The latest budget meeting of 2010 was the final budget meeting of 2010.

Township commissioners ratified a 10.8 percent tax increase and $28.3 million in capital projects in 2011, with final votes cast the 2011 budget and 2011-16 Capital Improvement Program at the Wednesday, Dec. 15 Board of Commissioners meeting.

Here are the bullet point highlights of the meeting, first posted live on Twitter @ArdmorePatch.

• I'll be live tweeting the final budget discussion tonight, we might have all 14 commissioners present for the first time, Dellheim is here (7:55)
• Commissioner Mark Taylor is absent, Board Secretary says he had an unavoidable family conflict, Lindner is late, all others are here (8:09)
• Congratulations to Kyle Dixon, Eagle Scout from Belmont Hills, McElhaney presenting a recognition plaque to Dixon (8:12)
• To be clear, 12 commissioners in attendance, Taylor will be absent, Lindner will arrive later, McElhaney will chair finance committee (8:13)
• Board agenda: honoring outgoing township volunteers, public comment, Bldg & Planning, then finance committee with budget, will be long night (8:19)
• Kenneth Aaron, is stepping down from the zoning board after 18 years of service; estimated volunteer service hours: 2,721 (8:29)
• We're into the public comment, healthcare, pensions and lighting on bala avenue all questioned at the start (8:37)
• Next comment: township must distinguish between "desirable" and "indispensable," when it comes to spending (8:42)
• A budget meeting first, John Maley is giving the commissioners jars of homemade mustard for Christmas, says its not poison :) (8:49)
• Maley also tells commissioners to be wary of "buying cheap," he argues for keeping tax increase as planned (8:50)
• Paraphrasing Robert Frost, Cynwyd Trail supporter says not to "build the road less traveled by," go with the full plan (8:52)
• Jerry Francis, President of LM Historical Society, says Cynwyd Trail plans are just for the bare bones version, urges board to support it (8:57)
• Most comments so far on Capital Improvement Program (CIP) projects, not the budget, reordering of library renovations brought up again (9:05)
• Commissioner Lindner is here, board will just be missing Taylor tonight, all other 13 commissioners present (9:06)
• George McElhaney, Twp employee, says "we're not just numbers on a budget sheet," says real tax increases come from school district, not twp (9:13)
• First person to mention Twp Manager Cleland's 5% tax increase alternatives (http://patch.com/A-c4Bp) does so at 9:20 pm, is against them (9:21)
• Of those with an opinion on the tax increase, 10 for as proposed, 3 for lowering it, big swing from first meeting where almost all opposed (9:30)
• Michael Golden, chair of LM Library System, says do the libraries in order proposed, have a plan, stick to it, also will help with donations (9:43)
• Joan Hindin, realtor in LM, says "people are not running to LM anymore," interested buyers afraid of tax increases, she said (9:46)
• Christine Vilardo of Ardmore Initiative says raising parking rates would hurt local businesses, also asks not to cut funding for non-profits (9:54)
• Detailed comment, including slideshow, about potential light pollution effects of proposed Bala Ave lighting project (10:07)
• Public comment ends at 10:11, by my count 27 people spoke, mostly on CIP issues, majority in favor of budget (or projects) as proposed (10:11)
• Commissioner Manos first to respond in board comment, says engineers say bala ave lighting was designed for minimal light pollution (10:15)
• Rosenzweig next, says budget meetings are a tale of two townships—says Bala residents support budget, but rest of township tired of spending (10:23)
• Gelber said thanks to speakers for politeness and civility, this meeting was much more subdued than previous budget discussions (10:26)
• Gelber said no inferences can be drawn from projects in Bala Cynwyd, political or otherwise, but proposes some saving measures (10:35)
• Gordon says twp shouldn't try to get everything they want in budget, says, should also be a focus on environmentally friendly projects (10:41)
• Gordon says proposals to cut spending are all good ideas, but will never be able to create a situation with 0% tax increases (10:48)
• Bad news for everyone who is hoping for an early night, Zelov predicts discussion will last past midnight while complimenting twp workforce (10:53)
• Reed disagrees with Rosenzweig's comments about Bala Cynwyd projects, says residents not advocating free spending, but specific investments (11:00)
• Brown and Reed argued over whether Reed accused Rosenzweig of saying things he knew were false, went back and forth for a few minutes, tense (11:06)
• Board comment ends around 11:10, Carl Watson of Wynnewood suggests commissioners have a 5 minute limit in non-agenda public comment (11:14)
• Building and planning committee will vote on agenda items before budget discussion continues (11:15)
• That was quick, building and planning over and out, Gelber introducing police committee items to get them out of the way (11:16)
