$120M bond referendum

Urged a no vote on the $120M bond, calling it a tax increase and land grab tied to the One Delco trail system, and criticized sending juvenile detainees to other counties.

Leaned yes on the bond but suggested delaying borrowing three years; also urged the county to back out of payments for the Don Guanella tract, calling it overgrown and duplicative of nearby parks.

Thanked council for shifting trash off the Wheelabrator incinerator, but argued the bond wastes $60M on interest and ignores air pollution; urged investing $9M/year in the health department instead.

Demanded a detailed project-by-project breakdown of the $120M borrowing, disclosure of interest costs, and prioritized the sheriff's contract and first responders before green space.

Urged a no vote on the bond, citing 55% tax increases over three years and possible further hikes, while praising the county's work at Glen Providence Park.

Urged residents to vote no on the $120 million land-conservation loan question, calling it another tax increase, and asked council to combine services and avoid backfilling retired positions to control spending.

Opposed the bond, citing 50% tax increases over three years and arguing bonds raise taxes on future generations; also criticized county tax enforcement.

Supported the bond as program manager for the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, citing the Circuit Trails vision and Pennsylvania's $20 billion outdoor recreation economy.

Listed ten reasons to support the bond: parks, flood control, water quality, open space protection from warehouses and data centers, and a roughly $24 annual household cost.

President of Natural Lands emphasized the question only asks voters whether they support the investment, and that the unfunded Greenways program could be revived.

Cited the county's Return on Environment study: $14M/year in ecosystem services, $140M in recreational benefits, and $700M in added nearby housing value.

Retired National Park Service planner noted Delco lags Bucks, Montgomery, and Chester counties in funding conservation and asked Council to advance the referendum.

Opposed the resolution as too vague, arguing individual preservation projects should be voted on separately rather than bundled in one $120 million authorization.

Argued the county already has abundant protected open space and raised concern the bond could cover the disputed Don Guanella acquisition and Delco Woods development costs.