Miscellaneous

The Montgomery County Commissioners say their finances continue to move in the right direction.   They received a report yesterday that projects a $2,600,000 operating surplus at the end of this year.   Chief Financial Officer Uri Monson also told them almost $846,000 was transferred into the employee pension fund last month.   Expenses for this year are generally in line with the 2013 budget but going forward the potential exists for several hundred thousand dollars in revenue shortfalls because of the federal sequester.

Lansdale officials Wednesday night broke ground on a major road improvement project.   The Wood - Vine Street Connector will improve traffic flow downtown by giving motorists another way of getting around other than Main and Broad Streets.   The project involves rebuilding and realigning parts of Wood Street, Susquehanna Avenue, Derstine Avenue and Vine Street so they can handle more traffic.   The cost of construction will be covered in its entirety by a $3,500,000 state grant.

Towamencin officials have banned open burning in the township.   They took that step after receiving warnings from both the state and county about the elevated fire risk because of recent dry conditions.   The ban will stay in effect until further notice.   Violators could be cited by township codes department inspectors as well as police officers.

Montgomery County is taking on more debt. It issued $55,000,000 worth of bonds Thursday to fund major infrastructure projects including repairs and renovations at the Norristown Courthouse as well as the parking garage and One Montgomery Plaza. The interest rate on the new debt is just under 2.4%. The total county debt currently stands at almost $450,000,000. Debt service costs the county about $39,000,000 annually.