Subscribe to ournewsletter “The Blue Beacon” to keep up to date. This is our most recent edition from November.

http://us16.campaign-archive.com/?u=dad1666b6b7f77da642647c4e&id=78a7234d9e

Help Support Our Community

As our nation faces uncertainty and discord at large, there is much we can do to support and sustain our communities at the local level. Many families are currently facing food insecurity and other such challenges, and could really use the help of their neighbors (especially during the holiday season). If you’re able, consider donating to local food banks and/or food drives, such as the food pantry at the Ridley Park United Methodist Church and the food drive being held by the Ridley Park Public Library. More information on both local resources will be linked below.

The Food Pantry at the Ridley Park United Methodist Church:
https://benhillrealestate.wixsite.com/rpfoodpantry

Ridley Park Public Library Food Drive:
https://ridleyparklibrary.org

General Election Results

The democratic candidates won all four open seats on the Ridley Park Borough Council in the 2025 General Election.

Congratulations to Raven Horan, Joshua Harris, Emily Schatzman, and Walt Taggart. We will have a historic majority for the next four years.

The Council-Elect will take the oath of office on Monday, January 5, 2026 at 7:00 PM at Borough Hall. Please plan to attend to welcome and support our new councilors.

We’d like to extend a special thanks to Shawn Conran who ran for Mayor. Shawn won his race in the 1st and 2nd Precincts, but ultimately ceded victory to his competitor Bob Berger after a notably close race. Kudos to Shawn for winning the 2nd Precinct in particular, which was the home precinct of opponent Bob Berger.

Ridley Park resident and democrat David Bernstein also ran for the Ridley School Board after one of the initial candidates dropped out following the primary election. We offer a special thanks to David for stepping up to run at the last minute and filling the open spot with energy and enthusiasm. David was not ultimately victorious in his campaign, but he worked tirelessly and put forth a tremendous effort in supporting all of our local candidates.

Two democratic candidates for Ridley School Board were elected in this past general election however, and we’d like to congratulate Sarah Celona and Tom Reimann for their success in being elected to the office of School Director of Ridley School District. We are so excited for the historic victories and would like to offer our appreciation and sincerest congratulations to all of the democratic candidates, win or lose. Thank you for stepping up and dedicating your time and energy to this campaign and our community. You keep our democracy alive.

A further thanks to all the poll workers who put in long hours to keep our democracy functioning! Your collective efforts contribute massively in maintaining the foundation of our democracy, free and fair elections.

And finally, thank you to everyone who came out to vote! Our victories would be impossible without the support and faith of our incredible community. We look forward to the days ahead 🙂

The Capital Reserve Fund Has Been Depleted – and the Borough Council Won’t Say What’s Left.

At the November 8, 2023 Borough Council Workshop meeting, Council approved this action item: “Motion to approve transfer of $310,000 for Ridley Park Borough Capital Reserve to General Fund for November 8, 2023”.

During that time, the Council President stated that there was a $340,000 balance in the Capital Reserve Fund prior to this transfer. Council President also stated that this transfer of funds was temporary and that the funds (plus an additional amount) would be replaced in 2024.

The 2024 budget called for a one-time transfer of $536,531 from the General Fund to replenish the Capital Reserve. This transfer was never made.

The 2025 budget called for a one-time transfer of $322,005 from the General Fund to replenish the Capital Reserve. Currently, as of October 26, 2025, this transfer has not yet been made to replenish the Capital Reserve.

And the Borough Council offers no answers when questioned about the current balances of the Capital Reserve as well as the ARPA fund. Rather, they submit a 30-day extension as opposed to providing numbers that should be easily available.

The Capital Reserve Fund has been depleted.

Borough Finances are in distress.

RTK Capital Reserve Fund & ARPA Fund Borough Response Download

Debt Isn’t a Strategy – it’s a Delay: Interest Now, Balloon Payment Later

This is how the “financial stewards” of our tax dollars ensure the long-term stability of Borough finances:

On July 15, 2025, the Borough Council voted to approve Resolution 2025-07 authorizing a General Obligation Note (aka a loan) in the amount of $82,950. This loan is for a project to relocate utilities as a part of the Sellers Avenue Bridge replacement.

The repayment schedule stipulates that interest-only payments are to be made quarterly. A single balloon Payment of $83,882.51 on July 30, 2027, will satisfy the loan.

How does this stabilize Borough finances? If Borough finances are not in distress, why is Borough Council mortgaging the future with a balloon payment like this?

Utilities Relocation Loan Balloon Payment.docx Download

7th Lowest Fund Balance in Pennsylvania – This is What a Track Record of Fiscal Mismanagement Looks Like…

Our 2025 Campaign for Ridley Park Borough Council and the Mayor’s office has identified significant lapses in fiscal responsibility and management over the course of the sitting borough council’s administration. Evidence supporting this claim is available in the form of annual budget audits, state-reported data, and other publicly available data/documentation. The most recent budget audit available is for FY ending in 2023. The independent auditor’s report reveals a historic, record high deficit of -$834,986 (which included a massive sewer fund deficit of -$680,359), and a first-time ever negative fund balance of -$295,184. The auditors also identified serious deficiencies and issues, including bank reconciliations, segregation of duties, and material audit adjustments.

The independent auditor’s budget audit for the prior fiscal year is due on April 1st of each year. The FY 2023 budget wasn’t completed until January 2025 and wasn’t presented to the public until March 2025 (almost a year late). This delay wasn’t an isolated incident either. The budget audit report for FY 2022 wasn’t presented until April 2024. Over a YEAR late. And now CURRENTLY, the budget audit for FY 2024 which was due on April 1, 2025, STILL hasn’t been completed much less presented to the public.

The inability to produce budget audits on time spells dysfunction and is an example of the glaring lack of transparency that has become typical of the sitting borough council, especially where financial/budgetary matters are concerned. This inability to produce the annual audit of the borough’s budget in a timely fashion remains despite comments made by sitting Council President Dane Collins and sitting Council Member Len Pinto at a Special Council Meeting held on December 23, 2024, affirming that the council was taking actions to “get back on track”.

The lack of completion of timely audits contributes to this borough council’s poor fiscal management. How can the borough council make sound budgeting decisions with data that is potentially outdated, inaccurate, and/or lacks organization?

These delays and results are symptoms of the ultimate problem, which is a major lack of responsibility, accountability, and transparency managing taxpayer funds. Ridley Park deserves better.

2023 Budget Audit Presentation Slides Download

Ridley Park Borough FY 2023 Independent Audit Report Download

Dredging the Lake… And Your Wallet

In 2021, Borough Council took out a loan for $340,000 to dredge Ridley Park Lake. After raising your taxes year after year, it’s now come to light that no payments were ever made on that loan.

How did our municipal government respond? That’s right- they canceled the original loan and took out another loan! This time for $333,450.82, set to mature in 2029. The total amount to be repaid is $352,526.83, which includes $19,076.01 in interest charges. Keep in mind that previously, the lake was dredged using state funds to relieve the tax burden on Ridley Park residents. Borough Council decided you should pay more and get nothing.

This is just one example in a long pattern of financial mismanagement and broken promises by the Republican-led Borough Council. Ridley Park residents deserve accountability—not more debt, higher taxes, and zero results.

Keep an eye on this page for more updates and stories just like this!

(Want proof? Look no further! Attached below are veritable documents demonstrating the termination of the original loan and subsequent issuance of the “new” lake loan.)