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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Friday, April 18, 2008

Northampton County Council Rejects Proposed Tax Rebate

A bad idea was soundly rejected last night during a brief Northampton County Council meeting. By a vote of seven to two, the tax rebate proposed by Lamont McClure and Charles Dertinger went down in flames.

Before the vote, Lamont McClure sternly warned, "We're overtaxing our citizens." He even argued that the county is taking in 80% more money than it needs to run the county. "This is unacceptable." McClure's sole ally, Charles Dertinger, ranted that the previous administration and council "actually did things. We are stuck in the mud."

Dertinger's right. The Glenn Reibman administration chipped away at that cash reserve until the at least forty union employees were let go in mid-February, 2004. Those who remained saw frozen wages and a 63.5% tax increase over just two years. Wayne Grube mentioned this before his vote against a rebate. "It's not sensible," he muttered.

Diane Neiper, who is learning day by day about the declining amounts of money being provided to Human Services, actually sat down with Budget Administrator Doran Hamann, who has served the county for 28 years. After going over those figures, "My fear is we're going to need money just to make our budget."

Ron Angle, who has consistently advocated keeping two months of operating expenses in reserve, kept it very simple. "There is not $8 million just laying around here to make people happy." And Peg Ferraro wanted to know, "Where is the staff going to come from?"

In a column published yesterday, Bill White questions the motives of Lamont McClure and Charles Dertinger. "What you shouldn't do is waste taxpayer money mailing refunds that will average $54 when you know you'll have to turn around and take it away. That only makes sense if you're a politician envisioning a spiffy campaign flier." That's the same conclusion reached in a Morning Call editorial. "This is a ginned-up campaign issue for the 2009 council and executive races, not something to handle county finances responsibly. Council should drop it." My own conclusion was that this is little more than "a fiscally reckless appeal for votes."

Minutes after the vote, McClure and Dertinger were giggling and whispering to each other like schoolchildren, which adds fuel to the fires of those who question their motives. But I believe we may have misjudged them. McClure actually sent me several emails to argue his position, posted a comment and even persuaded The Morning Call to publish an op-ed.

I now believe he's sincere. His rebate suggestion has been rejected, but council will certainly be looking at that unrestricted reserve to help fund some of the upfront cost of the county's badly needed parking deck.

14 comments:

Chris Miller said...

Bernie
You might want to mention the new $40 million dollar bond. Given the economic mess this country and county are in one would think that county officials might want to practice fiscal restraint. I would venture those two words are not in their vocabulary. It is about time that we stop touting John Stoffa as some type of fiscally responsible hero.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Chris,

True, there will be a new, $40 million bond. The county needs that parking deck, an expansion toi his juvenile detention center and so on. How is paying for capital needs fiscally irresponsible?

Last need, Stoffa was repeatedly hammered for being so deliberate. You're slamming a guy who keeps two months of operating expneses in reserve as fiscally irresponsible bc he decides we need to move forward with some projects? Would you porefer to see the parking deck crumble?

Anonymous said...

Wow. No rebate and the promise of another breathtakingly large bond to pay for a wasteful, gold-plated parking garage.

It sucks when comfortable politicians exhibit this level of shameless contempt for hard working taxpayers.

Bend over NorCo taxpayers. Stoffa and his amen corner are ready to give us more "service." And anyone with a little farming experiance knows exactly what "service" means.

$40 Million. God help us.

Anonymous said...

"It sucks when comfortable politicians exhibit this level of shameless contempt for hard working taxpayers."

Very good point! I just want to add, non-working-unemployed-retired taxpayers still have to pay too. So some families will be hit even harder.

Chris Miller said...

Bernie
The parking deck can fall to the ground tomorrow as far as I am concerned. The wasteful spending and the on going raising of taxes at all levels needs to come to a screaming halt. Let the employees find parking on the street or one of the lots down there. If the parking deck was in such dire straits, why was the new addition added? It's all about image and as I stated before the county needs to get out of Easton and should have built in Upper Nazareth Township years ago.
Let me also suggest that they cut pack on services in the prison and put those folks out on a chain gang to clean up the highways and add the little juveniles to it.

Bernie O'Hare said...

The parking deck can fall to the ground tomorrow as far as I am concerned.

Chris, I know you can't possibly mean that and would feel horrible if an outdated deck collapsed on another person.

Anonymous said...

Stoffa claims the deck is unsafe, so why is he letting peopele park there? Or is it only unsafe enough for him to try and push another money making idea.
When will County Council do their job and get an independent performance audit on all these 'claims' by this administration.
Before we as taxpayers have to spend more on Stoffa feel good projects for contractors.

Bernie O'Hare said...

This is a ridiculous and irresponsible claim. The engineering group that studied the parking deck and reported it only has two years life left in it gave a detailed report to council.

This is no "feel good" project but a necessity. This is especially so for the courthouse, which is located atop a very steep hill.

Chris Miller said...

Bernie
I mean every word of it. Why was this concrete deck allowed to fall into ruin? Hell the county is suppose to be the inspectors of our bridges why weren't they inspecting this? Put the yellow tape around it and let it fall. Then bring in the front end loaders, put the mess in garbage bags and send it to the landfill. Put council and the administration into the same type bags and make sure they are the first on the trucks.

Chris Miller said...

Bernie
I want you to go to www.ncpa.com and put Classical Liberalism in the search space. Read the info and then get back to me on how we went from what we were to what we are today.

Anonymous said...

I agree with Chris Miller 100%. There is absolutely no future development space in the land locked NCGC Easton location. Place stellite offices at the Gracedale location and several others. A large amout of the NCGC duties can be done by mail and the internet. There is no reason why someone from the boro of Northampton or Bath and even Nazareth to have to drive down there to do anything except if they are on trial. More money spent at the NCGC in Easton will be a true waste of taxpayers money because even if a parking deck is built, by the time it is finished it will still be too small. Remember the Prison expansion?? Thank you Henry Schaadt

Anonymous said...

Isn't the engineering firm represented by Reibman's old Administration Chief. Loyalties change easily in money politics.

Good points by Mr. Miller. The deck is BS, the firm said what they were paid to say. Stoffa needs campaign issues since he has accomplished nothing but more taxes in over three years.

If it is unsafe the other anonn is right, why are cars allowed on it. The deck won't automatically be unsafe in two years, is it on a timer. If it will 'fall down' in two years it should not be used now.

I think County Council needs to grow a set and get an independent assessment of parking needs and deck condition before taxpayers foot the bill for a campaign promise.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
Isn't the engineering firm represented by Reibman's old Administration Chief. Loyalties change easily in money politics."

Good point. I am sure that same firm can recommend a contractor for the job and that goes right back to the "good ol boy" Pay to play stuff.

Anonymous said...

"Good point. I am sure that same firm can recommend a contractor for the job and that goes right back to the "good ol boy" Pay to play stuff."


Wow....GREAT point Skippy. wow. You got Stoffa now. Spend a moment reveling in your triumph. Huzzahs all around. Feel better? Good.


Now, a reality check. The Seperations Act requires a bid for all government construction work. Not an RFI, nor an RFP. A sealed bid. Reibman couldn't do "pay to play" with construction, and neither can Stoffa. Thanks for playing though. Now back up into the peanut gallery with you.