DV Journal

(From press releases)

Sen. Tracy Pennycuick (R-Montgomery) announced today that several municipalities in the 24th Senate District received grants from the Commonwealth Financing Authority’s (CFA) Multimodal Transportation Fund to assist with traffic and pedestrian safety projects.

The following projects were awarded:

• Green Lane Borough – $200,000 for pavement and restoration of borough streets.
• Hobart’s Run Neighborhood District – $139,997 to repair sidewalks and install street lighting along Beech Street.
• Pennsburg Borough – $168,876 for pedestrian and roadway safety improvements along Eleventh Street in Pennsburg Borough, Red Hill Borough, and Upper Hanover Township, Montgomery County.
• Skippack Township – $250,000 – for traffic improvements at the intersection of Skippack Pike (Route 73) and Bridge Road (Route 113).
• Upper Pottsgrove Township – $301,500 to improve safety at the intersection of Cherrytree Lane, Gilbertsville Road and the Sprogels Run Trail.
• Washington Township – $116,782 to make pedestrian safety upgrades at an intersection along Niantic Road.

“These investments into our roadways and sidewalks will have significant impacts on our Commonwealth’s infrastructure.” said Pennycuick, “I am always happy to see transportation improvement projects in my district receive support.”

Sen. Jarrett Coleman (R-Nucks/Lehigh) and Rep. Craig Staats (R-Quakertown) announced a state grant of $750,000 to help with the cost of highway road improvements for State Road and Meetinghouse Road. The improvements will support the construction of a Wawa convenience store with gas in West Rockhill Township, Bucks County.

Sen. Jarrett Coleman

Specifically, the funding will provide for road widening on State Road to include left turn and right turn lanes, ADA sidewalk installation, pedestrian and ADA-compliant crossing, stormwater upgrades to address road widening and a new traffic signal.

“The turning lanes and improved pedestrian safety features will make a big difference for folks. This grant will improve traffic congestion overall. Plus, the upgraded stormwater infrastructure will protect the area from a storm surge,” Coleman said.

“I’m very happy to see state support for a new Wawa in West Rockhill Township,” said Staats. “Wawa’s decision to open here reflects our community’s strength as a great place to live and work. This new location will provide added convenience for residents, and I look forward to grabbing a coffee when it opens.”

The grants were awarded by the Commonwealth Financing Authority through its Multimodal Transportation Fund, which supports projects that ensure a safe and reliable system of transportation for Pennsylvania residents.

The Multimodal Transportation Fund (MTF) provides grants to encourage economic development and ensure that a safe and reliable system of transportation is available to the residents of this commonwealth.

Although a federal court says it can’t ban a pro-cop flag from flying, the Springfield Township Commission isn’t going down without a fight.

After a contentious, three-hour meeting, commissioners voted 5-2 last Thursday to keep fighting to stop township police from displaying the “Thin Blue Line” version of the American flag.

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled 2-1 against Montgomery County’s Springfield Township in a dispute with its police officers over displaying the pro-police symbol.

Rather than allow the display, which some progressives say is offensive, Springfield’s lawyer will ask for the full or “en banc” Third Circuit Court for a hearing. They want another ruling on whether the police union can use thin blue line flags on township property or in a way that would allow people to think it represented the township’s views.

When their Police Benevolent Association adopted the thin blue line emblem in 2023, the Springfield board responded by passing a resolution banning its display. Three officers, along with the Pennsylvania FOP and the township Police Benevolent Association, filed a lawsuit. The courts have ruled in their favor.

Wally Zimolong, the lawyer representing the PBA, said he has not seen Springfield’s filing yet. Before last week’s meeting, several activists showed their support for the police with a thin blue line flag demonstration.

“Unfortunately, the flag came to represent two things, solidarity for police and racial intimidation and white supremacy,” said Township solicitor James Garrity. “In fact, the flag is identical to the well-known Black Lives Matter flag, except that the one horizontal line on that that’s black is blue on this particular flag.”

