By JENNIFER MILLER, Staff Writer
WEST CHESTER — Borough Council on Tuesday formally agreed to increase property taxes 20 percent in 2011 and to switch health care providers for borough employees.
At a Dec. 15 meeting, council approved a 2011 budget. And in a 5-2 vote, council agreed to eliminate its original proposal for a 7 percent tax increase, parking fee changes and a "pay as you go" trash bag system in exchange for a 20 percent property tax increase and various parking alterations.
To make the new tax rate official for 2011, council had to hold a special meeting by Dec. 31 to approve a tax rate ordinance. Council approved the new rate with a 5-1 vote, with Councilwoman Susan Bayne opposed and Councilman Jim Jones absent.
Following the Dec. 15 meeting, Bayne said many residents had told her they were concerned about the tax increase.
"They are really upset with this," Bayne said. "They do feel like it's a hardship."
The approved tax increase would move the real estate tax rate from
5.8 to 6.96 mills.
A mill is $1 of tax paid for each $1,000 of a property's assessed value, so the tax hike equates to an additional $130, or a total of $828, a year for the average single-family residence with an assessed value of $119,000.
The tax increase is part of officials' efforts to fill in a $1.5 million hole in an $18.1 million budget.
Councilman John Manion proposed the 20 percent tax increase at the Dec. 15 meeting after residents spoke out against proposed $2 and $4 trash bag fees. Manion said Tuesday the 20 percent tax increase was the borough's "only viable option."
Some on council also said the property tax increase would be comparable to the proposed trash fees. Councilman Tom Paxson said the tax increase is extreme, but necessary.
"I agree, it's ridiculous, but it's the only option we have," Paxson said.
Councilwoman Cassandra Jones said she has received significant criticism from residents over the tax increase, even by members of her church. She said someone recently described those on council as "devils." Despite the criticism, she said council has no other choice. She pointed out that council members are subject to the same taxes and fees.
"We're all residents too, so it affects everyone," she said.
After approving the tax increase, council agreed with a 6-0 vote to switch health care providers for all union and non-union employees beginning Feb. 1. Council made the decision after the West Chester Police Department union urged council not to do so.
Borough Manager Ernie McNeely said switching from Amerihealth to United Healthcare will not affect any benefits employees are already receiving, but will prevent the borough from paying "shock claims," which significantly impacted the budget this year. The unpredicted claims could cost the borough $4,000 to $300,000 in any given month, McNeely said.
But the change in carriers could mean an employee's current primary physician may not be covered by the new provider.
Union President Det. Andrew McFarland accused council and administrators of failing to properly convey the possible benefit changes to the union in a timely manor before the vote. Specifically, McFarland criticized officials for waiting until November to have the union weigh in on the proposed changes.
"You guys have had financial problems all year," McFarland said. "This is not the way to treat your employees."
McFarland said the union, on previous occasions, has agreed to make changes to the current contract at the request of officials. He questioned why officials are once again going to the police department to save money.
"Now, when things are tight, you want to take from them?" McFarland said as he pointed to the roughly 25 officers present.
McFarland also asked council to consider extending the police union contract by a year or two years. Councilwoman Holly Brown said later in the meeting she suspected the union wants the extension to avoid significant benefit cuts during tough economic times.
"They don't want to face that at contract negotiations, I would guess," she said.
McFarland and other members of the police department left the room before council finished the discussion and voted on the matter.
The police union has a contract with the borough that outlines benefits and salaries. The measure council approved will go against what the contract states; therefore, the union could fight the decision by filing a grievance and the matter could potentially go into arbitration.
McNeely said arbitration could cost the borough $4,000 to $6,000.
Manion said he preferred the cost of arbitration versus possible "shock claims."
"It's pennies for dollars," he said.
To contact staff writer Jennifer Miller, send an e-mail to jenmiller@dailylocal.com.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Truitt Lauds Boy Scouts for Food Collection Effort
Scouts collected enough food for nearly 100 Christmas meals
WEST CHESTER – Rep. Dan Truitt (R-Chester) issued a special thank you today to Chester County Boy Scouts for their efforts to collect food for The Salvation Army of West Chester after it lost all of its perishable items when a refrigerator malfunctioned.
