From 'Morgue' To 'Smiles:' Warminster Supervisor Talks Culture Change

WARMINSTER, PA —Warminster Township Supervisors Chairman Kenneth Hayes expressed gratitude to the administration and staff that's been put together over the past three years.

He's noticed a difference when he walks into Warminster Township Administration Building these days.

"I want to thank our staff. I mean this sincerely, I think we (the board of supervisors) have assembled one of the best administrative staffs in the history of our township," Hayes said to close out the supervisors' last meeting of 2022. "I spend a lot of time here. It's a thrill to watch them work. It's nice to know I don't have to come in here every other day and get into the weeds."

Hayes said the culture has changed inside the building.

"I see a lot of smiles on people's faces," he said during the Dec. 15 meeting. "When I first came in here three years ago, it was like people were identifying loved ones in a morgue. I knew there was a culture problem here. We straightened it out."

Hayes, supervisors and Township Manager Tom Scott discussed their pleasure with putting before residents a balanced budget for the past three years when other administrations had to dip into surplus to keep the municipal spending plan stable.

The 2023 municipal budget was approved last month with no tax increase.

Scott, in a message about the 2023 budget, said township finances are in much better shape.

"Now we can spend money on capital improvements for years and years to come because we have the opportunity with loans and grants," he said. "We are putting to use those funds to make 'generational investments' to attract families who want to live here and businesses who want to stay here."

Scott said the township is doing decently with property taxes, the earned income tax, transfer tax, and revenue from the Five Ponds Golf Course.

"We can afford a little elbow room in regards to capital improvements," he said.

Scott said the township is more mindful of post-employment benefits such as medical insurance for retirees that was a $20 million liability.

"We're setting aside real money," Scott said. "We're paying attention to the problem and meeting these commitments. I want to thank all department heads for their hard work on the budget."

Hayes said the township is zeroed in on fiscal responsibility.

"We're committed to that," he said. "We spend our money wisely. Someone isn't going to pound their chest and bang on the podium and tell us what we're going to do."