tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post2969267023251573681..comments2024-03-29T11:06:45.862-04:00Comments on Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Will Browning Support Cunningham's Budget?Bernie O'Harehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-61533713448439386172010-10-25T23:48:39.194-04:002010-10-25T23:48:39.194-04:00To The Honorable Dean Browning,
In the fall elect...To The Honorable Dean Browning,<br /><br />In the fall election of 2009, the little people, by electing Tom Creighton, signed a contract with the Republican Party to balance the county budget without raising taxes or raiding county reserves . Tom Creighton, with the financial support of the Lehigh County Victory PAC, Lehigh County Republican Committee, and Committee to Elect Tom Creighton, proclaimed he had a plan to balance the county budget without raising taxes. Now, one year later, Tom's plan will not be considered for a vote, and the contractual obligation with the taxpayers will be nullified?<br /><br />As always,<br />Respectfully,<br />Eckville Presseckville presshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00441853160464073145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-91329986469650500172010-10-25T13:49:40.740-04:002010-10-25T13:49:40.740-04:00Anon 12:36 AM:
Fair enough.
I'll start.
DAs...Anon 12:36 AM:<br /><br />Fair enough.<br /><br />I'll start.<br /><br />DAs Office<br /><br />Salary and Fringe Cost:<br />Lehigh County - $4.3 million<br />Northampton County - $2.9 millionAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-37979334978898314322010-10-25T10:38:22.948-04:002010-10-25T10:38:22.948-04:00Sick and Tired -
I have an idea.
Why don't...Sick and Tired -<br /><br />I have an idea. <br /><br />Why don't you keep your personal agenda to yourself and not make any more comments.<br /><br />There are those of us who enjoy reading this blog (and others), finding out information not covered by the MSM, and having a discussion with others - including those who might disagree with us.<br /><br />Bernie might not have removed your comment yet, but he should. I would be more than happy to read through a topic without having to deal with your type of posts.Patrick McHenrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-33186682669543731582010-10-24T18:45:26.166-04:002010-10-24T18:45:26.166-04:00Listen people...(and this will be deleted) why are...Listen people...(and this will be deleted) why are those of us who disagree and complain about what O'Homo says here keep commenting on this one sided blog?<br /><br />Here is what we do...don't comment at all!!!! You know why? Because without US!! He has no forum!! He only post subjects which he thinks will get him great "hits" such as Angle and Gracedale.<br /><br />Most of the post on those topics have responses from people who disagree with O'Homo. In fact I would say 80% of the responses are against his one sided hypocritical views. So why should WE play into that?<br /><br />WITHOUT US HE HAS NOTHING!!!!!!!! I SAY LET'S TAKE AWAY THE ONLY THING HE HAS LEFT IN HIS AWFUL ALCOHOLIC DISBARRED LIFE!!(HIS BLOG)<br /><br />Do not respond to any of his topics if you disagree, and he will go away..he has only a few followers and a ton of people who disagree. I will lead the boycott...you follow me!!<br /><br /><br />All of you "goons,trolls, and kooks" DON'T POST AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!Sick and Tirednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-66172251789323190992010-10-24T14:11:24.904-04:002010-10-24T14:11:24.904-04:00The Lehigh County Victory PAC was created and run ...The Lehigh County Victory PAC was created and run by Dean Browning.<br /><br />As evidenced by prior posts, the goal is to say whatever is needed to get elected, then govern in an entirely different manner.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-61876602420122686482010-10-23T13:31:52.275-04:002010-10-23T13:31:52.275-04:00A proven tax cutter and government reformer we can...<em>A proven tax cutter and government reformer we can trust.<br /><br />Endorsed by retiring County Commissioner Sterling Raber.<br /><br />Tom Creighton wants government to spend less.<br /><br />Not more.</em><br /><br />Paid for by the Committee To Elect Tom Creightoneckville presshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00441853160464073145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-61450526951255399522010-10-23T13:26:06.195-04:002010-10-23T13:26:06.195-04:00Tom Creighton doesn't just talk about cutting ...<em>Tom Creighton doesn't just talk about cutting taxes....<br /><br />HE'S DONE IT.<br /><br />As a Lynn Township Supervisor, Creighton eliminated waste and cut property taxes by 23% for local homeowners. Now he's running for County Commissioner with A PLAN,</em> (that's right, A PLAN) <em>to balance the county budget WITHOUT</em> (that's right, WITHOUT) <em>increasing property taxes or raiding county reserves.</em> <br /><br />Paid for by Lehigh County Victory PACeckville presshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00441853160464073145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-70193460355678186882010-10-23T13:16:18.541-04:002010-10-23T13:16:18.541-04:00Tom Creighton cut taxes and reformed government as...<em>Tom Creighton cut taxes and reformed government as a Lynn Township Supervisor.<br /><br />(Debatable)<br /><br />He'll do the same as our next Lehigh County Commissioner.