Joint Feasibility Meeting to be held June 14
A Joint Feasibility Study group, consisting of representatives from Columbia Borough and Columbia Borough School District, will meet in the Council meeting room, 308 Locust Street, on June 14th at 5:00 p.m. to consider whether there is sufficient interest to pursue a study concerning the possible consolidation of School District, Borough administration offices and the Borough Police Department at the School District Administration Office, 200 N 5th St, Columbia.
Comments
Rather than shelling out more money to conduct another feasibility study on moving borough offices and the police department...why not pay for a feasibility study focused on how to cut costs within the school district. In particular, is there a way to educate the special needs children right here in Columbia rather than pay for IU 13 services. Over three million dollars annually now for 118 special needs children.
I'm in favor of paying for a feasibility study that will help the taxpayers. How will having storefronts lower my taxes? I see businesses benefiting, but my taxes keep going up. If they decide to move the offices, who will be paying for the renovations? Taxpayers of course, so again the taxes would go up.
Next thing you know there will be a feasibility study on the new borough property, McGinness Airfield.
WILL THE MADNE$$ EVER END?
That's exactly why any big ticket spending projects should have to be voted on by the residents that are paying for it.
Why are we paying thousands of dollars for feasibility studies anyway? We have committees and we HAD a Municipal Authority that could provide recommendations and guidance on all of these projects FOR FREE. The Authority was scrapped because their services to the borough were no longer needed. Really?
Those in authority say they have "vision"
Seems more like they are blind.
Do you have any idea HOW MUCH $$$$$$ the sewer plant brought into the Boro every month??? Now, there is NO income. There IS strength in numbers.....us taxpayers must attend this meeting!
public meeting sessions for regard of public knowledge. No transparency is why the citizens are concerned and frustrated by both Council and school board. We need some strong write in candidates to adhere change for the struggling taxpayers.
As a parent and taxpayer of Columbia, I look into my future and say "where have all my children gone".
Sad Citizen
Now for the IU13 craziness. They need to renegotiate contract or come up with a better way to educate special needs kids... Big rip off. 3 million for 118 kids. Thats 3xs the rate for a regular attending student.
In normal towns business usually offset taxes since they pay a higher rate and pay other fees. Not Columbia. They can't even get places to come and stay even with given away the farm. Columbia needs to fix up its center of town and stop spending money on fantasy. Invest some hard money in the area to make a great downtown shopping area with boutique shops, dining, pubs, etc. Give the community something that they will go to and support. Not half assed things. Lets start making a effort get the downtown up and going instead of focusing on the Crossing with does draw people but not to the downtown. Its just another Turkey Hill Experience venture.
The airfield can be rented out for income until something more comes along. Stop buying those dump properties