The article that appeared in this morning's edition of The Mercury was inaccurate as my previous entry detailed. Due to my email to the reporter and the editor-in-chief, they corrected the online edition of the story. Here it is... I would like to point out that the prepared statement was a statement from council and I was chosen to read it by council. The statement was thanking the police for their willingness to work with council to save money.
POTTSTOWN — The month of December had already seen 13 layoffs of borough employees to close a budget deficit. On Monday, elected officials turned to the police department to further reduce a double-digit tax increase in 2009.Emerging from a 35-minute executive session behind closed doors, council President David Garner announced a new two-year contract with the Police Department. Officers and their representatives agreed to hold wages and salaries at their current levels.In 2010, wages will increase 3.5 percent.What this means for taxpayers is that a proposed 12 percent tax increase has shrunk to 10.44 percent.
Police services are by far the largest expense in Pottstown's $35,114,988 budget, and Council Vice-president Greg Berry said the one-year wage freeze would save about $138,000.After a unanimous vote on the police contract, council split 4-3 on both the budget and tax rates for next year. Councilman Stephen Toroney was in the minority with Berry and Councilman Jody Rhoads.Toroney had opposed eliminating funding for the borough's economic development department during a Dec. 16 vote. On Monday, he said economic development is "one way for us to increase our revenue stream." By eliminating the department and the economic development director's position currently held by Terri Lampe, council saved $134,518 next year.Toroney also lobbied for the annual financial audit to be presented to council, which would allow council members to question the previous year's budget."An auditing firm will give us the truth," he said.Rhoads did not give an explanation for his votes. Berry said the budget process this year was a great improvement over previous budget cycles, adding, "In my opinion we needed to go deeper with cuts. However, it was apparent that further cuts and recoommendations of our budget team would not be supported by the majority of council."Berry, who is also the council finance committee chairman, read from a prepared statement on behalf of council, saying Pottstown faced many difficult decisions just like county and state governments have in a struggling economy.Although the statement offered praise on several occasions for Assistant Manager Jason Bobst and consultant/finance director Timothea Kirchner, it said council was not abreast of the "true extent of the borough's financial situation" until last month.Mayor Sharon Valentine-Thomas echoed that last point, saying, "This will not be a process that simply starts in October."She also read from a prepared statement, calling the 2009 budget a "product of hard work." Pottstown avoided 25 percent funding cuts from the four fire companies. Valentine-Thomas said the cost of public safety "should not be breached."On balance, the budget process arrived at several conclusions, including a "more economical outsourcing option" and greater expectations for managers to meet accounting targets, she said. The financial committee will now give monthly updates, the mayor said.She highlighted Pottstown's top three cost items: $9.6 million from the general fund for police, $1.9 million in employee benefits, and just under $500,000 for codes.Valentine-Thomas, who cast one vote Monday night, said she looks forward to a "greater level of co-opertivity" between the community and local government. Her vote came on the tax of 1.30635 mills for fire house maintenance.Councilman Mark Gibson abstained because he is a paid fire company driver.Gibson expressed disappointment with one or more of his previous votes concerning layoffs. He voted for cutting Lampe's position and against the elimination of 12 positions on Dec. 8. In retrospect, Gibson said he did not do "what's in my heart.""I would have made a different decision and I'm being honest about it today," he said.On the overall budget, Gibson hopes to have a better go of it for the 2010 fiscal cycle."I hope this time next year, we won't have to go through what we went through this year," he stated.The approved property tax rate for 2009 is 8.88872 mills, or about $8.89 for every $1,000 in assessed value.
http://www.pottsmerc.com/articles/2008/12/30/news/srv0000004379458.txt
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Article Woefully Inaccurate
Here is a letter I sent to Nancy March & Mike Hays regarding the article below title 'Pottstown taxpayers face 10 percent increase.'
Good morning,
I read, with surprise, the article in today’s edition regarding council approving the budget. The article contained several inaccuracies and incorrect information.
This first incorrect piece of information is that the police wage freeze would save about $138,000, not $178,000 as reported. Council did not lay off Terri Lampe, we eliminated funding for the economic development department, there is a big difference. Council also did not layoff any other employees, Council cannot layoff anyone (except for the Borough Manager and Police Chief), again, funding for those positions were eliminated. The sentence that says “Toroney also lobbied for an independent financial audit, which would allow council members to annually question the previous year’s budget” is also very inaccurate. We have an auditing firm (which is required by law) that does conduct an audit every year. What Mr. Toroney was saying is that he feels the audit report should be presented to council, which it has not (at least since I’ve been on Council). On a side note, last year’s audit was used heavily in developing this year’s budget.
The prepared statement I read was a prepared statement by council, which I made sure I mentioned twice. See statement below. The statement was not regarding the budget decision, but instead was to thank the police for their willingness to work with the borough to keep costs down. The comment attributed to me (true extent of the borough’s financial situation) was read from the prepared statement thanking police. My personal comments, that I made last night regarding the budget were: I thought this budget process was a great improvement over previous budget cycles and that I appreciate the fact that it was an open process whether or not people chose to participate. In my opinion we needed to go deeper with cuts. However, it was apparent that further cuts and recommendations of our budget team would not be supported by the majority of council.
Mark Gibson is not a volunteer firefighter, he is a paid driver.
I feel that a correction would be appropriate.
Thank you,
Greg Berry
Pottstown Borough Council Vice President
Good morning,
I read, with surprise, the article in today’s edition regarding council approving the budget. The article contained several inaccuracies and incorrect information.
This first incorrect piece of information is that the police wage freeze would save about $138,000, not $178,000 as reported. Council did not lay off Terri Lampe, we eliminated funding for the economic development department, there is a big difference. Council also did not layoff any other employees, Council cannot layoff anyone (except for the Borough Manager and Police Chief), again, funding for those positions were eliminated. The sentence that says “Toroney also lobbied for an independent financial audit, which would allow council members to annually question the previous year’s budget” is also very inaccurate. We have an auditing firm (which is required by law) that does conduct an audit every year. What Mr. Toroney was saying is that he feels the audit report should be presented to council, which it has not (at least since I’ve been on Council). On a side note, last year’s audit was used heavily in developing this year’s budget.
