The Township of Lower Merion is committed to financial transparency.  The Township has received awards from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for its annual Budget document and its Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for over two consecutive decades.  The awards from GFOA are based in part on effectively communicating the Township's budget and financial position to the public.  This page centralizes various ongoing Township efforts to improve financial transparency.

Finance Updates

This page contains all financial presentations that have been presented to the Board of Commissioners for the past several years.

Check Registers

For years the Township has posted a searchable check register so anyone can search Township expenditures.  The information that is redacted is related to business taxes and must be kept confidential in accordance with PA Act 511.

Township Debt

The Township's Debt Management Policy calls for a clear, concise non-technical summary of the Township's outstanding debt, annual debt service and legal debt margin to be available via the Township's website.

ClearGov

The Township uses the ClearGov platform to further tell the Township's financial story in a transparent manner.  Click on the icon below to launch the Township's ClearGov transparency page to review more detailed information on Township revenues, expenditures, debt and demographics.

Township Finances from 1933

The Township Finance Department recently discovered reports on the Township's finances from 1933.  Feel free to review the 1933 Auditors Report and the 1933 Finance Committee Annual Report to explore Township finances from over 100 years ago.  The reports contains interesting facts such as:

1. The Township had beer license revenue of $9,049.

2. The Township paid bonds related to sewer, playgrounds and the construction of the Township Building (built in 1925).

3. The Township's Board of Health was responsible for Milk Control in Lower Merion and neighboring areas.

4. The five volunteer fire companies at this time each received $6,000 from the Township in 1933.  Gladwyne Fire Company was formed in 1944.

5. The Township appropriated $8,500 to support the Township's five libraries (there was no Belmont Hills Library in 1933).