The cops’ attorneys moved for summary judgment, and an injunction was granted “without any trial,” said Garrity. The board then appealed to the Third Circuit which reached a 2-1 split decision in favor of the police.

“We do believe we have a duty to defend our position based on the merits,” said board President James Lee. “Our defense of the resolution and this lawsuit has cost us $64,000 in legal fees. The federal judge also awarded the plaintiffs $212,000, plus $2,200 in costs.” If the ruling is reversed, those plaintiffs’ legal fees would be dismissed, he said.

It’s all about the Benjamins for Commissioner Edward Morris. At last week’s meeting, he said he fully supports the police, but “my opinion (supporting the appeal) is purely financial. If we don’t appeal this $200,000-plus of your money, my money, taxpayer money goes to pay an attorney for the state Fraternal Order of Police…They sued us.”

Commissioner Susanna Ratsavong said, “I agree with the merits of the case. We need to proceed. Legally speaking, I think the case was decided poorly. But also, I very much echo Commissioner Morris’s financial prerogative.”

Commissioner Peter Wilson said he sees both sides, but “my overall concern is if any portion of our community is at ill ease with this symbol, it shouldn’t be part of our process, it shouldn’t be incorporated within our police ranks. So, I am in full support of the motion for the rehearing en banc.”

Lee said that while he wants to appeal to the full Third Circuit, he would not be in favor of going to the Supreme Court if that appeal fails.

“In 2014, the symbol was very clearly a rebuttal of Black Lives Matter…If you are a person of color and go into the police station and see that on the wall, see that on a mug–We are people in power. We need to be a little more sensitive to it,” said Lee.

Commissioner Jonathan Cobb, who voted no, along with Commissioner Elizabeth McNamara, said the controversy has cost the township more than money. Anytime someone looks up Springfield Township online they see the stories about the issue.

“We’re putting our officers in danger, that somehow they’re racist. I would strongly urge us to end this appeal process. We’ve gone to the casino. We’ve lost…I would suggest we accept the loss and move on.” There is “definitely a cost to our prestigious community.”

Commissioner Brendan May said the courts have not yet addressed the township’s argument.

“I think we deserve a trial,” he said.

Numerous residents on both sides of the issue spoke.

Resident Jim Daly asked the board to end the litigation.

“I think you should cut bait and work to unite us as a community. It’s chilling if we’re going down this slope. We’re talking about a PBA symbol.”

Morris said, “The First Amendment does not give carte blanche to say anything, If here were a swastika—” Then he said he did not mean the thin blue line flag was a swastika.

Resident Angelina Banks said the issue “goes to the very heart of what we stand for in this nation: our freedoms. It is time to close the door on the ongoing legal battle between Springfield Township and the PBA. Despite the mounting losses in court, the continued pursuit of these costly and misguided appeals is reckless in a case that’s been definitely settled. It speaks to a deeper concern, the concern about the rights of every citizen and the role of government in our lives.”

She noted township employees have First Amendment rights and their “freedom of speech is not subject to the opinion of local politicians and bureaucrats.”

Although the federal government is now moving at warp speed to remove DEI [Diversity, Equity and Inclusion] programs from its various agencies, Montgomery County is doubling down on its program.

County officials announced “a transformative investment in the Montgomery County Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, reinforcing the County’s commitment to fostering a workplace culture and county-wide community that emphasizes inclusion and belonging.”

The office, which has one employee now, will be adding four additional positions after the county Salary Board approved the new jobs on January 9.

County Commissioners Chair Neil K. Makhija and Vice Chair Jamila Winder, both Democrats, voted for the new positions.  Minority Republican Commissioner Tom DiBello voted against the new hires, which could add up to $507,176 to the county’s payroll, not including benefits.

The salary of the current Chief DEI Officer, Donna Richemond, is listed at $151,032. The new director of immigrant affairs has a salary range of $98,645 to $147,960.  The two new deputy chiefs will be paid $89,464 to $134,197.  And a new senior administrative assistant for the department will be paid $60,550 to $90,822.