The prepared statement I read was a prepared statement by council, which I made sure I mentioned twice. See statement below. The statement was not regarding the budget decision, but instead was to thank the police for their willingness to work with the borough to keep costs down. The comment attributed to me (true extent of the borough’s financial situation) was read from the prepared statement thanking police. My personal comments, that I made last night regarding the budget were: I thought this budget process was a great improvement over previous budget cycles and that I appreciate the fact that it was an open process whether or not people chose to participate. In my opinion we needed to go deeper with cuts. However, it was apparent that further cuts and recommendations of our budget team would not be supported by the majority of council.
Mark Gibson is not a volunteer firefighter, he is a paid driver.
I feel that a correction would be appropriate.
Thank you,
Greg Berry
Pottstown Borough Council Vice President
----------------
Council Prepared Statement/Press Release
As everyone knows, we are in difficult financial times. The economic problems
which the Country is facing has impacted large corporations, small businesses and
governments at all levels. In Pottstown, we are no exception.
As a community, we face many challenges moving forward into 2009, and in future
years to come. Many difficult decisions need to be made and we need to work together
cooperatively in order to solve our short-term economic woes and address our long-term problems that we will likely face.
With that background, since June of this year representatives of the Borough and
the Pottstown Police Officers have been attempting to negotiate a Police Contract, as the existing Contract expires December 31, 2008. Unfortunately, it was not until November of this year, however, that the Borough discovered the extent of the Borough’s financial condition. At that point, in the spirit of cooperation, the Police Officers graciously extended an offer to the Borough to allow for a one year Contract extension with no salary increase. Proceeding through proper channels, representatives of the Association and the Borough have since met and negotiated, and are pleased to announce, a two year extension of the existing Contract which will carry the Borough through the end of calendar year 2010.
The two year Contract will freeze existing base compensation for all police positions
for 2009 at the 2008 rates. The 2010 increase in base levels of compensation will provide for a 3.5% increase.
The savings to the Borough’s General Fund in 2009 will exceed $138,000.00, or the
equivalent of .154 mills. The Borough Council and the management would like to thank the Police for their offer and their willingness to work with the Borough during difficult economic times. The savings to the Borough are significant and have assisted Council in accomplishing savings that might not have otherwise been available when attempting to finalize the 2009 Budget.
We thank you for your cooperation and your efforts toward this goal that benefits the
entire community.
which the Country is facing has impacted large corporations, small businesses and
governments at all levels. In Pottstown, we are no exception.
As a community, we face many challenges moving forward into 2009, and in future
years to come. Many difficult decisions need to be made and we need to work together
cooperatively in order to solve our short-term economic woes and address our long-term problems that we will likely face.
With that background, since June of this year representatives of the Borough and
the Pottstown Police Officers have been attempting to negotiate a Police Contract, as the existing Contract expires December 31, 2008. Unfortunately, it was not until November of this year, however, that the Borough discovered the extent of the Borough’s financial condition. At that point, in the spirit of cooperation, the Police Officers graciously extended an offer to the Borough to allow for a one year Contract extension with no salary increase. Proceeding through proper channels, representatives of the Association and the Borough have since met and negotiated, and are pleased to announce, a two year extension of the existing Contract which will carry the Borough through the end of calendar year 2010.
The two year Contract will freeze existing base compensation for all police positions
for 2009 at the 2008 rates. The 2010 increase in base levels of compensation will provide for a 3.5% increase.
The savings to the Borough’s General Fund in 2009 will exceed $138,000.00, or the
equivalent of .154 mills. The Borough Council and the management would like to thank the Police for their offer and their willingness to work with the Borough during difficult economic times. The savings to the Borough are significant and have assisted Council in accomplishing savings that might not have otherwise been available when attempting to finalize the 2009 Budget.
We thank you for your cooperation and your efforts toward this goal that benefits the
entire community.
Pottstown taxpayers face 10 percent increase
(See Comments In Above Blog Entry About This Article)
Tuesday, December 30, 2008 8:01 AM EST
By Michael Hays
POTTSTOWN — The month of December had already seen 13 layoffs at borough council's discretion to close a budget deficit. On Monday, elected officials turned to the police department to further reduce a double-digit tax increase in 2009.Emerging from a 35-minute executive session behind closed doors, council President David Garner announced a new two-year contract with the Police Department. Officers and their representatives agreed to hold wages and salaries at their current levels.In 2010, wages will increase 3.5 percent.What this means for taxpayers is that a proposed 12 percent tax increase has shrunk to 10.44 percent.