<br /><br />Creighton is running on a platform of balancing the county budget without increasing property taxes or raiding county reserves.</em><br /><br />Paid for by the Lehigh County Republican Committee.eckville presshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00441853160464073145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-62461609109127071892010-10-23T13:06:33.534-04:002010-10-23T13:06:33.534-04:00Tom Creighton's "CONTRACT WITH COUNTY TAX...Tom Creighton's "CONTRACT WITH COUNTY TAXPAYERS"<br /><br /><em>I will balance the county budget without increasing property taxes or raiding county reserves. Government must live within its means and only spend what it takes in.</em><br /><br />Paid for by Lehigh County Victory PACeckville presshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00441853160464073145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-40038538070645700842010-10-23T02:54:08.066-04:002010-10-23T02:54:08.066-04:00"Idealism increases in direct proportion to o..."Idealism increases in direct proportion to ones distance from the problem."<br />– John Galsworthy (1867-1933)<br /><br />As I have worked with our school district budgets, I have found it very difficult to make the kinds of cuts I routinely make in my household budget or in my spending decisions in the corporate world. There seems to be a never-ending list of requirements (from the federal and state legislatures) that simply cannot be eliminated, no matter how much we might wish to.<br /><br />Instead of the constant calls to have "no tax increase," "stand up for fiscal responsibility," "[hold] the line," and "cut spending," I would really like to see some concrete, legal, workable suggestions on items to reduce or cut from the budget.<br /><br />I applaud Mr. Browning for taking a thoughtful position and directly responding on this blog. I am glad he is one of our county commissioners, and I thank him for the efforts he has expended on the budget.<br /><br />[Disclaimer: I know very little about county budget regulations and have no idea if they are as constrained as school districts.]Alan Earnshawhttp://www.alanearnshaw.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-26609570538503013242010-10-23T00:36:14.919-04:002010-10-23T00:36:14.919-04:00Still have not heard a viable and legal alternativ...Still have not heard a viable and legal alternative to the Lehigh County budget from you folks. For all your whining, pissing and moaning you have yet to detail one single plan that can be implemented.<br /><br />After a while you sound like any other two year old that can't have what they want.<br /><br />Grow the Hell up!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-75500282851557584572010-10-22T14:44:53.157-04:002010-10-22T14:44:53.157-04:00Dean will let the larger tax increase go into effe...Dean will let the larger tax increase go into effect. When you couple this with the lie in his recent mailer stating that he “was successful in proposing and getting adopted a series of changes to freeze union wages at the current levels for one year”, he has been a big disappointment. He is likely to be challenged in the primary.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-68223271195285458102010-10-22T14:16:18.800-04:002010-10-22T14:16:18.800-04:00Reads like Dean's given up fighting for cost r...Reads like Dean's given up fighting for cost reductions because they're just too hard to achieve. Time to find someone with new energy for these kinds of fights. Dean served well for a while. They all run out of gas eventually and go native. This is one of those times.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-74687498447133438992010-10-22T13:48:27.285-04:002010-10-22T13:48:27.285-04:00Dean, appreciate your comments, but I have to ask,...Dean, appreciate your comments, but I have to ask, why are you so certain there will be no tax increase next year if we go 16.1% this year?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-69068924502536761412010-10-22T12:37:23.612-04:002010-10-22T12:37:23.612-04:00"Patrick McHenry said - By the way, if Browni...<em>"Patrick McHenry said - By the way, if Browning truly wanted no tax increase, he would have urged his fellow commissioners to send the budget back to the Executive with NO amendments and directing NO tax increase. That move is allowed under the County's Home Rule Charter."</em><br /><br />Patrick:<br /><br />That is true and the presumption with that approach is that the various elected officials (the County Executive, the Judges, the DA, the Sheriff, the Coroner and the Clerk of Judicial Records) who have worked over the summer to develop the budget for their various areas of responsibility did so without properly balancing the services they are required to deliver with the resultant cost. If you believe that was the case and/or feel that the only way to get to a no tax increase budget was for the Commissioners to dictate that, then the option you mention would have been the way to go. However, based on my analysis of the County’s budget, I don’t believe the end result would have been to anyone liking. A brief review of the numbers behind that statement is as follows:<br /><br />• The budgeted spending (covered by County property taxes) is $110.1 million.<br />• To produce a no tax increase budget that amount would need to be reduced by $14.4 million or by 13%.<br />• However within the $110.1 million in spending are the following fixed and irreducible items:<br />- $15.6 million for debt service<br />- $5.9 million for the County’s portion of the required pension plan funding<br />- $2.8 million for the County’s portion of the health care casts for retirees.