County spokeswoman Megan Alt said, “The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion intends to ensure that diversity of thought, experience, and approach is represented in all sectors of our workforce, services, and business enterprises; that all members of our workforce and  community feel they belong and are supported regardless of their background, identity, or affiliations; and that all members of the community have broad access to the opportunities and benefits of working, visiting and living in the county.”

Alt denied the county’s move had any relation to the federal government’s ban, saying it had been done before that. However, President Trump campaigned on removing DEI from government.

During a recent speech to the World Economic Forum, Trump said, “My administration has taken action to abolish all discriminatory diversity, equity and inclusion nonsense. So, these were policies that were absolute nonsense throughout the government and the private sector.”

“America will once again become a merit-based country,” said Trump.

“In doing so, Montgomery County reaffirmed its commitment to the value of diversity, inclusion, and belonging,” said Alt.

Makhija said, “ “By fostering representation that includes our entire community, we can continue to hire the best of the best, ensuring our workforce is as innovative, skilled, and diverse as the people we serve. These new positions will drive meaningful impact across the County, preparing us to meet future challenges and ensuring we maintain our commitment to merit and excellence.”

Winder added, “Equity doesn’t happen by chance—it requires deliberate action and sustained commitment. By investing in the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Montgomery County will continue to be a leader in creating a community that is inclusive, supportive, and equitable for all. This added capacity will allow us to deepen our impact and expand programs that make Montgomery County a better place to live, work, and raise a family.”

DiBello told DVJournal that he opposed the new hires because he believes they’re “not necessary or needed or warranted in the county” and “we don’t need to spend the money.”

In December, the Democratic county commissioners approved a 2025 budget that increased real estate taxes by 9 percent.  DiBello noted that he voted against the tax increase.

“The county had a $44 million deficit and $36 million of that was in the personnel buckets of salaries, benefits and pensions,” said DiBello.  His suggestion that the county do a department by department analysis of positions has fallen on deaf ears. “In the last five years the county raised taxes a cumulative 43 percent,” DiBello said.

The 2025 tax bills are arriving in residents’ mailboxes this week.

(From a press release)

Montgomery County’s Deputy Controller Thomas Landauer was sworn in Wednesday as cting controller after former Controller Karen Geld Sanchez stepped down effective December 31, 2024. The swearing-in ceremony was presided by the Honorable Nicole Tate-Phillips at the Montgomery County Courthouse. Michael Vasko was also sworn in as Second Deputy Controller during the ceremony.

“I’m grateful to Tom Landauer for stepping up to be our Acting Controller. Having served as First Deputy of the Montgomery County Controller’s office since 2016, his knowledge and expertise facilitates the smoothest leadership transition possible for one of our most critical functions in the County,” said Jamila H. Winder, Chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners. “I also want to thank Karen for her diligent leadership of the Controller’s Office since her first election in 2015. I’m grateful for your partnership last year during my time as Board Chair, and I wish you all the best in your next chapter.”

“We look forward to working with Tom Landauer on a critical set of priorities that will support our efforts to modernize and innovate in county government for the efficient use of taxpayer dollars,” said Commissioner Neil K. Makhija. “Thank you, Tom, for accepting the mantle of leadership and providing continuity of leadership as Acting Controller.”

Former Controller Sanchez stepped down from her position at the County after being appointed to the position of Abington Township Tax Collector and Treasurer last month. She had served as Montgomery County Controller for nine years. She instituted several initiatives to protect taxpayer funds and ensure fiscal responsibility, including an online retirement platform and a new Grants Accounting department. She also served as vice-president and president of the Pennsylvania State Association of County Controllers (PSACC).

(From left) Tina Lawson, Dr. Janine Darby, Noah Marlier, Tom Landauer, Jamila Winder, Sheriff Sean Kilkenny, Merry Woods

Thomas Landauer has served as First Deputy of the Montgomery County Controller’s Office since 2016. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Cornell University and Master of Science in Industrial Administration from Carnegie Mellon University, and has an accomplished career in the financial services industry. Landauer will serve as Acting Controller until Governor Shapiro formally appoints a Controller for the County.