Police services are by far the largest expense in Pottstown's $35,114,988 budget, and Councilman Greg Berry said the one-year wage freeze would save about $178,000.After a unanimous vote on the police contract, council split 4-3 on both the budget and tax rates for next year. Councilman Stephen Toroney was in the minority with Greg Berry and Councilman Jody Rhoads.Toroney had opposed laying off Terri Lampe, the borough's economic development director, during a Dec. 16 vote. On Monday, he said economic development is "one way for us to increase our revenue stream." By eliminating the position, council saved $134,518 next year.Toroney also lobbied for an independent financial audit, which would allow council members to annually question the previous year's budget."An auditing firm will give us the truth," he said.Rhoads did not give an explanation for his votes. Berry read from a prepared statement, saying Pottstown faced many difficult decisions just like county and state governments have in a struggling economy.Although Berry offered praise on several occasions for Assistant Manager Jason Bobst and consultant/finance director Timothea Kirchner, he said council was not abreast of the "true extent of the borough's financial situation" until last month.Mayor Sharon Valentine-Thomas echoed that last point, saying, "This will not be a process that simply starts in October."She also read from a prepared statement, calling the 2009 budget a "product of hard work." Pottstown avoided 25 percent funding cuts from the four fire companies. Valentine-Thomas said the cost of public safety "should not be breached."On balance, the budget process arrived at several conclusions, including a "more economical outsourcing option" and greater expectations for managers to meet accounting targets, she said. The financial committee will now give monthly updates, the mayor said.She highlighted Pottstown's top three cost items: $9.6 million from the general fund for police, $1.9 million in employee benefits, and just under $500,000 for codes.Valentine-Thomas, who cast one vote Monday night, said she looks forward to a "greater level of co-opertivity" between the community and local government. Her vote came on the tax of 1.30635 mills for fire house maintenance.Councilman Mark Gibson abstained because he is a volunteer firefighter.Gibson expressed disappointment with one or more of his previous votes concerning layoffs. He voted for cutting Lampe's position and against the elimination of 12 positions on Dec. 8. In retrospect, Gibson said he did not do "what's in my heart.""I would have made a different decision and I'm being honest about it today," he said.On the overall budget, Gibson hopes to have a better go of it for the 2010 fiscal cycle."I hope this time next year, we won't have to go through what we went through this year," he stated.The approved property tax rate for 2009 is 8.88872 mills, or about $8.89 for every $1,000 in assessed value.
http://www.pottsmerc.com/articles/2008/12/30/news/srv0000004379458.txt
Tuesday, December 30, 2008 8:01 AM EST
By Michael Hays
POTTSTOWN — The month of December had already seen 13 layoffs at borough council's discretion to close a budget deficit. On Monday, elected officials turned to the police department to further reduce a double-digit tax increase in 2009.Emerging from a 35-minute executive session behind closed doors, council President David Garner announced a new two-year contract with the Police Department. Officers and their representatives agreed to hold wages and salaries at their current levels.In 2010, wages will increase 3.5 percent.What this means for taxpayers is that a proposed 12 percent tax increase has shrunk to 10.44 percent.
Police services are by far the largest expense in Pottstown's $35,114,988 budget, and Councilman Greg Berry said the one-year wage freeze would save about $178,000.After a unanimous vote on the police contract, council split 4-3 on both the budget and tax rates for next year. Councilman Stephen Toroney was in the minority with Greg Berry and Councilman Jody Rhoads.Toroney had opposed laying off Terri Lampe, the borough's economic development director, during a Dec. 16 vote. On Monday, he said economic development is "one way for us to increase our revenue stream." By eliminating the position, council saved $134,518 next year.Toroney also lobbied for an independent financial audit, which would allow council members to annually question the previous year's budget."An auditing firm will give us the truth," he said.Rhoads did not give an explanation for his votes. Berry read from a prepared statement, saying Pottstown faced many difficult decisions just like county and state governments have in a struggling economy.Although Berry offered praise on several occasions for Assistant Manager Jason Bobst and consultant/finance director Timothea Kirchner, he said council was not abreast of the "true extent of the borough's financial situation" until last month.Mayor Sharon Valentine-Thomas echoed that last point, saying, "This will not be a process that simply starts in October."She also read from a prepared statement, calling the 2009 budget a "product of hard work." Pottstown avoided 25 percent funding cuts from the four fire companies. Valentine-Thomas said the cost of public safety "should not be breached."On balance, the budget process arrived at several conclusions, including a "more economical outsourcing option" and greater expectations for managers to meet accounting targets, she said. The financial committee will now give monthly updates, the mayor said.She highlighted Pottstown's top three cost items: $9.6 million from the general fund for police, $1.9 million in employee benefits, and just under $500,000 for codes.Valentine-Thomas, who cast one vote Monday night, said she looks forward to a "greater level of co-opertivity" between the community and local government. Her vote came on the tax of 1.30635 mills for fire house maintenance.Councilman Mark Gibson abstained because he is a volunteer firefighter.Gibson expressed disappointment with one or more of his previous votes concerning layoffs. He voted for cutting Lampe's position and against the elimination of 12 positions on Dec. 8. In retrospect, Gibson said he did not do "what's in my heart.""I would have made a different decision and I'm being honest about it today," he said.On the overall budget, Gibson hopes to have a better go of it for the 2010 fiscal cycle."I hope this time next year, we won't have to go through what we went through this year," he stated.The approved property tax rate for 2009 is 8.88872 mills, or about $8.89 for every $1,000 in assessed value.
http://www.pottsmerc.com/articles/2008/12/30/news/srv0000004379458.txt
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Pottstown faces 12 percent tax hike
Wednesday, December 17, 2008 9:57 AM EST
POTTSTOWN — If no further changes are made to the budget at the Dec. 29 close-out meeting, taxpayers will face a jump in the property tax rate of roughly 12 percent in 2009.Tuesday night, borough council backed off a proposal to cut 25 percent of the funding provided to the borough's four fire companies, but went ahead and cut the economic development director position. That brought the tax hike down from 14.38 percent, which was where it stood when the council last left the budget table on Dec. 8.The elimination of the economic development position, decided by a 5-2 vote, brought the increase down to about 12.2 percent, said Assistant Borough Manager Jason Bobst.Councilmen Jody Rhoads and Stephen Toroney voted against eliminating the position and Toroney argued vehemently against the move, which will save the borough $134,518 in 2009.
