Butler Eagle poll: Voters in Mars, Adams lean toward merger option, but some critics remain
On Nov. 3, voters in Mars and Adams Township will go to the polls to decide whether to merge their two municipalities into Mars Township starting in 2028. If the Butler Eagle’s survey is any indication, the ballot initiative may be on track to pass — if only narrowly.
Between Oct. 2 and Sunday, the Butler Eagle received 233 responses to the survey — 173 from Adams Township and 60 from Mars. The survey was open only to residents of one of the two municipalities.
In total, 128 residents — 54.9% of respondents — stated their intention to vote yes for the merger ballot initiative, with 91 (39.1%) intending to vote no and 14 residents (6%) choosing “undecided.”
Among those who stated they were residents of Adams Township, 92 voted yes for the merger, with 70 voting no and 11 voting undecided. Among residents of Mars, support for the merger was slightly more widespread, with 36 voting yes and 21 voting no, and two still undecided.
Voting in support of the merger, Adams Township resident Barbara Tischler wrote, “It’s for the best for both municipalities. It helps with policing, fire protection, EMS, water service and the library.”
Krista Novak, an Adams Township resident who voted no, wrote, “There is something strange about this merger. I don’t feel comfortable with it. I think some of the people pushing the idea have something in it for them. No one has discussed developing voting districts if there is a merger.”
“I see Mars Borough as being a mature root-bound plant surviving on a limited amount of soil. No matter how well-run, it cannot expand and thrive and will die if it remains confined,” Joe Squire, a Mars resident who voted yes, wrote. “A merger preserves the (borough) and gives it a future where it can possibly thrive by transplanting it into a larger pot/garden. In my opinion, the borough will die if we do not merge.”
Ginger Smith of Mars, who voted “undecided,“ wrote, “Need more information on how it would impact my family and our taxes. What incentives are there for the merger and what cons are there if we opt out?”
“Mars is unique. Adams is new and disposable. Don’t put them together,” wrote Gene Citrone of Mars. “I haven’t seen much due diligence. I haven’t seen the adults in the room addressing the situation.”
Respondents were slightly cooler on the idea of a name change, with only a slight majority voting yes on the question, “Do you like the idea of the merged township being renamed to ‘Mars Township?’” 130 voted in favor of the name change to 103 no votes.
Meanwhile, only a plurality of voters — 111 — believe the merger would improve life in the newly-merged township if it went ahead, 47.6% of respondents. Another 62 (26.6%) believe life would be made worse by the merger, while 60 (25.8%) believe there would be no substantive change.
Additionally, surveyed residents were given a list of nine aspects of the proposed merger touted as benefits to the communities. They were asked to rate on a scale of 0 to 10 how much each issue mattered to them and their vote.
Issues with the least amount of impact included the new Mars library, which received an average importance rating of 5.1/10; and parks and recreation, which received a 6.7/10. Respondents placed the most importance on benefits to effective fire and emergency service, which received a 9.1/10; and public works, which received a 9.0/10.