“Congratulations to Thomas Landauer on his swearing-in as Acting Controller. The Controller’s office is crucially important for the County – it’s the watchdog for how the County spends taxpayer dollars,” said Commissioner Tom DiBello. “I am thankful to former Controller Sanchez for her work to make sure grant funding was used appropriately and for her valuable input to the Montgomery County Salary Board. I look forward to continuing to work closely with the Controller’s Office to ensure fiscal accountability and compliance.”

Ho Ho –Hey, come back here, thief!

Amid the holiday shopping season, a new study from the Pennsylvania Courts system reports the Delaware Valley has some of the highest retail theft numbers in the state.

Montgomery County ranks second in Pennsylvania for retail theft arrests, accounting for nine percent of the state total, according to Administration Office of Pennsylvania Courts (AOPC) statistics. Philadelphia County ranked third at six percent, while Delaware and Bucks Counties were tied for fourth with Erie County at five percent. Chester County was next at four percent.

Allegheny County topped the list at 13 percent.

AOPC data showed almost 162,000 arrests happened in Pennsylvania between 2019 and 2023. They involved more than 82,000 people and resulted in a 42 percent conviction rate.

Surprisingly, the defendants weren’t necessarily young adults just out of high school or in college. Nearly 30 percent of the suspects were between the ages of 26 and 35. Those between the ages of 36 and 45 made up 21 percent of all suspects, while 22 percent were over 46. Seventeen percent were between 19 and 25.

Police arrested almost the same percentage of women as they did men. Male suspects made up 50 percent of arrests, while females were 48 percent. Two percent were of an unknown gender.

Shoplifting and robbery, including gang-related organized retail theft, have surged across the country since the COVID-19. Here in southeastern Pennsylvania, the statistics are not shocking to Delaware Valley residents or retailers who continue seeing products like medicine and laundry detergent behind locked cases at stores.

“We have been hearing from retailers for the last several years,” Pennsylvania Retailers Association (PRA) Executive Director John Holub told DVJournal.

What seems to be most troubling is the dramatic jump in theft offenses in Montgomery County, where arrests have almost doubled in five years. In 2019, 2,791 suspects were taken into custody. In 2023, it rose to 4,002.

Holub said some of those arrests can be connected to the King of Prussia Mall where high-end retailers like Burberry, Gucci, and Lululemon are located.

There’s another factor to the crime increase, according to Holub, organized retail theft groups. “These are highly organized criminal enterprises, that have focused a lot of their efforts on Philadelphia and the collar counties,” he said.

Law enforcement arrested the 19-year-old suspected ringleader of a smash-and-grab robbery crew that stole more than $75,000 in merchandise from the King of Prussia Mall and several Philadelphia shops. Police say the thieves would burst into stores with trash bags or large bags, grab whatever they could, and then escape. Some thefts dated back to November 2023.

Those robberies cost Pennsylvania businesses big bucks. A Forbes survey released last year found the average value of stolen goods in Pennsylvania was $430 – the highest in the U.S.

Nationwide, the National Retail Federation said businesses lost $112.1 billion in 2022 due to organized retail crime. The robbery losses caused Macy’s to shut down its San Francisco flagship store, costing 400 people their jobs.

Other retailers started pilot programs putting body cameras on loss prevention associates or locked merchandise.

Retailers are teaming up with law enforcement to clamp down on thefts. The Retail Industry Leaders Association and International Association Chiefs of Police announced a new partnership in August to provide more training, best practices, resources, and guidebooks on retail crime topics. The groups promised the training would enhance collaboration between businesses and police.

In Pennsylvania, Holub praised state and Delaware Valley governments for their work in tackling crime.

He said Philadelphia police and prosecutors became “true partners in addressing this issue. That hasn’t always been the case.” Holub thanked the Delaware and Chester County district attorneys for being engaged with retailers. The Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office recently launched its Office of Deputy Attorney General for Organized Retail Crime Theft that’s also helped.

“It’s very encouraging the amount of cooperation and coordination we have gotten in the last year from law enforcement, prosecutors and policy makers in Harrisburg,” said Holub.  “I think it is just a matter of time until the statistics reflect these efforts.”