The elimination of the post, currently held by Terri Lampe, comes on the heels of council's Dec. 8 decision to eliminate another 12 positions and to take $177,000 from a payment from Waste Management, which was originally intended for the trash fund, to help fill the budget hole in the general fund.It was not a decision that came easily, or without objection. Former school board member Robert Morgan, who sits on the borough's economic advisory council, urged the council to keep the position, saying it takes time for economic development efforts to take hold."We've got a good three-year head start, now is not the time to stop," said Morgan. "We have to continue that or Pottstown is just going to die."He said the only thing that lowers taxes is an improved tax base and the only thing that will improve the tax base is economic development.Former Councilman Harry Price, who also sits on the economic advisory body, said while he may not have a great deal of expertise in economic development, "I have a great deal of experience on what makes Pottstown tick." He said without continued efforts to boost the tax base, Pottstown would have to continue to cut personnel in order to balance its budget."The fat days of the 50s, and 40s and 60s are gone, we need to have someone on this 24/7," said Price. "This is an investment and you have to take some risk."Both Borough Council President David Garner and Vice President Greg Berry argued that the elimination of the position does not mean the elimination of economic development.Garner said, "I don't think the model is appropriate," to have the borough being the primary funding source for this activity. "I don't think we have the expertise on council to have oversight."I have to say I don't think we were getting a great return on our investment," said Garner. "There are better ways of doing it and we need to do better."He said he had been in discussions with the TriCounty Chamber of Commerce, Pottstown Area Industrial Development Inc. and Steve Nelson, the chief operating officer for Montgomery County, about ways it could be done better."But I can't report to you that we have a detailed proposal," Garner said.Berry said the decision "is an opportunity for some of these other organizations to work together with the borough to partner together for economic development."But Andy Paravis, chairman of the board of supervisors of North Coventry Township and a founding member of the Pottstown Metropolitan Regional Planning Committee, said it was Lampe who was coordinating efforts like that, including a proposal to revitalize the Hanover Street bridge, a joint project between the borough, North Coventry, and Montgomery and Chester counties."Eliminating economic development from this community is a mistake," Paravis said. "We have to be prepared for when the economy comes back."Calling the vote "a grave mistake," Toroney said "you might as well put a bullet in this town. You might as well kill us. I'm really angry that we're doing away with economic development in this town. The tax base is the problem, not the people who are working here in borough hall."As for the proposed cuts to the fire companies, an issue close to the hearts of the half-dozen or so firemen who sat in the audience Tuesday, Garner said, "A cut of 25 percent would have been nice from a budget perspective, but it does not make sense in how it would play out."He added, "Personally, I'm not ready to bring this issue back to the table."Neither, apparently, was anyone else.Rhoads, who has remained largely silent during budget discussions except for prepared remarks at the end of the meetings, had a few more Tuesday."In my opinion, this whole budget process was infected before it started due to animosity and disrespect toward the workers, animosity and disrespect toward our economic development director and unprofessional and irresponsible statements," Rhoads said."All year long I have been hearing vague comments and I have asked you again and again to be specific. If you want to be a part of this process, you're welcome to join and if you have a specific contribution to make, please make it. But as for these vague comments, I just don't know if they're very productive," shot back Garner.The council's final meeting, at which the tax rate will be officially set, will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 29, in borough hall. Although at that meeting the tax rate legally can be further reduced over what was advertised, it cannot be raised.
http://www.pottsmerc.com/articles/2008/12/17/news/srv0000004296762.txt
POTTSTOWN — If no further changes are made to the budget at the Dec. 29 close-out meeting, taxpayers will face a jump in the property tax rate of roughly 12 percent in 2009.Tuesday night, borough council backed off a proposal to cut 25 percent of the funding provided to the borough's four fire companies, but went ahead and cut the economic development director position. That brought the tax hike down from 14.38 percent, which was where it stood when the council last left the budget table on Dec. 8.The elimination of the economic development position, decided by a 5-2 vote, brought the increase down to about 12.2 percent, said Assistant Borough Manager Jason Bobst.Councilmen Jody Rhoads and Stephen Toroney voted against eliminating the position and Toroney argued vehemently against the move, which will save the borough $134,518 in 2009.
The elimination of the post, currently held by Terri Lampe, comes on the heels of council's Dec. 8 decision to eliminate another 12 positions and to take $177,000 from a payment from Waste Management, which was originally intended for the trash fund, to help fill the budget hole in the general fund.It was not a decision that came easily, or without objection. Former school board member Robert Morgan, who sits on the borough's economic advisory council, urged the council to keep the position, saying it takes time for economic development efforts to take hold."We've got a good three-year head start, now is not the time to stop," said Morgan. "We have to continue that or Pottstown is just going to die."He said the only thing that lowers taxes is an improved tax base and the only thing that will improve the tax base is economic development.Former Councilman Harry Price, who also sits on the economic advisory body, said while he may not have a great deal of expertise in economic development, "I have a great deal of experience on what makes Pottstown tick." He said without continued efforts to boost the tax base, Pottstown would have to continue to cut personnel in order to balance its budget."The fat days of the 50s, and 40s and 60s are gone, we need to have someone on this 24/7," said Price. "This is an investment and you have to take some risk."Both Borough Council President David Garner and Vice President Greg Berry argued that the elimination of the position does not mean the elimination of economic development.Garner said, "I don't think the model is appropriate," to have the borough being the primary funding source for this activity. "I don't think we have the expertise on council to have oversight."I have to say I don't think we were getting a great return on our investment," said Garner. "There are better ways of doing it and we need to do better."He said he had been in discussions with the TriCounty Chamber of Commerce, Pottstown Area Industrial Development Inc. and Steve Nelson, the chief operating officer for Montgomery County, about ways it could be done better."But I can't report to you that we have a detailed proposal," Garner said.Berry said the decision "is an opportunity for some of these other organizations to work together with the borough to partner together for economic development."But Andy Paravis, chairman of the board of supervisors of North Coventry Township and a founding member of the Pottstown Metropolitan Regional Planning Committee, said it was Lampe who was coordinating efforts like that, including a proposal to revitalize the Hanover Street bridge, a joint project between the borough, North Coventry, and Montgomery and Chester counties."Eliminating economic development from this community is a mistake," Paravis said. "We have to be prepared for when the economy comes back."Calling the vote "a grave mistake," Toroney said "you might as well put a bullet in this town. You might as well kill us. I'm really angry that we're doing away with economic development in this town. The tax base is the problem, not the people who are working here in borough hall."As for the proposed cuts to the fire companies, an issue close to the hearts of the half-dozen or so firemen who sat in the audience Tuesday, Garner said, "A cut of 25 percent would have been nice from a budget perspective, but it does not make sense in how it would play out."He added, "Personally, I'm not ready to bring this issue back to the table."Neither, apparently, was anyone else.Rhoads, who has remained largely silent during budget discussions except for prepared remarks at the end of the meetings, had a few more Tuesday."In my opinion, this whole budget process was infected before it started due to animosity and disrespect toward the workers, animosity and disrespect toward our economic development director and unprofessional and irresponsible statements," Rhoads said."All year long I have been hearing vague comments and I have asked you again and again to be specific. If you want to be a part of this process, you're welcome to join and if you have a specific contribution to make, please make it. But as for these vague comments, I just don't know if they're very productive," shot back Garner.The council's final meeting, at which the tax rate will be officially set, will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 29, in borough hall. Although at that meeting the tax rate legally can be further reduced over what was advertised, it cannot be raised.