<br />• The total of these items is $24.3 million that is off limits so now the $14.4 million in needed reductions has to be found in the remaining $85.8 million in spending ($110.1 million less $24.3 million).<br />• Over 90% of that number (the $85.8 million) is for employee wages and benefits.<br />• To achieve the required reduction we would have to cut headcount and/or reduce wages on the order of 20% with the following impediments:<br />- Almost 50% of the County’s employees work in functions that are 24/7 where it is difficult to reduce headcount without effecting operations. <br />- Almost 25% of the County’s employees are in collective bargaining units that have the option of binding arbitration and no arbiter in the Commonwealth would agree to a reduction in wages.<br /><br />Again, I've spent a fair amount of time going over the numbers and don't see anyway to produce a realistic, no tax increase budget. The 2011 budget detail for Lehigh County has been online since the end of August and the Board of Commissioners held a series of hearing during September to go through it department by department. If anyone has taken the time to go through the information, sees things differently and has a workable solution I'd certainly be interested in hearing it. <br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />DeanDean Browningnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-52477968183013418612010-10-22T10:36:21.776-04:002010-10-22T10:36:21.776-04:00"When the so-called fiscally responsible, lik..."When the so-called fiscally responsible, like Browning, go off the rails like every other tax and spender, it's apparent that we're screwed."<br /><br /> Yeah....that, or it's apparent that the people who are running the government are doing a good job of containing costs, as much as youwish they weren't.<br /><br />Dean is a CFO and a good analyst of numbers, former Reupblican Party chair and an honest person with integrity. If he, someone who two years ago, any republican in the Lehigh Valley, would have been proud to stand behind, has analyzed the numbers and decided that Cunningham's budget is fiscally sound, then maybe you have to consider the possibility that it just might be true.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-5940996483030669042010-10-22T09:50:52.060-04:002010-10-22T09:50:52.060-04:00When the so-called fiscally responsible, like Brow...When the so-called fiscally responsible, like Browning, go off the rails like every other tax and spender, it's apparent that we're screwed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-73847235354088378612010-10-22T08:27:28.572-04:002010-10-22T08:27:28.572-04:00Bernie -
Browning's reasoning is flawed. He ...Bernie -<br /><br />Browning's reasoning is flawed. He assumes the need for another tax increase next year and conveniently forgets next year is an election year.<br /><br />I don't think Democrats want to cut spending, but I also doubt that they want to go into next year's election supporting another tax increase.<br /><br />Dean should be holding the line as much as possible this year, and let next year fall where it may. Let's face it, that extra percentage of tax increase won't be getting repealed. <br /><br />By the way, if Browning truly wanted no tax increase, he would have urged his fellow commissioners to send the budget back to the Executive with NO amendments and directing NO tax increase. That move is allowed under the County's Home Rule Charter.Patrick McHenrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-86102299119331589892010-10-22T07:17:58.106-04:002010-10-22T07:17:58.106-04:00I mistook Browning for a politicians with some bal...I mistook Browning for a politicians with some balls. Raising taxes is easy. Phony politicians who suck the public tit do it all the time. <br /><br />Standing up for fiscal responsibility when 10% are unemployed and struggling to pay mortgages and taxes, is difficult.<br /><br />Browning is officially as worthless as the bums who brought us to this point. He's just another irresponsible, lying spender.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-89052890763383311802010-10-22T07:02:13.453-04:002010-10-22T07:02:13.453-04:00Smart, reasoned, but flawed. Browning is assuming...Smart, reasoned, but flawed. Browning is assuming that with this increase there will be no increase in 2012.<br /><br />If there's one thing everyone, including he, should have learned, it's to never trust politicians.<br /><br />I'll believe there will be no 2012 tax increase in 2013 when there wasn't.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-71979788278056015052010-10-22T03:34:54.374-04:002010-10-22T03:34:54.374-04:00Smart, reasoned and logical response by Dean Brown...Smart, reasoned and logical response by Dean Browning. He has reviewed the information, analyzed the numbers and made an educated decision. I applaud his intellect and workmanship.<br /><br />He does not say he is happy with the situation. He does not say he enjoys the idea of a tax increase. Without the histrionics of a Ron Angle or the neurotic Hamlet hand-wringing of a John Stoffa, Browning takes a mature and responsible approach to the County's responsibilities and the resultant budget.<br /><br />Good job. By the way I am a lifetime Republican who voted for Dean Browning and will do so again.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com