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| Tony adores his grandchildren |
Bassil is a 1982 graduate of the American University in Beirut,where he earned his degree in Business and Finance. He then began as an accountant at TransNet Corporation, where he worked his way up through the ranks to be promoted to Controller of the company in 1998. He served in that capacity until 2012, when he was lured away by Lancer Systems to be their Controller. He finally said good-bye to the private sector in July 2017.
While still employed in the private sector, Bassil became interested in local government finance. He served as Treasurer on Easton's Home Rule Charter study, and was also entrusted as treasurer of Easton's Pension Board. He is also President of Easton's Audit Committee.
When Tony was appointed Easton Controller in 2006, the City was on the verge of falling under Act 47, the Financially Distressed Municipalities Act, which is the municipal equivalent of bankruptcy. Its Standard and Poor’s credit rating was just BBB+. Over his three terms served, that credit rating has jumped to A+.
Bassil accomplished this by restructuring city debt multiple times, saving taxpayers nearly $2 Million Dollars in interest charges. He also prompted the City to implement other cost initiatives This includes an insistence on a balanced budget. This has given Easton a surplus while Bethlehem and Allentown routinely engage in deficit spending. Since assuming office, Bassil points to an overall increase in the fund balance of $4 million.
The financial success of the City during Tony’s tenure is seen every day by its residents and surrounding community members, as they take in the urban renaissance that Easton has recently enjoyed, which is grounded in the financial foundation that is not often discussed, but which has become an expectation as the City’s growth and prosperity continues.
Tony and his wife, Sia, have owned and operated The Carmelcorn Shop, an institution in Downtown Easton, since 1996. They have three children and two grandchildren.
19 comments:
What is the age of this individual?
Did he have anything to do with the County employees having to pay have a tax taken out of their paychecks for Easton?
Don't believe he stood up against it nor has he called for a repeal of the commuter tax.
Which is why I won't spend a nickel in this developing city. Unfortunate but that is my protest.
Tony’s position probably had nothing to do with Easton commuter tax,except that he has to pay it too. Council had to vote for it,it’s in the record. Public services are provided at a costs and the City of Easton ,Pa. didn’t invent this tax.
Blame the Pennsylvania legislature for the commuter tax. The legislature gave municipalities this only option to recover for losses on their pension plans. Get the state to eliminate the law.
I wonder if Tony agrees with the past support of Mayor Panto to give driver licenses to illegal aliens.
Cannot support someone who hides his age? What else?
"Tony’s position probably had nothing to do with Easton commuter tax,except that he has to pay it too. Council had to vote for it,it’s in the record. Public services are provided at a costs and the City of Easton ,Pa. didn’t invent this tax."
The devil made Easton do it, huh? I guess cutting spending wasn't an option. That's what we do at my house. Tony was an R before switching D to get a job in one-party Easton. He's a good guy, but a political opportunist like the rest of them. A blithering idiot could have repaired city finances with one of the highest tax and fee structure in the area. He's a sharp guy. But his feats in Easton were no big thing, given tax revenues and endless fee increases.
This campaign is already off to a shaky start. Easton is a mess and personal information withheld. Not good!
Tony is the brother-in-law of the guy who was starving the animals in Palmer.
Tony has high personal integrity..no bankruptcy,no criminal record , and he indeed is a family man. He looks after other people. He understands how things work. I would not call him an opportunist ,but a public’s servant that is comparatively observant. We need public employees like him rather than some others that can’t do ,or won’t do their job. We need people like him more than he needs the aggravation or the salary.
Tony’s brother in law was his wife’s brother from birth . Tony came from Lebanon, You can’t always pick all your relatives . However , I can testify the that this end of the genetic scale does not deal with the starving animal guy. We all got m somewhere in our family,someplace.
If the man won't even admit his age, what hope of any hard answers?
What does his age have to do with anything except wisdom ? Three times here , age is somebody’s issue.
Ok ,age
at 24 and new CPA is one thing , so you read and figure he’s a grandfather of two children. Where is he in life ? He is an international man ,he doesn’t live a life in a 3 traffic light city. He is bilingual and educated.Has a son in college- how old is he? Me ,I didn’t get domesticated until after I was 38 . I did not get a Clear occupation until 42 (I’ll be late dieing too) but one thing I do know is ,when your upkeep accedes your income ,your outgoing is your downfall. So- he knows that too. This man is about integrity of the job,the occupation.
One more thing , one poster said he would not do anything “ a NICKEL - we’ll if your worth your salt as a developer ,your intrepid thoughts are about money . So - stay out of Easton = loss of opportunity at this stage of the game . If your good ,if your real ,there is a market here now and I see it getting stronger. I sign my name ,because I respect Bernie’s Blog and can back up up what I say. This Mayor is involved and is personally helping people navigate the start ups.
Easton is a fiscal mess. If you raise every tax possible you can do more with more. The west end is a war zone. Downtown is a cardboard city.
The man knows nothing of county government.
Also if one is so intent on hiding their age the question is why? Is there something that is not right? Is it about being from another country? What is the big secret?
Many, many concerns and unanswered questions.
There are “no unanswered questions “ ,except the ones you manufacture.
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