Mars–Adams merger heads to voters as supporters cite shared services, opponents question costs

Voters in Mars Borough and Adams Township will decide Tuesday whether to combine their municipalities, weighing supporters’ promises of stronger services and a more unified community against concerns about the future cost of maintaining and improving downtown Mars.

The Nov. 3 referendum follows months of public discussion, including a final informational meeting Thursday, Oct. 29, at the Adams Township Municipal Building.

The proposal requires approval in both municipalities. If successful, Mars Borough would merge into Adams Township, which would be renamed Mars Township, effective Jan. 1, 2028.

For Adams Township resident Jim Manning, the opportunity to bring the communities under one government makes the proposal worthwhile.

“I’m voting for it. I don’t see a downside to it,” Manning said at Thursday’s meeting.

“I would say … it would be for the consolidation of the whole community. I think that’s a win-win for everybody.”

But another attendee, who requested that her name not be published, questioned whether Adams residents would eventually shoulder additional expenses.

“I’m voting no on the merger. I’m not in favor because I think in the long run, it’s going to cost Adams Township more,” she said.

Her concern centered on the work she believes downtown Mars needs.

“Mars has so many things that have been neglected for so long,” she said. “So, I think we’re going to have to share the burden of that.”

In an interview Monday, Mars Borough Councilman Brad Price said the borough brings financial resources and a downtown business district to the proposed partnership.

“Mars is not coming empty handed,” Price said.

Price said the borough has no debt, operates with a balanced budget and maintains a reserve fund. An October fact sheet issued by the municipalities states that neither community currently has debt.

He also pointed to the extensive cooperation that already exists between the neighboring communities, including shared fire and ambulance services, the library and joint ownership of the sewage authority. Price said the Mars Area School District gives families in both municipalities another shared connection.

Their police departments back each other up, he said, and their public works departments even share road salt when needed.

“We do so many things together,” Price said.

To him, combining the remaining municipal operations would build on those existing relationships.

“All we’re doing is taking the last few things, like taking our public works department and combining them,” he said.

Price also sees downtown Mars as an asset for the larger community. As a former Adams Township resident, he said he valued the prospect of having a downtown connected to the township.

“It brings a downtown to Adams,” he said.

Municipal officials say the merger would provide Mars residents with 24-hour local police coverage and bring their municipal tax rates into line with Adams Township’s. Their October fact sheet says the merger would not increase municipal taxes for Adams residents.

The agreement also calls for continued work toward a new home for the Mars Area Public Library in downtown Mars if the referendum passes.

The proposal would change how borough residents are governed. Mars Borough Council and the mayor’s office would be eliminated when the merger takes effect, and the township’s board of supervisors would govern the combined municipality.

Under the agreement, the Mars Borough Council president, vice president and finance chairman would serve on an advisory council from Jan. 1, 2027, through Dec. 31, 2028, to help guide the transition. Price said the council could continue beyond those two years if needed.

For Price, the proposal represents another step in a relationship that already crosses municipal boundaries.

For the attendee concerned about costs, the question is whether that closer relationship will bring additional burdens.

On Tuesday, voters in each community will decide whether to take that step.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.