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Dickinson Township supervisors approve preliminary 2025 budget over one dissent
Summary
The Dickinson Township Board of Supervisors voted Nov. 18 to approve a preliminary 2025 operating and capital budget and to advertise it for 20 days of public review; Vice Chairman Robert Line III voted no, citing concerns about reserves, ARP timing and lack of public deliberation.
Chairman Rob Kole and the Dickinson Township Board of Supervisors voted on Nov. 18 to approve a preliminary 2025 Operating and Capital Budget and authorized a 20-day public inspection period, with Vice Chairman Robert “Bob” Line III casting the only no vote.
Interim Manager Lucas Martsolf presented the line-item budget and said staff prepared a multi-year spreadsheet intended as a roadmap for township finances. Chairman Rob Kole praised the planning work, saying the spreadsheet will be turned into “a living document that will be the blueprint for the future.”
Vice Chairman Robert Line III pressed staff for more public deliberation before final adoption, questioned the liquidity ratio and reserve targets and raised concerns about how American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds are scheduled. “We should be working toward the 35–40% range” for reserves, Line said, and he said employee compensation and proposed road projects deserved greater public discussion.
Public Works Director Glenn Kelso explained that ARP funds will be transferred to the General Fund in 2024 to help defray costs of the Peach Glen Road project because federal ARP money must be under contract by the end of the year. “We don’t want to be in a position to have to return any of the money,” Kelso said.
Supervisor Jen DeGaetano moved to approve the preliminary budget; Chairman Kole seconded and the motion passed by majority. The meeting record shows Vice Chairman Line voted no; the Board did not register additional named votes on the record.
Why it matters: The vote advances the budget process but is not final. The Board authorized public advertisement for a 20-day review period; capital projects and staffing costs can be adjusted before final adoption. Line’s dissent signals that at least one elected supervisor wants broader public deliberation and more detail on reserves, ARP spending and personnel compensation before final action.
What’s next: The tentative budget will be posted for public inspection for 20 days and staff indicated capital projects will be discussed throughout the coming year prior to final adoption.