• And the budget votes begin, McElhaney jokes he'd like to keep it as short as the last two committees (11:19)
• Cap of longevity bonuses passes 7-6, Brown, Zelov, Gould, Gelber, Rosenzweig, Gordon and Churchill support it (11:21)
• More on longevity bonuses in this article: http://patch.com/A-cwJr, paragraph 4 in "Who voted for what" section (11:23)
• Parks and Rec summer program will not be free in 2011, fee implemented by 7-6 vote, recovers approx $40K, same supporters as last motion (11:27)
• Next up, final vote to lower fund balance (surplus funds) to 16% of planned expenditure, from 17%, will lower tax increase about 2 % points (11:28)
• Manos supports reducing the fund balance to 16%, combined with Gelber (who also supports it) and 4 republicans, need one more to pass (11:34)
• Churchill, does not support amendment, says more deficit spending is not prudent, nor fiscally conservative (11:39)
• Gould disagrees with Churchill's characterization, says the move is a measure to reign in spending, not increase it (11:41)
• Fund balance is reduced to 16% on 7-6 vote, Gordon, Gelber and Manos join Republicans Brown, Gould, Zelov and Rosenzweig in support (11:43)
• Board analyzing a request from Reed to look at options for decreasing tax increase below double digits through increased parking fees (11:53)
• Gelber, Gould and Brown against raising parking rates because of negative consequences for local businesses, discussion tabled for now (12:03)
• Next motion, request for manager to provide info about reducing twp staff's passenger vehicles by end of January (12:04)
• Zelov agrees to amend the motion to allow for more time, now would be due at the end of February (12:07)
• Item passes 10-3, Reed, Rogan and Lindner against (12:08)
• Capital Improvements Program for 2011-16 as proposed passes 7-6, Gelber, Gordon, Brown, Gould, Rosenzweig and Zelov against (12:11)
• Motions to this point would reduce original 12.7% tax increase proposal to 10.8%, commissioners will vote on the proposal (12:14)
• First commissioners will discuss proposals to reduce the increase further, Reed proposes raises parking meter rates 25 cents (12:18)
• Motion seconded by Churchill, Gould and Zelov strongly against, Gelber suggests raising parking ticket rates instead (12:24)
• Rogan says she is uncomfortable passing a parking meter rate increase after midnight with no public input, but would consider it later (12:27)
• Dellheim also against parking increases, Reed withdraws motion due to lack of support (12:32)
• Brown gave a long, pre-written speech about the board majority's failure to reign in spending, and why a 10.8% tax increase in unreasonable (12:51)
• Dellheim also gave speech, said tax increases worth the high level of services in LM, she is proud to pay (12:55)
• Gould's speech, against budget, "enormous increase in spending in the face of more public opposition than I have ever seen on this board" (12:59)
• Rogan says costs are going up, "if we don't want to spend more money, we have to decide what we want to do without" (1:09)
• Board discussion has devolved into long speeches on budget positions, good for clarification, bad for action (1:21)
• Motion made after long speeches from board members, Zelov proposed board approve vehicle purchases before they are made, Brown seconded (1:36)
• Motion fails 8-5, Zelov, Brown, Rosenzweig, Gould and Gelber support it (1:38)
• Zelov makes two more motions, first (equipment fund contribution reduction) failes 7-6 (Gelber, Gordon, Republicans) and second fails 8-5 (1:41)
• Gordon joined Republicans on the 8-5 failed motions, instructing township manager to give options for reducing health care costs (1:44)
• Gelber: motion to create ad hoc committee on jan. 1 to examine municipal benefits in surrounding townships, will include members of public (1:47)
• Motion fails 7-6, Gelber, Gordon, Brown, Zelov, Rosenzweig, Gould for it (1:52)
• Rosenzweig: motion to lay off 7% of non-police township employees, fails 9-4 (Republicans support) (1:57)
• Gordon: motion, 4 months of ad hoc committee to look at comparative twp employee compensation and benefits (1:57)
• No support, Gordon withdraws, proposes opt out fee reduction (for healthcare) of 50% to 25% instead (1:59)
• Gordon also withdraws second motion due to lack of perceived support (2:01)
• McElhaney motion: put Deputy Fire Chief position back in budget, but do not fund until Twp Manager decides it is worth filling (2:07)
• Motion passes 8-5, Gordon, Gould, Zelov, Rosenzweig and Brown against, others for (2:12) (Editor's Note: This tweet was incorrect. Commissioner Brown voted for the motion).
• Order was just lost in the board room, commissioners yelled back and forth over claim by McElhaney that all supported 98% of spending (12:24)
• Sorry, lost internet access, board wrapped up at 2:35 am, municipal tax increase will be 10.8% in 2011, no other motions pass (3:30)

CORRECTION: One of the tweets, as originally written, stated that Commissioner Brown voted against the motion to add the Deputy Fire Chief position back to the budget, unfunded. Commissioner Brown voted in support of the motion.