Local Government TV

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Rumor Mill: Cunningham to Propose 15% Plus Tax Hike

Lehigh County Executive Don Cunningham dazzled everyone so effectively with his oratory last week that nobody bothered to ask him whether there will be a tax hike next year. When he delivers his budget to Commissioners next week, the rumor is that he will propose at least a 15% tax increase. The actual figure I've heard is 18%. We'll find out how accurate this rumor is next week, when the budget is unveiled.

24 comments:

  1. No way Mr. Cunningham will propose a 15% increase.The man would have to be insane!

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  2. All local governments are hurting. Stoffa proposed more and he has accomplished nothing. At least Don has accomplished a great deal in the past five years.

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  3. what donny boy has done is to blow a massive surplus that was there 5 years ago. like jc over in bethlum his recent cuts are nothing but cya moves to cover up years of their own mismanagement. 2 peas in a pod. both can talk the talk but neither can walk the walk. they blame the economy but when things got bad they didn't stop spending until they ran out of money and caused deficeits.their political carrers are dead in the water but the biggest losers are the citizens because now they will have to pay for these two losers mistakes and mismanagement

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  4. unbelievable! sell both nursing homes, trim the real fat, not just the positions that Donnie created when he first got in office that weren't there before in Ervin's regime. All Donnie boy did was spin play the media. Also, why would you spend millions in capital projects at a time like this?? Really, do we need a morgue building to be shared with Cetronia ambulance, a private company and a crime center that will cost millions to create and staff? Maybe Callahan learned how to budget from Donnie. Out with the Commissioners next election cycle if they can't stop the bleeding on the taxpayers. Our taxes are high enough for the minuscule services that County government provides. Look out incumbents - you're GONE!!!

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  5. That's nearly a 20% increase and why wouldn't he do it?

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  6. Bernie
    Did you find out the prior owners of that communications center Cunningham bought?

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  7. Maybe they should sell Gracedale too!!

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  8. "Did you find out the prior owners of that communications center Cunningham bought?"

    Yes, and that information was posted here a week ago.

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  9. A 15 % increase will amount to about $1.50 a week.. Give me a break..he's being responsible..If the Northampton county council would have went along with Stoffa's modest increase last year they wouldn't be dealing with the present crisis..Stop freaking whining about ridiculously small increase...These same people crying have no problem asking employees to take hundreds a month in salary and benefit cuts so they can keep there $1.00 a week ...You want to cry about taxes go see your local school board..

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  10. Even Cunningham wouldnt have been looking for this increase if he had proposed smaller modest sane increases in the past...Like many, however, political considerations always take the forefront and politicos ignore their responsibilities! Ken Smith, a Republican mind you, did uit right..He had modeast increase every year and kept bethlehem in good shape, Look at Allentown and easton and tell me who has done a better job..

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  11. Bernie O'Hare said...

    "Did you find out the prior owners of that communications center Cunningham bought?"

    Yes, and that information was posted here a week ago.

    12:06 PM

    Gosh Bernie, You are good! We missed that. We just can't leave the computer. That's all there is to say.

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  12. "Our taxes are high enough for the minuscule services that County government provides."

    Let's see what County government services provides -

    Archives
    Assessment Office
    Bridge Division
    Civil Division
    Community and Economic Development
    Conservation District
    Controller's Office
    Cooperative Extension
    Coroner's Office
    Corrections
    County Council
    County Administration
    County Nursing Home
    County Solicitor's Office
    Criminal Division
    District Attorney
    Emergency Management
    Enhanced 911
    Farmland Preservation
    Orphans Court Division
    Parks and Recreation
    Protection From Abuse
    Public Defenders Office
    Register of Wills
    Tax Claim Office
    Vector Control
    Veteran's Affairs
    Victim/Witness Services
    Voters Registration
    Weights and Measures

    just to name a few...

    Let's see what school districts provide -

    Education for adults and children

    If you ask me, you get more services for you tax dollar from County government than you do from School Districts. Your argument is lost because of your ignorance.

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  13. From 1:06

    I forgot to mention these other County services -

    Adult Probation
    Area Agency on Aging
    Children, Youth and Families
    County Resident Prescription Plan
    Court Reporters
    Domestic Relations
    Drug and Alcohol Counseling
    DUI Program
    Information Referral and Emergency Services
    Juvenile Probation
    Juvenile Detention
    Law Clerks
    Law Library
    Magisterial District Courts
    Mental Health Services
    Pretrial Services
    Recycling Program

    just to name a few others...

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  14. What chance does this have of passing the Commissioners? Which of the R's will vote for this? Sorry but I don't see this budget passing.

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  15. At the end of the day, you have to pay for services.

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  16. That's true, and county goverment has little room to make wholesale cuts.

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  17. If the county closes the garden recycling center, guess what happens to much of the debris. It gets illegally dumped elsewhere. Just watch roadsides and park lands to see black plastic bags start appearing.

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  18. Anonymous said...

    If the county closes the garden recycling center, guess what happens to much of the debris. It gets illegally dumped elsewhere. Just watch roadsides and park lands to see black plastic bags start appearing.

    **********************************

    Or maybe the municipalities take responsibility for an issue that is rightfully theirs.

    I live in Allentown, which has its own yard waste recycling site. Part of my trash fee is also to have yard waste pickup once a week.

    I see no need to have my county tax dollars used to pay for those living in municipalities that don't collect their own.

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  19. The townships are all run by Republicans who are proud of no taxes. Yet they cry when the County cuts back on their welfare.

    Get use to it. You want services, it cost money. Don't like, suck a pole.

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  20. Don Cunningham did exactly what his handlers told him to do and that's not representing us "We the People".

    This is what you get when you support the establishment.

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  21. The great works are in full effect.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5LlplhtPPM

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  22. Those who profess that privatizing
    aren't for the peoples interest; but
    for the interest of the global elites
    who suffer from grand illusions of being smarter and bright than the rest of us and who drool over the idea of control of us.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClqUcScwnn8

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  23. Just sell Gracedale...it is the answer to all problems!!

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  24. I'm pleading with all of you fight privatization at all cost it's not the answer. This is not a "we the people" solution - it's very evil.

    Once it's gone it's gone - no turning back.

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