http://www.pottsmerc.com/articles/2008/12/17/news/srv0000004296762.txt
Monday, December 15, 2008
Attracting businesses depends on attractive tax rate to keep them.
Pottstown Mercury - Opinion
Monday, December 15, 2008 6:12 AM EST
One of the most difficult decisions the Pottstown Borough Council faces this week is the budget proposal to eliminate the borough's economic development director position.The proposal is projected to save $180,000 a year by doing away with the job currently held by Terri Lampe and the other costs that support the job.According to Borough Manager Ray Lopez, the $180,000 figure comes from looking at "the issue in its totality, the costs involved, the expense of wages, benefits, meetings, conferences, the office, the support."The argument for keeping the position is that it is the one area that can bring a return on its investment by attracting business to town.
The job was praised by this newspaper and by town leaders when it was created several years ago as a necessary and important step to revitalization in the borough.And, the mission of economic development remains the path with greatest hope for solving the tax problem in Pottstown over the next 10 or 15 years. Without an influx of businesses and the people that businesses bring, the town's future is bleak.That rationale, however, is for a different time and place.Ask a business owner why they chose someplace other than Pottstown to locate or why their project has stalled here or why they picked up and left, and the high tax rate will be near the top of their list of reasons.The best marketing genius in the world can not overcome the unwelcoming fact of Pottstown's disproportionately high tax rate.Now, when keeping that tax rate from skyrocketing higher depends on painful decisions, losing the office of economic development director becomes one of those difficult choices.The arguments that economic development must go forward are without dispute, but no one is going to success in developing the town's business potential if taxes are not brought under control,Economic development may need to go forward without municipal dollars.Council President David Garner said at last week's council meeting that he has met with Tim Phelps, the executive director of the TriCounty Area Chamber of Commerce, and was told the chamber and Pottstown Area Industrial Development "want to address the issue" and that Phelps provided him with "an outline" of how that might happen."They want to figure out a way to assume the management and advancement of the plan," Garner said, referring to the borough's economic development strategic plan.However, "it's not all ironed out so we don't know yet what that would look like and the chamber is still looking for other partners."Council Vice President Greg Berry has pointed out to council that in Montgomery County, Lower Merion Township is the only other municipality with an economic development director, but it is not the only place where economic development occurs.The resources for economic development can come from many places — county and regional partnerships, business organizations like the chamber, volunteer groups like the Pottstown business authority — that do not demand municipal tax dollars.There are many difficult decisions being made within departments in borough hall, and services as sacred to residents as fire and police protection are being scrutinized.The economic development office is a luxury — to some it is seen as a luxury we can not afford to lose and to others as one we can not afford to keep. But, in these tough times, any luxury becomes obsolete.Economic development is as important to Pottstown as ever, but the past few years have shown that the best path may be the one that is accomplished with less instead of more.Business growth will not occur unless the cost of doing business here is attractive.Right now, the cost of finding new businesses is getting in the way of keeping them.
http://www.pottsmerc.com/articles/2008/12/15/opinion/srv0000004271002.txt
Monday, December 15, 2008 6:12 AM EST
One of the most difficult decisions the Pottstown Borough Council faces this week is the budget proposal to eliminate the borough's economic development director position.The proposal is projected to save $180,000 a year by doing away with the job currently held by Terri Lampe and the other costs that support the job.According to Borough Manager Ray Lopez, the $180,000 figure comes from looking at "the issue in its totality, the costs involved, the expense of wages, benefits, meetings, conferences, the office, the support."The argument for keeping the position is that it is the one area that can bring a return on its investment by attracting business to town.
The job was praised by this newspaper and by town leaders when it was created several years ago as a necessary and important step to revitalization in the borough.And, the mission of economic development remains the path with greatest hope for solving the tax problem in Pottstown over the next 10 or 15 years. Without an influx of businesses and the people that businesses bring, the town's future is bleak.That rationale, however, is for a different time and place.Ask a business owner why they chose someplace other than Pottstown to locate or why their project has stalled here or why they picked up and left, and the high tax rate will be near the top of their list of reasons.The best marketing genius in the world can not overcome the unwelcoming fact of Pottstown's disproportionately high tax rate.Now, when keeping that tax rate from skyrocketing higher depends on painful decisions, losing the office of economic development director becomes one of those difficult choices.The arguments that economic development must go forward are without dispute, but no one is going to success in developing the town's business potential if taxes are not brought under control,Economic development may need to go forward without municipal dollars.Council President David Garner said at last week's council meeting that he has met with Tim Phelps, the executive director of the TriCounty Area Chamber of Commerce, and was told the chamber and Pottstown Area Industrial Development "want to address the issue" and that Phelps provided him with "an outline" of how that might happen."They want to figure out a way to assume the management and advancement of the plan," Garner said, referring to the borough's economic development strategic plan.However, "it's not all ironed out so we don't know yet what that would look like and the chamber is still looking for other partners."Council Vice President Greg Berry has pointed out to council that in Montgomery County, Lower Merion Township is the only other municipality with an economic development director, but it is not the only place where economic development occurs.The resources for economic development can come from many places — county and regional partnerships, business organizations like the chamber, volunteer groups like the Pottstown business authority — that do not demand municipal tax dollars.There are many difficult decisions being made within departments in borough hall, and services as sacred to residents as fire and police protection are being scrutinized.The economic development office is a luxury — to some it is seen as a luxury we can not afford to lose and to others as one we can not afford to keep. But, in these tough times, any luxury becomes obsolete.Economic development is as important to Pottstown as ever, but the past few years have shown that the best path may be the one that is accomplished with less instead of more.Business growth will not occur unless the cost of doing business here is attractive.Right now, the cost of finding new businesses is getting in the way of keeping them.