On Thursday, the Montgomery County commissioners joined their fellow Democrats governing Chester and Delaware Counties to give homeowners a lump of coal for Christmas: a nine percent tax hike.

Republican Commissioner Tom DiBello voted against the $610.9 million operating budget, but he backed the $244.4 million capital budget. DVJournal asked why he split his vote.

DiBello explained personnel costs make up the lion’s share of the budget, and he’d asked for detailed analysis from each department but had not received it, so he didn’t feel comfortable voting for the budget. He hopes to get that information next year.

But with the capital budget, there are already projects underway that can’t just be halted.

“Do we want to continue to do everything we’re doing?” DiBello asked. He believes the county needs to be run more like a business. “We need to look into these programs. We can’t continue doing everything we’re doing at the expense of the taxpayers.”

Democratic BOC Chair Jamila Winder touted a new year-round shelter approved Thursday to help the homeless, partnering with Lansdale Borough and Resources for Human Development. It will house 20 people at a time. There were 435 people sleeping outside in Montgomery County during a count of the homeless earlier this year.

“The shelter is a monumental step in our mission to address housing insecurity across Montgomery County,” said Winder. “And most importantly this is a demonstration of our fulfillment of our promise to our residents in Montgomery County.”

It will “provide person-centered, wrap-around services to help our friends and neighbors secure permanent housing and other community services. This is in addition to the second homeless shelter that opened in Lansdale.”

There are often 27 to 38 homeless people in Lansdale, she said.  She thanked the borough for “having the courage” to address homelessness.

Lansdale Council President Mary Fuller said, “The feedback we’ve gotten from our residents has been nothing but positive.”

Chief Financial Officer Dean Dortone presented the 2025 budget, which includes a $15.8 million structural deficit. Expenditures are 7.6 percent higher than in 2024, primarily for personnel costs, debt service and money transferred to the 911 Fund.

He said the deficit will be filled by the real estate tax increase from 5.64 mills to 5.178 mills and money from the unassigned fund balance. Real estate taxes comprise 54 percent of the budget, with federal and state grants contributing 34.6 percent. The remainder is from fees from the various departments.

The average single-family homeowner with a market value of $520,100 would pay $965 to the county, an increase of $79.

The county, which has a Triple-A Moody’s rating, also expects to issue $165 million in new bonds for capital projects in 2025.

County Sheriff Sean Kilkenny thanked the commissioners for “their commitment to public safety.” He thanked them for “gear, vehicles and resources” and funds for vests for the K-9s, as well as increasing their recruiting budget.

Ambler resident David Morgan was concerned about “the galloping horse of a tax increase.”

A woman told the BOC that a 9 percent tax hike was too much.

“It’s really tough on taxpayers,” who also pay federal, state and municipal taxes. “Listen to the taxpayers.” She suggested they delay adopting the budget for a week to find places to save. “There are things to take out of the budget,” she said. “You’re spending our money.”

“Although you’re hearing us, I don’t think you’re listening,” she added.

Winder called the budget a “complicated dance” and said the commissioners take “our fiduciary duty really serious,” and she is “keeping people center of all I do…This was hard, but we have promises to deliver on. We have commitments we made to the community…There’s no luxury spending here in Montgomery County.”

Democrats also control Delaware County and Chester County. Delaware County Council voted to increase taxes by 23 percent this month, and the Chester County BOC voted to increase taxes by 13.47 percent. Bucks County, which Democrats also control, passed its budget Wednesday without a tax increase. Voter registration in Bucks County recently flipped to Republican majority.

The Montgomery County commissioners are poised to hike taxes by nine percent when they adopt the $610.9 million 2025 budget on Dec. 19. At least one local Republican isn’t happy about it.

Montco Commissioner Tom DiBello, the only GOP member of the three-person board, noted, “We’ve seen a cumulative 31 percent tax increase over the last four years.” The nine percent hike would take the total to more than 40 percent in just five years.

