Though Allentown's Budget for next year is still being kept from the public, it will include a wage tax hike. Allentown's current local income tax is 1.35%, in addition to a $52 annual assessment for municipal services. The increase in wage tax may be in the vicinity of as much as 0.35%, though I am unable to confirm an exact figure.
You can read more about this in The Morning Call, after you've voted.
The paper is doing its part to help the cause of crony capitalism.
Updated 9:20 pm: Morning Call finally discloses tax hike. - The Morning Call is finally disclosing the reality of the tax hike, something that was disclosed both here and on Facebook last Tuesday. The paper made sure to delay just long enough to prevent many from learning about it until after they vote. If you think my assessment is harsh, consider that I knew about this hike a week ago, was told about it within earshot of a reporter, and yet nothing was published. That's shitty journalism from a paper that has just defended its coverage of Allentown as thorough and fair.
It's not even accurate. The story states the hike will be from 0.83% to 1.15% and goes on to call it "a more then 35% tax increase." Actually, 1.15% minus 0.83% = 0.32%. Exactly. Math must not be the reporter's strong suit.
It also appears that Allentown Mayor Edwin "Fed Ed" Pawlowski violated the Allentown Home Rule Charter. His budget was due today. He presented it to City Council after regular business hours. It would seem, therefore, that the budget was not presented until 59 days before the end of the year.
The Morning Call correctly observes that citizen watchdogs like Lou Hershman and Rich Fegley, who may soon be City Council members, have accused Fed Ed of deliberately keeping the budget from the voters. But the paper is less forthcoming about its own role in this charade. It knew about the tax hike and decided itself to keep it out of the public eye.
This was once a great nation, and that is because people were informed. That is no longer so. Now, reporters have no incentive to write real news. At some papers, they get paid bonuses depending on how many online clicks their stories receive. That gives them little incentive to write about things like budgets and elections.
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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Monday, November 02, 2015
14 comments:
You own views are appreciated, especially if they differ from mine. But remember, commenting is a privilege, not a right. I will delete personal attacks or off-topic remarks at my discretion. Comments that play into the tribalism that has consumed this nation will be declined. So will comments alleging voter fraud unless backed up by concrete evidence. If you attack someone personally, I expect you to identify yourself. I will delete criticisms of my comment policy, vulgarities, cut-and-paste jobs from other sources and any suggestion of violence towards anyone. I will also delete sweeping generalizations about mainstream parties or ideologies, i.e. identity politics. My decisions on these matters are made on a case by case basis, and may be affected by my mood that day, my access to the blog at the time the comment was made or other information that isn’t readily apparent.
The Mouring Call is awesome. Great stories about eating through Musicpest and Asian wives! How dare you shed any piece questioning the excellency of Edwin or the Mourning Call! At only $1.50 per copy, it's a steal!
ReplyDeleteSo its going to cost m e another $100-150!
ReplyDeleteThank you Mr Glazier!
Emily has the budget. She didn't an hour ago. Expect a story tonight online and tomorrow in the paper.
ReplyDeleteGeez, I thought the so called revitalized downtown Allentown would save us from tax increases the way the Sands casino was going to save Bethlehem taxpayers.
ReplyDeletedon't forget the water deal.
ReplyDeletePa'low'ski is practicing the bending over position which he will feel & taste in federal prison in due time.
ReplyDeleteThe MC is a sad & pathetic shadow of its former self. I look at it for two minutes at the WAWA.
ReplyDeleteYour water is gone for 50!years:/ suckers!!!��������
ReplyDeleteOnce again, I'll be the one person at my workplace who nees to se HR and make sure I'm having extra Earned Income Tax deducted, simply because I live in a certain municipality. I wouldn't mind if the City delivered better services. Fed Ed knew the Earned Income Tax would be his big legacy, maybe they can keep raising it until all working people throw in the towell and move to the suburbs.
ReplyDeleteTo find the % increase, you divide the increase by the original. In this case it is around 38.5%. It went up by .32 from .83, which is .385. So they are under-reporting the increase, which is consistent with their other actions. Totally corrupt journalism on the part of the call.
ReplyDeleteThey said "more than 35percent"
Delete38 is more than 35. They were being accurate.
@918am is correct, beat me to the post. More bad journalism, which I also agree is intentional.
ReplyDeleteThe Banker
I smell another rat in the city with out rules, limits and a real party to lead the people. Does under reporting the increase by the scum bag editors at the morning call ,ring a bell? the math does not work out.
ReplyDeleteBernie, you're the one who needs to brush up on his math, namely the difference between percent and percentage points.
ReplyDelete