A lawsuit challenging Easton's controversial and unpopular hearing tax, which was scheduled for 11 am today, has been delayed. Northampton County Solicitor Vic Scomillio is asking the Court to invalidate the tax because it applies different rules for nonresidents and residents and lacks uniformity. He is also seeking an injunction to stop collection.
Though no one stated why the matter has been delayed, it is probably because of another looming lawsuit. A group of County employees are filing their own suit, and as a matter of judicial economy, it makes sense to hear both together.
Today's one-liner: "The shortest way to the distinguishing excellence of any writer is through his hostile critics." Richard LeGallienne
Local Government TV
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Thursday, December 11, 2014
13 comments:
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I saw Sal crying on a WFMZ report last night. What's the difference between his and John Brown's attempts to balance their budgets using illegal means?
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ReplyDelete@spoiled brats:
ReplyDeleteI'm so sick and tired of seeing people call Norco employees "union pukes". First of all, this tax hurts ALL employees who work in the City of Easton and don't live here. Union and Non-Union employees are ALL upset about it. The difference is, union employees are standing together and have a little support behind them to try and fight injustices. Didn't you people ever hear if you have nothing nice or of value to say, you should keep your mouth shut?! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year... since clearly you need a reminder that it's the holidays and people are going through a lot... you don't know what anyone else's cross is to bear.
For "spoiled brat" unions are the ONLY reason there was middle class. Yes they became too greedy and many stopped joining. However, as you can see many employers refuse to do the right thing so labor must organize. Unfortunitly greed is too common in America on all sides. Most people just want enough to be able to live a middle class life. You will not get to do that without unions since most co are just looking for more and more profit.
ReplyDeleteHarrisburg needs to change it's way of business, I mean taxation.
ReplyDeleteAllow municipalities to change their sales taxes, pay as you go.
6 to 7 or even 8% and the additional stays in the home city/borough/township.
I disagree completely, but am at a meeting.
ReplyDeleteBernie, I am an Easton City employee, All of this is out of my control.However I know first hand we service this county and Lafayette College and the Easton School District.Our Police and Fire are on it 24 /7 and the tax free properties , send the cost to the taxpayers we have left .So , this is a small amount that will accumulate and become something as a collective deposit.The distribution from collection is the same as residents that pay the same rate. I say the County Solicitor will not have a case.
ReplyDeleteAgain I reiterate, TAX FREE entities like Lafayette College with discernible equities are the reason why this issue is even brought foreword. L/C is a great institution of learning and help countless open doors for occupation but they have not done their share for the the people that BREATH FOR THEM ,and support their institution .Now debate me.
ReplyDeleteOne of our faults is we don't get after the flee bag hotels.The characters that live in the Lafayette Hotel about 76 rooms and in the 500 block of Northampton Street should be -if they are there more than a week, pay the same rate as others . They historically work UNDER THE TABLE .,if at all and should be subject to registration if here more than a week .The Easton Inn a motel has a flee market of people that live there ,working and undocumented. AND the I would suspect that we are shy from sending in any revenue they should be from cash receipts.receipts. Lafayette hotel on 4th and Northampton takes in close to 65 times 80 a week for rooms .or $ about $6,000 a week . So they should be collecting per cap tax and registration and this should reflect on his P/L statement on income taxes. RIGHT?
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ReplyDeleteWhy is there no outcry about Allentown's commuter tax? Is Easton trying to charge a higher rate than that charged to City residents?
ReplyDeleteEaston's tax is not uniform.
ReplyDeletePeter J Cochran, I'm confused...subject to registration if here more than a week? Does the City of Easton require visitors, or even immigrants for that matter, to "register" somewhere?
ReplyDeleteAnd why blame the working poor, who are just trying to survive? We need to enact laws and end loopholes that allow multi-billion dollar companies to see ever-increasing profits (even in a recession). Because here's what, if companies like Exxon Mobil, Darden, and Wal-Mart were made to pay their employees a decent living wage,the employees'(many of whom live in Easton) incomes would rise and Easton would receive more income tax. No need to tax commuters, who are in the same boat and just trying to survive. Yes, contrary to popular belief, it's not so "lily-white" out here in the suburbs.
As a bonus, less families would need/qualify for government assistance and the hard earned money the rest of us pay in taxes could decrease, or at least be allocated towards other needs (senior care? Veteran's services? cancer research? Idk).