“We have to be cognizant our taxpayers are being stretched to the limit with inflation and all the rising costs throughout the county, throughout the state, and country. We see those rising costs today in the county. That’s why some of our expenses are rising faster than we would like,” DiBello said.

“We also see school districts across Montgomery County that are raising taxes on average four to five percent a year. So our county residents are being hit from every angle. We have to look at every opportunity to figure out how we could minimize the tax impacts on our communities.”

According to the website smartasset.com, the property tax rate in Montgomery County is 1.62 percent, which puts it near the state average. A homeowner with a home assessed at $326,200 pays an average of $5,273 annually.

For Bucks County, the owner of a house valued at the median of $340,500 pays $5,282 in property taxes at a rate of 1.55. In Chester County, a homeowner with a home valued at the median of $369,500 pays $5,735 at a rate of 1.55 percent. In Delaware County, with a median home value of $247,900, taxes would be $5,690, and the tax rate is 1.62 percent.

Philadelphia is the least pricy, with a median home at $171,600, taxes at $1,808 and the tax rate at 1.05 percent.

Commissioner Neil Makhija (D) said the budget includes the board’s priorities, including investing in hydroelectric power through the Norristown dam and installing electric vehicle charging stations at county facilities, “which are going to be essential for us to transition to those.”

“We’re also making a film on the success of the whole home repairs program that we launched earlier this year, which gives eligible homeowners grants to address safety concerns, efficiency, and make their units more affordable. We also included an increase in our funding for SEPTA.”

The budget includes $42.3 million to fix the roads and bridges and $7 million for county trails. There is also $3.5 million for open space.

“While all this seems like a lot of money, what we’re doing is in a fiscally responsible way. We’re able to achieve our objectives by leveraging local funds to obtain state and federal money, as well. We’re also simply being smarter in the way we spend and finance money as well,” said Makhija.

He said the county refinanced bonds to save about $1 million in debt service in 2024 and 2025. But debt service is up $3.9 million for 2025.

“We also identified about $3 million in savings in this budget as a result of operational reductions, services and supplies, equipment and training and travel expenses,” said Makhija.

He said poor residents or those on fixed incomes may be able to enroll in a tax abatement program. The county is also giving tax rebates to volunteer EMS and firefighters.

“We will continue to find ways to help those who need it in terms of tax deferral and rebates,” he said.

Chair Jamila Winder (D) said it is “gratifying to me that so many people care for our homeless friends and neighbors.” While they are “always cognizant of the taxpayers, this budget and the seeds that we planted will help some of these issues make a dent. If only there were more people who would care about our homeless residents.”

David Morgan, a resident who attended the meeting, wondered whether the county could find ways to economize.

“I find it concerning that debt service is a paramount reason for the increase,” said Morgan. “That is really concerning. It’s harder to rent or buy in our county. I was disappointed to see a nine percent increase in our taxes. We have people who can barely make ends meet.”

With construction ongoing at the new $415 million Justice Center, “there’s concern about debt obligations and these big projects.”

Rick Buckman, a former Republican commissioner, was surprised to hear about the planned tax increase.

“When Republicans were in charge, we liked less government and less taxes,” said Buckman. “Right now, we have a lot more government and a lot more programs, and it’s not free. It’s nice to hand things out, but you have to pay for these programs. It falls on the rest of us to pay for it.”

Another former Republican county commissioner, Bruce L. Castor Jr., said when Democrats gained the majority they “spent down our surplus and drove up our debt when anyone could see the economic crash of 2008 was upon us.”

But Castor, and his Democratic “governing partners,” Josh Shapiro [now governor] and Leslie Richards restored fiscal soundness and that helped “propel their political careers.”

“Leslie, Josh, and I were heralded as heroes for a while, reining in government excess and taking a practical approach to governing. But once we left, people forgot why we had been heroes. The Democrat machine shifted into gear, Philly came to Norristown and, from there, out to our 62 municipalities. The Philly philosophy, the big-city America philosophy of tax and spend became the default. Raise taxes? No problem when Democrats run this show in Norristown. Like, Philly, NYC, Chicago, LA, etc.”

