Candidate for
Member, Council; Borough of Bradford Woods

Police protection and road maintenance account for almost 60% of the Borough of Bradford Woods' annual expenditures. Our Northern Regional Joint Police Force (Bradford Woods, Marshall, Pine and Richland) provides the borough with a first rate police department at an economical cost. This is a classic example of how municipalities should share services. Unfortunately, Bradford Woods is a very small fish in a large pond when it comes to contracting for road paving and construction services. This puts us at a fiscal disadvantage and causes Borough Council to make compromises relative to road maintenance.

Borough income is primarily comprised of Earned Income Tax revenue and Real Estate Tax revenue. Since the Borough is 95% developed, income from Real Estate Tax is relatively flat. Therefore, our rate of increase for income continues to lag the rate of increase for expenditures. This trend has been ongoing for several years now.

In order to keep taxes low and not compromise the integrity of our roads, the Borough must consider expanding our municipal consolidion efforts using the Joint Police Board as a model.

The Borough contains numerous private roads that are currently not included in our road maintenance program. Within the Village of Bradford Woods, the residents have asked Council to take over their private roads. To be fiscally prudent and act in the best interests of all Borough residents, Council must carefully consider this request. I led a committee that met with the Village residents and laid out a plan to determine if the roads met Borough standards, PennDOT standards and were structurally sound. I am willing to give fair consideration to this issue if the roads meet the established criteria. Currently, the ball is in the court of the Village residents to make the technical assessment. Until they respond, Council can not act.