Hatboro Borough Council Blasted Over Fiscal Transparency

HATBORO, PA — The Hatboro Borough Council had stated that it would update residents regarding its finances on a regular basis.

But, as the borough prepares for its 2027 municipal budget, one resident wonder why officials have reneged on their promise

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Resident Gary Blickley — who has run unsuccessfully for council — addressed officials with concerns that the fourth quarter of the year is arriving and that the borough has not provided any budget updates on a quarterly and regular basis.

"We haven't even had one this year," he said. "We had a ridiculous tax increase last year of 18 percent. The year before that was a double-digit increase. So our fiscal is in trouble with the spending that is occurring with the borough. I think the council needs to take more of their time and focus on their spending habits."

Blickley said during the public comment portion of the meeting that officials need to do a better job with the borough's money.

"Since it's not an endless supply I would even go as far as to say if this was actually business, your board would be thinking about Chapter 11," he said.

He said the capital budget has been talked about for four-to-five months with "zero" updates from the council on what police and public works spending will be with the public being allowed to comment.

"We're not being transparent because we're not getting clear information," he said.

Council members did not respond to Blickley's comments.

Officials said that they are continuing to work on the capital budget and 2027 municipal operating budget.

They said that budget planning sheets have been distributed, and borough staff are working to finalize numbers and obtain quotes before presenting more detailed figures to the public, which may be presented at the council's September meeting.