Finances 'Rowing In Right Direction' In Warminster

WARMINSTER, PA —After bankruptcy worries, Warminster Township is running "a $34 million corporation." And it's running rather smoothly, officials said.

"Before all of you came on board and we were facing bankruptcy and we hired all of you, everybody is rowing in the right direction and look at us financially where we are right now," said Supervisors Chairwoman Kathy Frescatore.

She called Finance Director John Ramey's work "awesome."

Ramey delivered his finance report to supervisors, stating that he was revealing some year-end numbers for the first time.

In examining the General Fund, Ramey said while there was a $904,000 decrease in the balance of the General Fund, that was "probably one of the better things in the financials."

In November, supervisors approved a $3 million budget amendment transfer.

"If that transfer didn't happen, the General Fund looked really good," he said. "We're having extra revenue for a couple of years, building up those reserves, sending it over to the Capital Fund so that the fund can keep doing the good things that it's doing."

Ramey said that revenues without transfers were up 6.37 percent, or a little more than $1 million from the prior year, "which was great considering there were decreases in transfer taxes."

He said the decreases were made up by "a consistent increase" in earned income tax.

Ramey added that expenses were up $1.3 million and that was 1 percent off from what township officials had anticipated.

"We were dead on with the expenses," Ramey said. "That's one thing I'm super happy about."

He also noted that the budget included 697 line items.

Ramey told supervisors that he would start working on the audit shortly.

Supervisors Vice Chairman Kenneth Hayes thanked residents for paying their taxes on time, which helps the township balance its finances.

The township's tax collection office recently changed locations.

The office for Tax Collector Barbara "Bobbie" Loftus can now be found at Suite No. 2, 1110 Veterans Way, in the Parks and Recreation Building.