Pennsylvania's medium sized cities are facing financial problems with two nearby cities (Reading and Harrisburg) moving into distressed status under the Act 47 law.
In recent years, York City officials have acknowledged the city's long term financial picture isn't good and that the city's major costs are for police and fire protection.
Meanwhile, the York Counts-Metro York group has been pushing for a consolidated government involving York City and the suburbs.
After these groups formed up to agitate for consolidation, the Springettsbury Township supervisors and Spring Garden Township commissioners acted to form the York Area United Fire and Rescue organization abolishing their local fire services.'
Last year, York Area United took over managment of Manchester Township's fire service and now talks are underway to merge Manchester Township into York Area United.
A fire safety study done for York City last year recommended that York City's fire department merge with York Area United next year (2012).
Recently, North York Borough appointed York City fire chief Steve Buffington as its fire chief.
When one adds all this up, its obvious that a consolidation process is underway that will have one metropolitan fire department in place within a few years.
Taxpayers in the suburbs will be paying to support the costs of fire service in York City under the banner of York Area United Fire and Rescue.
A police consolidation study pushed by the York Counts-Metro York group is moving forward but it needed a funding boost from York City Council.
When suburban communities like Springettsbury Township signed onto it, they didn't want to put up any money. The Greater York Chamber of Commerce Foundation put up five thousand dollars to help with the cost.
Supporters claim police regionalization is needed because "crime is everywhere" and "it will save money."
But the facts as we know them without a study are that the suburbs have more people and fewer police officers, plus a crime rate that's dwarfed by that of the city.
Consolidation involving the more populous suburbs would end up having their taxpayers subsidizing the city's more costlier police protection with higher taxes.
I can believe the argument about saving money "saving money" as in saving money for the City of York at the expense of suburban taxpayers.
The fire and police consolidation schemes should be a prime topic in municipal elections coming up this year in York's suburban communities.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Sunday, February 13, 2011
The Dallastown Board Majority Picks A New Business As Usual Member
One thing was certain going into this school board election year at Dallastown.
If longtime board member Earl Miller stood for re-election he would suffer a crushing defeat in Region 3. Taxpayers aren't just angry about his longtime support for higher property taxes and increased spending, but they are also incensed at the massive new intermediate school built right in their own backyard.
Miller's sudden resignation last month opened the door for the tax and spend school board majority to appoint a new member not tainted by Miller's past who could stand for this year's election.
Their pick was Ronald Blevins, who has some impressive credentials as a certified public accountant and a vice chairman and treasurer of the Wolf Organization. He is now a consultant.
But those credentials also establish Mr. Blevins as someone who has worked for York's richest and most influential liberal Democrat, Tom Wolf. Wolf served as Revenue Secretary for former governor Ed Rendell.
Along with Dallastown School District resident and leading York County RINO Louis Appell, Wolf has been in the forefront of efforts to promote liberal-left causes in York County ranging from Planned Parenthood to the attempted eminent domain land seizure at Lauxmont Farms.
The business as usual school board majority (Don Yoder, Mary Shoemaker, Lauren Rock, Kenneth Potter and Fred Botterbusch) cast the deciding votes for Blevins in the second round.
Pro-taxpayer board members Don Jasmann, Margaret Ibex and Carroll Tignall supported Bill Lytle for the seat.
Will Blevins and Lytle face off in the school board primary election for Region 3 in May?????????
If longtime board member Earl Miller stood for re-election he would suffer a crushing defeat in Region 3. Taxpayers aren't just angry about his longtime support for higher property taxes and increased spending, but they are also incensed at the massive new intermediate school built right in their own backyard.
Miller's sudden resignation last month opened the door for the tax and spend school board majority to appoint a new member not tainted by Miller's past who could stand for this year's election.
Their pick was Ronald Blevins, who has some impressive credentials as a certified public accountant and a vice chairman and treasurer of the Wolf Organization. He is now a consultant.
But those credentials also establish Mr. Blevins as someone who has worked for York's richest and most influential liberal Democrat, Tom Wolf. Wolf served as Revenue Secretary for former governor Ed Rendell.
Along with Dallastown School District resident and leading York County RINO Louis Appell, Wolf has been in the forefront of efforts to promote liberal-left causes in York County ranging from Planned Parenthood to the attempted eminent domain land seizure at Lauxmont Farms.
The business as usual school board majority (Don Yoder, Mary Shoemaker, Lauren Rock, Kenneth Potter and Fred Botterbusch) cast the deciding votes for Blevins in the second round.
Pro-taxpayer board members Don Jasmann, Margaret Ibex and Carroll Tignall supported Bill Lytle for the seat.
Will Blevins and Lytle face off in the school board primary election for Region 3 in May?????????
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Lets Get Real About Public School Salaries
Much is being made about deals being cut by unions representing teachers in various York County school districts.
The deals often involve early retirement for some teachers and in the case of one school district (Eastern) the union cut a deal that gives its members small increases of under 2 percent (increases for years of service with top paid teachers getting a $1,000 dollar lump sum).
The bottom line is that after these deals are made, property taxes will continue to go up in those school districts for the 2011-2012 school year starting July 1st.
In Dallastown, where a pay freeze request was made by the district to its teachers, it was estimated that 2.3 million dollars would be saved if all employees from administration on down (union and non-union) took a pay freeze for the next school year.
The offer was rejected by the Dallastown Area Education Association's president.
If the Pennsylvania State Education Association thinks these half way measures are the way to go, they are wrong to think so.
In the real world, people who pay property taxes have lost jobs, had their pay frozen or cut etc. in the recent economic slowdown.
Its time for public school employees in general in York County to "give back to the community" by taking a pay freeze.
And for administration led by the 150-thousand dollar a year league of superintendents its simply time for their pay to be cut up to 10 percent for the next school year.
These steps would be a major step towards eliminating the need for any property tax hikes next year.
In the Dallastown School District, the ten percent cut for administration would easily translate into an additional 400-thousand dollars worth of savings on top of the 2.3 million that would be saved by a pay freeze.
The deals often involve early retirement for some teachers and in the case of one school district (Eastern) the union cut a deal that gives its members small increases of under 2 percent (increases for years of service with top paid teachers getting a $1,000 dollar lump sum).
The bottom line is that after these deals are made, property taxes will continue to go up in those school districts for the 2011-2012 school year starting July 1st.
In Dallastown, where a pay freeze request was made by the district to its teachers, it was estimated that 2.3 million dollars would be saved if all employees from administration on down (union and non-union) took a pay freeze for the next school year.
The offer was rejected by the Dallastown Area Education Association's president.
If the Pennsylvania State Education Association thinks these half way measures are the way to go, they are wrong to think so.
In the real world, people who pay property taxes have lost jobs, had their pay frozen or cut etc. in the recent economic slowdown.
Its time for public school employees in general in York County to "give back to the community" by taking a pay freeze.
And for administration led by the 150-thousand dollar a year league of superintendents its simply time for their pay to be cut up to 10 percent for the next school year.
These steps would be a major step towards eliminating the need for any property tax hikes next year.
In the Dallastown School District, the ten percent cut for administration would easily translate into an additional 400-thousand dollars worth of savings on top of the 2.3 million that would be saved by a pay freeze.
Welcome To The York Report
The polticial season will be heating up in York County as candidates for judge and school board begin the process of getting signatures for the May Primary this month.
You will get the latest news, comment and analysis on politics and other matters related to York right here on this page.
You will get the latest news, comment and analysis on politics and other matters related to York right here on this page.
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