http://www.pottsmerc.com/articles/2008/12/15/opinion/srv0000004271002.txt
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Borough seeks answers to looming budget woes
Sunday, December 14, 2008 12:25 PM EST
POTTSTOWN — When Borough Council meets Tuesday to consider more changes to a budget that threatens to raise property taxes by 19 percent in 2009, two major unanswered questions will loom over their deliberations.Although council made a controversial vote at the Dec. 8 meeting to eliminate 12 positions and partially fill a budget gap with $177,000 from a Waste Management payment, which was supposed to be used to keep trash costs down, it failed to vote on two major recommendations made by the administration. One would cut 25 percent of the $185,000 the borough gives to each of its four fire companies every year. The other is the elimination of the borough's economic development director position, a post now held by Terri Lampe and which borough officials said costs taxpayers $180,000 a year.Although council Vice President Greg Berry made both motions, none of the other council members present would venture a second so a vote could be taken.It seems likely that when council meets again Tuesday for further budget discussions these matters will be high on the list of potential action items.
Prior to formally considering the measures, council members heard from residents, workers and managers.Fire Chief Richard Lengel, who opposes the cuts to the fire companies, outlined changes he could make to his budget and insurance expenses the fire companies have said they will absorb which could save the borough more than $26,000. He argued that the funding cut could be absorbed in no other way but by cutting back on the paid drivers in each firehouse, and that could endanger lives and property.Because the number of volunteers who respond to fires has dwindled over the years, getting a paid professional to the scene as quickly as possible makes all the difference in the world, said Lengel.He said for every minute a structure fire burns without being fought, it doubles in size."Over the past 50 years, we have done the job with the same 12 positions, no increase in personnel," Lengel said. "In 1997, we had 9,000 man hours logged, but over the last three years (with fewer volunteers), we've had 4,000 man hours, even though the number of calls stays constant."He said out of 324 calendar days in 2008, only 35 had zero fire calls and 75 percent of the remaining days have two or more fire calls."Lessening funding for the fire companies, which will affect having four drivers on all the time, and you start rolling the dice," Lengel said, "and that's my case."Former Councilman Arthur Green, who now sits on the borough's economic advisory board, urged the council to "fully fund the police and firefighters. They are the most basic and tangible function of government and I support raising taxes, if necessary, to support them."Green also urged the council to restore if not the economic development director's position, "at least some mechanism for allowing the projects to continue forward."Green said, "The strategic plan lays out the future of Pottstown. If you sacrifice it, you sacrifice our future. It is a false economy to do this for a few dollars that you might save today if it ends up cutting off future dollars.""I have been seeing e-mails that suggest by cutting this position we're not going to follow the strategic plan and that is completely false," said Berry. "We are considering the value of having an economic development director, and if that position is or will be providing a return over five, 10 and 20 years."Added Berry, "No one has ever provided me any numbers that show we're getting a return on this investment. All I ever get is a lot of innuendo, a lot of fluff. Just because we have no director does not stop economic development efforts."Borough Manager Ray Lopez told the council that when the recommendation to eliminate the position was formed "we looked at the issue in its totality, the costs involved, the expense of wages, benefits, meetings, conferences, the office, the support and concluded it cost us $180,000. We thought that was a big wad of money to swallow."Council President David Garner said he met prior to the Dec. 8 meeting with Tim Phelps, the executive director of the TriCounty Area Chamber of Commerce, and was told the chamber and Pottstown Area Industrial Development "want to address the issue" and that Phelps provided him with "an outline" of how that might happen."They want to figure out a way to assume the management and advancement of the plan," Garner said. However, "it's not all ironed out so we don't know yet what that would look like and the chamber is still looking for other partners."He reminded the council that a recent deal with The Hill School for the abandonment of Green Street provides for a $25,000 payment from the school to be used for economic development.Other department heads also outlined how they cut their budgets.Public Works Director Doug Yerger said the cuts he made to the streets department would be most visible to taxpayers "during larger snowstorms. That could be the penalty. If we don't have the manpower, we might have to hire people from outside."Police Chief Mark Flanders, whose department consumes the largest portion of the budget's general fund, said by the time he was done, $390,000 had been cut from his budget."At the first swipe, we cut $70,000 and then they came back and asked for more, so we had to look at decreases in the work force. So eliminating one full-time office worker and one part-time parking enforcement officer added another $150,000 to the total," Flanders said."It's painful, it truly is," said Flanders. "What else can I say?"Also painful was the laying off of workers, notices for which were delivered last week, but who goes may not be the same as who was proposed to go.First of all, the borough's contract with the American Federal of State, County and Municipal Employees unit allows those with seniority to "bump" into lower positions they have held if their position is eliminated. Also, complications may ensue from a grievance the union filed over the fact that the contract calls for the borough to "lay off all temporary, seasonal and part-time employees within the department prior to any layoff of regular full-time employees," which is not what was done.Part-time employees who were not identified as being among those to be laid off include the newly hired part-time water meter reader and the second parking enforcement officer.It remained unclear Friday how the union's action will affect the eventual outcome. Also unclear is what the final effect will be on the taxpayer.Assistant Borough Manager Jason Bobst, who has helped put the budget proposal together, could not immediately calculate the exact effect a 19 percent tax hike would have on the average property assessment in Pottstown, which stands at about $78,000. He also failed to fulfill an offer to e-mail that information to The Mercury last week.That may well be among the details fleshed out at Tuesday's council meeting, a meeting made necessary largely because of Garner's refusal to accept a 19 percent tax hike."I am not satisfied this is a budget I am ready to vote on," Garner told council members."I am trying to turn over rocks. I think 19 percent is way out of line," Garner said. "I don't think we've done a real good job here."
