Columbia leaders eye tax abatements to boost development

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By January, Columbia Borough may have new laws in place that provide incentives for businesses to locate in the borough and for individuals to improve their properties.

Comments

Anonymous said…
maybe part time and or retired police officers would enjoy the SRO positions.....it may be a lot cheaper...also, the school board REALLY needs to educate itself on spending...this small Boro does NOT need 3 top administrators. period. it'll cost close to a HALF MILLION wihtout benefits. we SIMPLY can NOT afford this. it's time. time to combine with another school district. the working middle class can NOT afford to carry this Boro any longer....unfortunately a lot of those people are losing thier homes. wake up.
the Boro and council needs to wake up too. tell LASA to go home. we are NOT interested. period. we will lose in every way. the 1 person who complains is NOT the majority. the private residences plus the 2 high rises plus St john Herrs plus Susquehanna Nursing home plus the hardworking middle class taxpaying homeowners are WHO you should all be thinking about. really. SAY NO TO LASA !
November 16, 2013 at 7:59 AM
Anonymous said…
the Boro should continuaklly have LERTA in effect and try to attract businesses here. now lets not take a year to decide.
November 16, 2013 at 8:01 AM
Anonymous said…
Lets talk facts!! Section 8'sssssss,, this whole town losses!!!!Also, businesses that are in the CLICK take! take! take. How much money is this town in theRED! like 18 million!!
November 17, 2013 at 7:29 PM
Anonymous said…
Tax breaks help, but where does the money come from to fix up and develop the properties ? We need grant money and loan programs to really attract private investors to this town !
November 17, 2013 at 7:50 PM
awgeedawggy said…
i dont understand this. All of the new business in locating out of town anyway mostly because of the taxes. It has been like this for years and the boro is just now going to look at tax incentives???? what???? where have they been?? And after buying my home from my Dad and taking years to be able to update it- i just did it this year- how far back will they look to give me a tax break?? ha ha. i am holding my breath now that i dont get re appraised- and that is one reason i held off on updating - i cant afford any more. What will it be next??? Wait- i dont want to know.
November 18, 2013 at 11:04 AM
Anonymous said…
yep, hardly any Lancaster County developers even step foot in Columbia - and does anyone really think that a discount on real estate tax will get them to come ? No way ! It will take more then that. Maybe they would come if for example the CEDC could get grant money to buy properties such as the Columbia Hotel - and then offer to give the property to a qualified developer for one dollar ( $1 ) , contingent on the developer making the investment - like they do it in Reading, PA and other blighted towns.
November 18, 2013 at 6:03 PM
Anonymous said…
You must be NUTZZZ!! The CEDC are out for themselves!
November 18, 2013 at 7:21 PM
Anonymous said…
Lets get it straight, how much MONEY is this town in the RED!!!
November 18, 2013 at 8:13 PM
Anonymous said…
some good ideas! i just wish that some true Columbians, who care with their hearts and souls would step up and run for office....it's time for a change. it's time for people who REALLY care about themajority of hardworking middle class taxpaying honmeowners in this town!
November 18, 2013 at 9:16 PM
Anonymous said…
The only developer the CEDC will ever help is the Columbia Investment Partners - same people as themselves !
November 19, 2013 at 6:42 AM
Anonymous said…
This town can't be broke. We have a brand new leaf collection machine/roll off truck and a brand new revenue collec--, er um, street sweeper running around this year.

Anyone take a look at the boro sheds lately? Ever notice how many new trucks we have sitting down there?
November 19, 2013 at 1:09 PM
Anonymous said…
this town will never be broke in our life time - just keep raising taxes and selling off valuable properties - who cares about the future generations, right ! ??
November 20, 2013 at 9:01 AM
Anonymous said…
The new trucks that the public works department get come mainly through grants. They have a good leader in that department, who has been successful at getting grants.
November 21, 2013 at 6:58 PM
Anonymous said…
Look further into those grants, you might just find a new truck for him too!!
November 22, 2013 at 9:36 PM
Anonymous said…
I'm not sure what Boro mgmt and Council do NOT understand....as a hardworking middle class taxpaying homeowner I HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR ALL THE FRIVOLOUS SPENDING IN THIS BORO.....AND I HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO QUESTION THE SAME AND TO ASK QUESTIONS AND EXPECT HONEST ANSWERS...I live here and I pay taxes here..which are extreme...end of story. And in case you're wondering, there are HUNDREDS OF US WHO ARE FED UP....AND WANT CHANGE.
November 24, 2013 at 9:23 AM
Anonymous said…
here. here. i totally agree....the time has come!
November 24, 2013 at 6:38 PM
Anonymous said…
i couldn't have said it better myself.....the natives are getting restless....
November 24, 2013 at 6:38 PM
Anonymous said…
I totally agree...just because it OUR taxpayers money-gives you NO right to spend spend spend....hell, i can't pay my bills. do you care??? NO
November 25, 2013 at 7:05 AM
Anonymous said…
Despite popular opinion, grants are not free money. Grants are nothing more than taxpayer money in a clever disguise.

Again - is a new sweeper necessary? Does the revenue collected by sweeping every street every week (an accomplishment unmatched by just about every other city I've ever seen) justify the cost of these trucks, insurance, fuel, maintenance, and salaries?

Of course the leaders in this town don't care. They have driveways. Screw the peasants that have to park on the streets.
November 26, 2013 at 6:18 PM
Anonymous said…
step up to the plate...and demand accountability. it's OUR money they so sinfully throw away.
November 27, 2013 at 6:57 AM
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