Haverford Township, Pennsylvania

Presented By:

Lawrence J. Gentile

Township Manager

On behalf of the entire Management Team, I am pleased to submit the Township's Proposed Fiscal 2009 Budget.  The purpose of this budget message is to highlight key information included in the Township's 2009 Proposed Budget, to recommend a supportable solution to balance the Township's budget, and to appraise the Board of Commissioners and the residents of Haverford Township of the fiscal plans, opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. 

In accordance with our Home Rule Charter, the Township of Haverford Board of Commissioners adopts a balanced budget each year at the functional/activity level.  The annual budget process formally begins August lst, with each department preparing its tentative goals and objectives for the forthcoming fiscal year.

The 2009 budget reflects the continued commitment of the Haverford Township Administration to strike a balance between taking as little of the taxpayer's money as possible with maintaining responsible year-to-year management practices, including the maintenance of adequate levels of surplus and avoiding the over reliance on non-recurring revenue sources.

Our expense operations are as lean as they have ever been during my 25 years affiliation with Haverford Township.  Preparation for the 2009 Budget began in earnest in early August when I held several budget meetings with all department heads.  As a result of that process, coupled with additional meetings with department directors and committee chairs, over $800,000 has been cut from this proposed Budget.  Yet, like any other organization, public or private, we have fixed costs.  A public service organization, the proportion of our fixed cost to our overall budget is high.  We are in the business of delivering a comprehensive array of high-quality services to a community of residents with high expectations.  It takes 198 full-time employees and 116 part-time employees to deliver these exemplary services to Haverford Township residents in 2008.