The Republican National Committee dropped a preliminary injunction request brought against Montgomery County, although its lawsuit remains ongoing.

The RNC released a statement, saying that it filed suit after it learned that count Commissioner Neil Makhija, and Election Board chair, posted to social media that he had cast the first vote in the state, the day after the Secretary of State Al Schmidt announced the ballot was finalized.

County officials had tested a ballot that they believed would be certified on Sept. 10, the RNC said.  They admitted they performed more thorough testing on Sept. 23, after the RNC filed its lawsuit. But the county mailed out ballots before that.

“Why the rush to send out the ballots before then? We are still investigating so this does not happen in the next election,” the RNC said in its release.

“Election officials must be held accountable, and that’s exactly what we’ve done in Montgomery County. Rules, safeguards, and laws are critical to ensuring there are no holes in the system that undermine voters or election integrity. We have verified the facts, confirmed that the illegally sent ballots will be cast and counted properly, and protected early voters in the Keystone State,” said RNC Chairman Michael Whatley.

Each county runs its own election. Counties test ballots prior to providing them to voters to make sure the ballots will be properly counted.  Testing includes ballot format, layout, paper, and ability to be scanned.

“Only after the RNC filed a lawsuit did the County admit what we suspected– they did not perform Ballot Accuracy Testing between the time that the Secretary certified the ballot on September 16, 2024 and when Commissioner Makhija voted,” the release said.

Megan Alt, a spokeswoman for Montgomery County accused the RNC of lying in its press release.

Montgomery County is proud of the excellent work our voter services team did to provide our residents with ballots on time. We are already seeing some of the highest return rates in the Commonwealth for voters of all political parties.

“The RNC’s press release is completely false and only serves to cast unwarranted doubt on the County’s elections processes. As the Pennsylvania Department of State said, the suit was frivolous from the beginning, and the RNC continues to misrepresent the issues and facts. Montgomery County informed the Court of its ballot preparation and L&A [logic and accuracy] processes, which we and the Department of State had already recognized complied with all legal requirements.

“In response, the RNC dropped their request for a preliminary injunction, confirming what the county and Department of State had already said,” said Alt. “The county did not admit to any wrongdoing; instead, we reaffirmed that we have and will continue follow all the necessary guidance. The RNC’s statement is just another disingenuous attempt to undermine Montgomery County’s safe, secure, and accessible election.”

The RNC said, “Montgomery County risked providing voters with ballots that would not be counted correctly, all so the Chair of the Montgomery County Board of Elections could claim to be the first voter in Pennsylvania on social media. Commissioner Makhija may be willing to take chances with your vote – but the RNC is not.”

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Montgomery County is sporting Pennsylvania’s first mobile Voter Services satellite office. It recently made its first stop at the Abington Township Fall Festival in Crestmont Park.

But some Montco Republicans fear it was just the first stop on a taxpayer-funded ballot harvesting tour designed to help Democrats hold onto power.

Montgomery County Commissioner Neil Makhija, chair of the Board of Elections, said, “The Montgomery County Voter Services Mobile Outreach van is the first of its kind in Pennsylvania. It’s one of several steps we’re taking to make this election more accessible than ever. We’ve doubled our secure ballot drop boxes opened more satellite voter services offices than ever, and now this mobile satellite office can reach more people where they already are. Our goal is to increase voter access to the information and tools they need to participate in our democracy.”

The mobile voter services satellite office provides the same services as a regular satellite office, officials said. Citizens can register to vote, update their registration, request a mail-in ballot and return their completed ballot at the voter services van. They can also drop ballots off at any voter services office location across Montgomery County. It is scheduled to travel to various senior communities and public events in the weeks leading up to the Nov. 5 election. The last day to register to vote in Pennsylvania is Oct. 21.

“The voter services van will help us make sure that every eligible voter in Montgomery County has the chance to cast their ballot this general election,” said County Commissioners Chair Jamila H. Winder, vice chair of the Board of Elections. “We can especially reach people in places where accessibility challenges make it harder to visit a voter services office, such as senior facilities and community centers. We’re also able to connect directly with voters at festivals and public events. Wherever the community gathers, we aim to get out there to make sure people are informed and ready to vote this election.”

