Smaller is not always better. Witness Joele Farrell's Inquirer
story Thursday (Feb. 11) about the borough of Norwood in Delaware County. The town has 5,700 residents and it's boundaries are less than one-square mile, but it has its budget woes. It is late in paying its bills -- exactly how much is a matter of political dispute -- and the town fathers are considering raising real estate taxes by 34 percent to set the budget in the black again. The budget is small $3.6 million, but it's clear Norwood is spending more than it brings in. It's a reminder of the limitations of the system of boroughs and townships we have in the Pennsylvania suburbs. Many of these places were laid out in the 1700s. Do you think anyone will ever seriously considering consolidating these tiny governments into something more modern? Just a thought.
