Lower Salford Township's two newest supervisors were sworn in on Jan. 5 as the board reorganized for 2026 and advanced a referendum asking voters about raising the earned income tax to buy and preserve a key open space tract.?

            Commonwealth court judge Stella Tsai administered the oath of office to Marybeth Morrell and Russell "Rick" Alderfer. During the public comment portion of the meeting, resident Margaret Burke congratulated Morrell for being the first woman to serve as a Lower Salford supervisor.

            Later in the meeting, supervisor Kent Krauss publicly welcomed the newcomers.

            "It's a ton of fun," quipped chairman Keith Bergman.

            Alderfer responded, "I would just like to acknowledge the encouragement [and] support I've gotten throughout the process since the election from all of you folks – the township staff and the board here. So, thank you – looking forward to working with you."

            Morrell echoed the statement and called it an honor to individually meet with the board members and township staff.?

            As part of the board's annual reorganization, the board unanimously selected Dave Scheuren as vice-chairman and Bergman to continue to serve as chairman.

            The board also adopted an ordinance to place a yes-or-no question before voters in the May 19 primary election. It'll be for a quarter-percent earned income tax increase to supplement federal and state grant funding for acquiring the Allebach property at 460 Stover Road.

            Township solicitor Andrew Freimuth summarized that the revenue would be used "to protect the township's farmland, scenic views, historic sites, and rural character," as well as to "protect woodlands, wetlands, and the Skippack and Perkiomen creeks and their tributaries and to enhance and create community recreation opportunities."

            The tax revenue would also help pay for debt service and the planning, design and maintenance costs associated with future open space acquisitions, Freimuth said.

            Bergman commented that the Allebach property purchase has "been in the social media arena for some time now," and emphasized that "earned income tax is not a real estate tax," which "saves the fixed income group among us."?

            Krauss said, "We're very hopeful that everybody will show up and vote yes."

            Scheuren said, "A lot of the townships around us already have this tax in place. So, we're kind of playing catch-up on that. It'll actually help us maintain all our existing park plans also. So, we think it would be a real good thing for everybody involved."

            When Alderfer asked if there was an alternative if the referendum fails, Bergman said that "plan B" could be raising real estate taxes to cover the long-term debt needed to buy the 60+-acre tract.

            "I think the more palatable version is plan A," he said. "It's up to the community at large. Do we want this open space and, if we do, this is the mechanism by which to do that."?

            The supervisors also approved an updated fee schedule for this year that includes a new $25 administrative fee for any withdrawn application by residents, developers or businesses seeking township approvals.