http://www.pottsmerc.com/articles/2008/12/14/news/srv0000004268644.txt
POTTSTOWN — When Borough Council meets Tuesday to consider more changes to a budget that threatens to raise property taxes by 19 percent in 2009, two major unanswered questions will loom over their deliberations.Although council made a controversial vote at the Dec. 8 meeting to eliminate 12 positions and partially fill a budget gap with $177,000 from a Waste Management payment, which was supposed to be used to keep trash costs down, it failed to vote on two major recommendations made by the administration. One would cut 25 percent of the $185,000 the borough gives to each of its four fire companies every year. The other is the elimination of the borough's economic development director position, a post now held by Terri Lampe and which borough officials said costs taxpayers $180,000 a year.Although council Vice President Greg Berry made both motions, none of the other council members present would venture a second so a vote could be taken.It seems likely that when council meets again Tuesday for further budget discussions these matters will be high on the list of potential action items.
Prior to formally considering the measures, council members heard from residents, workers and managers.Fire Chief Richard Lengel, who opposes the cuts to the fire companies, outlined changes he could make to his budget and insurance expenses the fire companies have said they will absorb which could save the borough more than $26,000. He argued that the funding cut could be absorbed in no other way but by cutting back on the paid drivers in each firehouse, and that could endanger lives and property.Because the number of volunteers who respond to fires has dwindled over the years, getting a paid professional to the scene as quickly as possible makes all the difference in the world, said Lengel.He said for every minute a structure fire burns without being fought, it doubles in size."Over the past 50 years, we have done the job with the same 12 positions, no increase in personnel," Lengel said. "In 1997, we had 9,000 man hours logged, but over the last three years (with fewer volunteers), we've had 4,000 man hours, even though the number of calls stays constant."He said out of 324 calendar days in 2008, only 35 had zero fire calls and 75 percent of the remaining days have two or more fire calls."Lessening funding for the fire companies, which will affect having four drivers on all the time, and you start rolling the dice," Lengel said, "and that's my case."Former Councilman Arthur Green, who now sits on the borough's economic advisory board, urged the council to "fully fund the police and firefighters. They are the most basic and tangible function of government and I support raising taxes, if necessary, to support them."Green also urged the council to restore if not the economic development director's position, "at least some mechanism for allowing the projects to continue forward."Green said, "The strategic plan lays out the future of Pottstown. If you sacrifice it, you sacrifice our future. It is a false economy to do this for a few dollars that you might save today if it ends up cutting off future dollars.""I have been seeing e-mails that suggest by cutting this position we're not going to follow the strategic plan and that is completely false," said Berry. "We are considering the value of having an economic development director, and if that position is or will be providing a return over five, 10 and 20 years."Added Berry, "No one has ever provided me any numbers that show we're getting a return on this investment. All I ever get is a lot of innuendo, a lot of fluff. Just because we have no director does not stop economic development efforts."Borough Manager Ray Lopez told the council that when the recommendation to eliminate the position was formed "we looked at the issue in its totality, the costs involved, the expense of wages, benefits, meetings, conferences, the office, the support and concluded it cost us $180,000. We thought that was a big wad of money to swallow."Council President David Garner said he met prior to the Dec. 8 meeting with Tim Phelps, the executive director of the TriCounty Area Chamber of Commerce, and was told the chamber and Pottstown Area Industrial Development "want to address the issue" and that Phelps provided him with "an outline" of how that might happen."They want to figure out a way to assume the management and advancement of the plan," Garner said. However, "it's not all ironed out so we don't know yet what that would look like and the chamber is still looking for other partners."He reminded the council that a recent deal with The Hill School for the abandonment of Green Street provides for a $25,000 payment from the school to be used for economic development.Other department heads also outlined how they cut their budgets.Public Works Director Doug Yerger said the cuts he made to the streets department would be most visible to taxpayers "during larger snowstorms. That could be the penalty. If we don't have the manpower, we might have to hire people from outside."Police Chief Mark Flanders, whose department consumes the largest portion of the budget's general fund, said by the time he was done, $390,000 had been cut from his budget."At the first swipe, we cut $70,000 and then they came back and asked for more, so we had to look at decreases in the work force. So eliminating one full-time office worker and one part-time parking enforcement officer added another $150,000 to the total," Flanders said."It's painful, it truly is," said Flanders. "What else can I say?"Also painful was the laying off of workers, notices for which were delivered last week, but who goes may not be the same as who was proposed to go.First of all, the borough's contract with the American Federal of State, County and Municipal Employees unit allows those with seniority to "bump" into lower positions they have held if their position is eliminated. Also, complications may ensue from a grievance the union filed over the fact that the contract calls for the borough to "lay off all temporary, seasonal and part-time employees within the department prior to any layoff of regular full-time employees," which is not what was done.Part-time employees who were not identified as being among those to be laid off include the newly hired part-time water meter reader and the second parking enforcement officer.It remained unclear Friday how the union's action will affect the eventual outcome. Also unclear is what the final effect will be on the taxpayer.Assistant Borough Manager Jason Bobst, who has helped put the budget proposal together, could not immediately calculate the exact effect a 19 percent tax hike would have on the average property assessment in Pottstown, which stands at about $78,000. He also failed to fulfill an offer to e-mail that information to The Mercury last week.That may well be among the details fleshed out at Tuesday's council meeting, a meeting made necessary largely because of Garner's refusal to accept a 19 percent tax hike."I am not satisfied this is a budget I am ready to vote on," Garner told council members."I am trying to turn over rocks. I think 19 percent is way out of line," Garner said. "I don't think we've done a real good job here."
http://www.pottsmerc.com/articles/2008/12/14/news/srv0000004268644.txt
Council cannot shirk responsibility for tough decisions in tough times.
