unfunded liabilities, much of that the result of the benefits given to Bristol Township police officers, the municipality finished up the year again with a surplus, officials said.

“It’s probably the best benefit plan out there,” Brennan said of the officers’ deal, which was decided upon in arbitration. “And we don’t think that officers get paid enough for what they do, but it’s just figuring out how to pay for it.”

According to the presentation given, a $3,109,147 general fund surplus was achieved without using any fund reserves during 2014. Expenses came in over $2 million under budget and revenue came in $820,898 over budget.

According to officials, all of this was done while repaving roads, replacing streetlights, balancing budgets, creating jobs, reducing the trash fee and not raising taxes.

Four council members even denied their salary last year, helping to save the township $14,000.

Looking forward, the council hopes to pave 33.3 miles of road in 2015 without the recommendation to raise taxes next year. The council has not raised taxes in the past three budget cycles.

“Keep politics out of it, run it like a business and you’ll have progress,” said Brennan.

Some highlights

So far the township has:

-Paved 101 miles of roads

-Replaced 4,382 streetlights and 375 lights at parks and township owned buildings with LED fixtures

-Balanced four budgets, reduced taxes twice and finished every year with a healthy surplus

-Created 1,612 new jobs in the township

-Reduced the trash fee and implemented state of the art solid waste program with free toters, totally authomated collection with natural gas vehicles

-Increased recycling performance by 48% in one year

-Brought sewer plant into compliance with environmental regulations