’We have acted responsibly’: Columbia Borough council president defends 21 percent tax hike | pennlive.com
Speaking before borough council, concerned and sometimes angry residents took turns airing their frustrations about a 21 percent tax increase that was included in 2019's budget.
Sharon Lintner was among the residents to speak out against the tax hike both before and after the meeting.
“Private business should not be profiting off of tax dollars,” she said.
Others came equipped with a petition signed by more than 1,000 residents, asking borough officials to roll back the tax hike – from 8 to 6.6 mills – and to end the low-interest loan program.
During the meeting, Council President Kelly Murphy said those requests would not be fulfilled.
"We have heard what you have said and are not insensitive to the effect the higher millage rate has on all of us … We feel that we have acted responsibly and in the borough’s best interest,” Murphy said.
Murphy’s comments were interrupted several times by sometimes passionate outburst from those in the crowd.
That frustration was expressed prior and during the meeting by Norm Meiskey, a concerned resident and the borough’s former manager.
Meiskey said the tax hike will provide the borough with about $800,000 – the same amount that is allocated for the program, which makes low-interest loans available to developers looking to build businesses within borough limits. It’s a program that was established in 2017, Murphy said.
MORE:
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/01/columbia-borough-tax-talks-turn-tumultuous.html
Sharon Lintner was among the residents to speak out against the tax hike both before and after the meeting.
“Private business should not be profiting off of tax dollars,” she said.
Others came equipped with a petition signed by more than 1,000 residents, asking borough officials to roll back the tax hike – from 8 to 6.6 mills – and to end the low-interest loan program.
During the meeting, Council President Kelly Murphy said those requests would not be fulfilled.
"We have heard what you have said and are not insensitive to the effect the higher millage rate has on all of us … We feel that we have acted responsibly and in the borough’s best interest,” Murphy said.
Murphy’s comments were interrupted several times by sometimes passionate outburst from those in the crowd.
That frustration was expressed prior and during the meeting by Norm Meiskey, a concerned resident and the borough’s former manager.
Meiskey said the tax hike will provide the borough with about $800,000 – the same amount that is allocated for the program, which makes low-interest loans available to developers looking to build businesses within borough limits. It’s a program that was established in 2017, Murphy said.
MORE:
Comments
There's more to this than just repealing the tax. The budget must be balanced as well. We need people who won't get cold feet when it comes time to send borough employees to the unemployment lines. We need people who will remember that this is to keep them from throwing our retired and elderly citizens out on the street and hold their feet to the fire. I think a freeze on unfunded projects, a hiring freeze and maybe some audits are in order.
We need somebody who is eligible to run to step up.