Both Winder and Makhija are Democrats. Minority Republican County Commissioner Tom DiBello voted against the mobile Voter Services van.

“I call it the ice cream truck of ballot harvesting,” said DiBello, who added he is uncertain that it’s legal. Furthermore, the new van cost the county $143,000, he said. He noted it is going to areas with more Democratic voters to register people.

Abington Township Republican Organization Chair Joe Rooney echoed those concerns.

“Is it targeting Democratic voters? Or is it going to churches and gun shows?” Rooney asked. Rooney is also concerned about the security of ballots left with the van.

And Rooney said the van is just the tip of the iceberg. The county has dispensed with guards at drop boxes, which it previously agreed to because of an Upper Dublin incident where a woman was seen stuffing multiple ballots into a drop box, and officials increased the number of drop boxes. Rooney, a Republican candidate for state representative for District 153 Abington, Upper Dublin and Rockledge, has watched the drop boxes and seen people depositing more than one ballot [the limit is one] and someone with a car with a New Jersey tag depositing a ballot.

He’s also concerned some drop boxes are not in well-lighted areas and voters could become the victims of crime. He pointed out Abington has had some serious incidents recently, with a woman attacked at a laundromat and another woman followed home from a casino by a would-be robber who was shot before he was arrested.

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Senior Assistant Montgomery County solicitor John Marlett said some 474 Montgomery County primary voters returned ballots with the wrong date.

“The year was either missing or incorrect,” he said. The Board of Elections then voted 2-1 to accept ballots without a year or the incorrect year.  However, neighboring Delaware County adopted the opposite policy.

Marlett told the Montgomery County Board of Elections on Friday that the secretary of state’s guidance says a missing or incorrect year does not disqualify the ballot, leaving it up to county boards of election. The state issued that advice despite the fact that the Third Circuit Court of Appeals found wrong dates disqualified the ballots.

Montgomery County Board of Elections Chair Neil Makhija, a Democrat, said the policy of accepting incorrectly dated ballots was implemented during the North Penn special election and “the year [on the ballot] doesn’t provide any sort of security or validation.”

He moved to accept ballots dated between when they were distributed and when the election would be counted. Vice Chair Jamila Winder, also a Democrat, seconded it.

Republican Tom DiBello opposed the move, saying, “My opinion hasn’t changed.”

He noted that Act 77, the law allowing mail-in ballots, has not changed. “There’s been no change to the law. I didn’t support it then, I don’t support it now, and I won’t support it moving forward.”

Makhija said, “We shouldn’t allow something immaterial to disqualify or discount their vote… I think it’s really important for this board to protect the right to vote for all residents.”

The motion passed 2-1.

DiBello said, “Obviously, in Montgomery County, we interpret Act 77 the way we want.” He noted there were “significant issues” in the primary election process and suggested the election board meet monthly leading up to the general election to ensure a smooth process.”

In Delaware County, the Board of Elections took the opposite position from Montgomery County.

“The Third Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the dates can be required by state law, overruling the federal Circuit Court ruling,” said James P. Allen, elections director for Delaware County. “Therefore, Delaware County did not process any ballots from envelopes that were completely missing a date or that were dated incorrectly.”

Linda Kerns, a Philadelphia election lawyer, said because of the guidance from the secretary of state, counties are making different decisions about which mail-in ballots to count.

“So, yet again, we have counties interpreting the issue quite differently which means, as usual, in Pennsylvania, ballots are being treated differently based on the county where you vote,” said Kerns. “Generally, counties with Republican election offices are interpreting date to mean month, day, year that you filled out the ballot. Democrat-led offices are taking a much more broad and liberal approach. That is not exclusive, though, as some Democrat counties are not counting. So it is, as usual, a disgrace.”

Kerns added, “Each court is interpreting a poorly written law very differently. We should have uniformity as to how these ballots are treated.  That is what is fair and democratic. We do not have that.”

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