The four newly sworn in Morrisville Borough Council members said they were going to be proactive, ask questions and demand answers.
On Thursday Councilman Shawn Ratti (1st Ward) and his colleagues Deborah Colgan, Peggy Walsh, (3rd Ward) and Anna Langer (4th Ward) identifying themselves as Morrisville’s Your Voice Caucus are raising concerns and asking questions about the Borough’s adopted 2026 budget, which reduces overall spending by more than $600,000 and includes changes affecting police compensation and other fixed Borough obligations.
At the January reorganization meeting, reelected Mayor Gary Wallace was the deciding vote, which was expected to reelect Helen Hahlol as Council President and Scott Robinson as vice president.
With the next Council meeting set for next Tuesday at the municipal building the caucus is aiming at the this years budget calling it “irresponsible”
The approved budget reduces police salaries by $90,000. The Morrisville Police contract expired on December 31, and no new agreement has been announced. If a contract is not reached, the Borough may be required to proceed to binding arbitration, a process that can result in higher compensation awards and legal costs that exceed original budget assumptions, the caucus says.
Morrisville officers patrol a borough with ongoing public safety demands, including increasing domestic violence calls and significant traffic volume. Bridge Commission data shows that over 88,000 vehicles crossed Morrisville’s three bridges daily in 2024. The unique demands of the Borough require experienced and stable staffing levels, the newly seated members said,
According to the caucus, Morrisville already has one of the lowest starting police salaries in Lower Bucks County. Countywide, there are currently 74 open police positions, many offering higher pay and benefits. While part-time officers remain on the roster, their availability is extremely limited. While the Morrisville Police Department has done an admirable job with the unique challenges of our Borough, the Your Voice Caucus warns that recruitment and retention will become more challenging under the current budget.
Caucus members said beyond public safety, the 2026 budget does not fully account for several fixed and foreseeable obligations. These include scheduled debt service payments, public works staffing needs, routine maintenance of Borough facilities and ongoing infrastructure costs. The current post-adoption window is the Borough’s only opportunity to address these obligations before the budget is locked in for the year.
Members of the Your Voice Caucus are asking Borough Council to reopen the 2026 budget. These newly elected Council members recommend a more gradual reduction of millage that will allow the Borough to provide taxpayer relief while ensuring the Borough can address labor negotiations, staffing levels, debt obligations and operational needs in a more deliberate and responsible manner.
The issue, the members said will be discussed at the Morrisville Borough Council meeting on January 20 at 7:00 p.m.
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