Cecil Township Manager Gennuso disputes claim of shortfall, vouches for budget ledger

A day after an elected official in Cecil sparked controversy by questioning the accuracy of the township's general budget ledger, township Manager Don Gennuso said every cent is accounted for — and always was.

Supervisor Elizabeth Cowden said Monday that the township's operating account appeared to be $616,000 short.

“She didn't have the October numbers,” Gennuso said. “Certainly, there are no errors in our books. She just didn't have all the data.”

Cowden did not return messages seeking comment.

Cecil's 2014 operating budget is $6.56 million, Gennuso said. Supervisors on Monday passed a tentative 2015 budget of $7.76 million.

The $1.2 million increase does not raise property taxes. Instead, the budget will be bolstered by an account surplus as well as money provided by natural gas drilling impact fees and revenue from The Meadows Racetrack & Casino.

Cowden long has been a proponent of transparency in local government.

In April 2013, she urged Cecil officials to publicize audit details regarding an investigation into former police Chief John Pushak.

He resigned amid inquiries into accusations he supported a gambling habit by embezzling more than $10,000 from a special police account funded, in part, with federal money.

Cowden pushed for an independent, forensic audit of all township accounts.

The township paid for an independent investigation into the matter, and a summary of the findings was publicly reported.

Jason Cato is a writer for Trib Total Media. Reach him at 412-320-7936 or jcato@tribweb.com.