Pottstown Mercury - Opinion
The budget decisions facing Pottstown Borough Council this year may not represent the most difficult choices ever undertaken, but they are becoming the most difficult to accomplish.Council has been grappling for two months with the news that jobs and services might have to be cut to balance the 2009 budget, and even at that, the borough could still face a double-digit tax increase.But despite the handwriting being on the wall for some time, council members are avoiding the hard decisions. While department heads and consultant and acting financial director Timothea Kirchner crunch numbers and present the financial picture for consideration, some council members sit silent.Last Monday, council did manage to arrive at some of the difficult budget decisions, including a split vote to lay off 12 employees. But, on two other significant and highly controversial items -— the elimination of the economic development director's position and a 25 percent cut in funding to the borough's four fire companies — motions failed for lack of a second.
Without a second, there was no opportunity for council members to explain their reasons for their decision —because they didn't make any, much to the chagrin of Council President David Garner. Garner said council's unwillingness to make decisions will translate to the second double-digit tax hike in three years."Taxes were raised 25 percent two years ago and 9 percent last year. We need to do better," Garner said. "The reality is revenues in the borough are declining, and they are declining because the taxes keep going up."Garner is not the only one getting frustrated.Borough employees have come to the administration and to council with ideas on ways to save money, and on Monday, the chairperson of the Pottstown unit of the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees said union members were offering a wage freeze in the current contract.Unit chairperson Karen Lewandowski said the wage freeze would save the borough about $111,648. But no action followed.Last week, Lewandowski told council that as much as $300,000 in additional revenue could be obtained by charging a 10 percent late fee to septic haulers who are behind on their payments for taking septage to the sewer plant for treatment.Lewandowski and others have complained that a number of suggestions on ways to reduce costs have been ignored.Garner's encouragement to his fellow council members to bring to a vote the tough decisions is laudable.But, council does not appear to be willing to reciprocate or work with the union on ideas that could save money. Is the unwillingness because the ideas are wrong, or because council members perceive them as coming from the wrong corner?This is not a budget where anyone is going to come away satisfied. The borough's eroding tax base has come up against its pressing needs, and the collision poses considerable challenge.But, these are the times when leaders must step up to take more responsibility, not less. The call to keep money in the budget for economic development must be balanced against the reality that the borough's tax base is its worst enemy. The emotional clamor to protect fire and police services must be weighed against the pain of higher taxes in a deteriorating economy.Council must respond.The town's elected leaders can not pretend that by putting off votes a miracle will happen, that by ignoring the alarm bells, the fire will go out by itself. The silence and lack of action is disturbing; the unwillingness to work side by side with employees to find answers is destructive.If no other changes are made, the budget as it stands now would drive a 19 percent tax increase in 2009. Garner and others are urging council members to prevent the downward economic spiral that such a hike might spark.Time is running out.
http://www.pottsmerc.com/articles/2008/12/14/opinion/srv0000004269112.txt
The budget decisions facing Pottstown Borough Council this year may not represent the most difficult choices ever undertaken, but they are becoming the most difficult to accomplish.Council has been grappling for two months with the news that jobs and services might have to be cut to balance the 2009 budget, and even at that, the borough could still face a double-digit tax increase.But despite the handwriting being on the wall for some time, council members are avoiding the hard decisions. While department heads and consultant and acting financial director Timothea Kirchner crunch numbers and present the financial picture for consideration, some council members sit silent.Last Monday, council did manage to arrive at some of the difficult budget decisions, including a split vote to lay off 12 employees. But, on two other significant and highly controversial items -— the elimination of the economic development director's position and a 25 percent cut in funding to the borough's four fire companies — motions failed for lack of a second.
Without a second, there was no opportunity for council members to explain their reasons for their decision —because they didn't make any, much to the chagrin of Council President David Garner. Garner said council's unwillingness to make decisions will translate to the second double-digit tax hike in three years."Taxes were raised 25 percent two years ago and 9 percent last year. We need to do better," Garner said. "The reality is revenues in the borough are declining, and they are declining because the taxes keep going up."Garner is not the only one getting frustrated.Borough employees have come to the administration and to council with ideas on ways to save money, and on Monday, the chairperson of the Pottstown unit of the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees said union members were offering a wage freeze in the current contract.Unit chairperson Karen Lewandowski said the wage freeze would save the borough about $111,648. But no action followed.Last week, Lewandowski told council that as much as $300,000 in additional revenue could be obtained by charging a 10 percent late fee to septic haulers who are behind on their payments for taking septage to the sewer plant for treatment.Lewandowski and others have complained that a number of suggestions on ways to reduce costs have been ignored.Garner's encouragement to his fellow council members to bring to a vote the tough decisions is laudable.But, council does not appear to be willing to reciprocate or work with the union on ideas that could save money. Is the unwillingness because the ideas are wrong, or because council members perceive them as coming from the wrong corner?This is not a budget where anyone is going to come away satisfied. The borough's eroding tax base has come up against its pressing needs, and the collision poses considerable challenge.But, these are the times when leaders must step up to take more responsibility, not less. The call to keep money in the budget for economic development must be balanced against the reality that the borough's tax base is its worst enemy. The emotional clamor to protect fire and police services must be weighed against the pain of higher taxes in a deteriorating economy.Council must respond.The town's elected leaders can not pretend that by putting off votes a miracle will happen, that by ignoring the alarm bells, the fire will go out by itself. The silence and lack of action is disturbing; the unwillingness to work side by side with employees to find answers is destructive.If no other changes are made, the budget as it stands now would drive a 19 percent tax increase in 2009. Garner and others are urging council members to prevent the downward economic spiral that such a hike might spark.Time is running out.
http://www.pottsmerc.com/articles/2008/12/14/opinion/srv0000004269112.txt
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