“This effort by the Boy Scouts goes to the very heart of scouting – fostering civic responsibility,” said Truitt. “When the scouts heard about the devastated Salvation Army food program, they came through in a big way, collecting approximately 100 turkeys, along with non-perishable food and monetary donations. Their actions will help to feed local families during the holidays and make Christmas a little brighter for those in need.”
Truitt, a merit badge counselor with Troop 14, facilitated the collection with 11 Boy Scout troops in Chester County. More than 40 individual scouts and their families participated.
The Salvation Army will supplement part of or the entire meal for 750 families in Chester County. The food donations will help to provide holiday meals and enough provisions through the Christmas break from school. Additionally, The Salvation Army provides served meals on major holidays and throughout the week.
“The community has certainly risen to the occasion, and we are overwhelmed by the generosity of those who made donations. Our prayers have been answered,” said Major Gerald Morgan, commanding officer with The Salvation Army of West Chester. “We are determined to provide enough food to sustain those we serve through the holiday season. The Boy Scouts have made all the difference in ensuring a successful mission for Christmas 2010.”
Chester County has seen a 54 percent increase in food requests this year. Nearly 30 percent of requests are coming from individuals and families who have never sought assistance in the past. Much of the increase is due to the difficult economy, and The Salvation Army is helping many people who are out of work or facing other financial difficulties.
“As I begin my first term as a state representative, this is a wonderful reminder of the caliber of citizens I am serving,” said Truitt. “When we are faced with a challenge that seems insurmountable, we pull together and work through it. Knowing that so many families will be helped this year is proof that the Christmas spirit is alive and well in West Chester.”
WEST CHESTER – Rep. Dan Truitt (R-Chester) issued a special thank you today to Chester County Boy Scouts for their efforts to collect food for The Salvation Army of West Chester after it lost all of its perishable items when a refrigerator malfunctioned.
“This effort by the Boy Scouts goes to the very heart of scouting – fostering civic responsibility,” said Truitt. “When the scouts heard about the devastated Salvation Army food program, they came through in a big way, collecting approximately 100 turkeys, along with non-perishable food and monetary donations. Their actions will help to feed local families during the holidays and make Christmas a little brighter for those in need.”
Truitt, a merit badge counselor with Troop 14, facilitated the collection with 11 Boy Scout troops in Chester County. More than 40 individual scouts and their families participated.
The Salvation Army will supplement part of or the entire meal for 750 families in Chester County. The food donations will help to provide holiday meals and enough provisions through the Christmas break from school. Additionally, The Salvation Army provides served meals on major holidays and throughout the week.
“The community has certainly risen to the occasion, and we are overwhelmed by the generosity of those who made donations. Our prayers have been answered,” said Major Gerald Morgan, commanding officer with The Salvation Army of West Chester. “We are determined to provide enough food to sustain those we serve through the holiday season. The Boy Scouts have made all the difference in ensuring a successful mission for Christmas 2010.”
Chester County has seen a 54 percent increase in food requests this year. Nearly 30 percent of requests are coming from individuals and families who have never sought assistance in the past. Much of the increase is due to the difficult economy, and The Salvation Army is helping many people who are out of work or facing other financial difficulties.
“As I begin my first term as a state representative, this is a wonderful reminder of the caliber of citizens I am serving,” said Truitt. “When we are faced with a challenge that seems insurmountable, we pull together and work through it. Knowing that so many families will be helped this year is proof that the Christmas spirit is alive and well in West Chester.”
Thursday, December 23, 2010
County adopts 2011 budget, no property tax increase
By MICHAEL P. RELLAHAN
Staff Writer
WEST CHESTER — The Chester County commissioners adopted a 2011 budget Tuesday that calls for no county property tax increase, but makes cuts in spending at Pocopson Home, reduces the amount of planned borrowing for the county's open space preservation program, and forgoes staff salary increases for the second year in a row.
The unanimous decision by the three-member board came after county administrative and financial staff were able to pare down a proposed 3.9 percent tax increase to fill a budget gap from increased debt service, lease payments, and reduced state and federal funding, among other changes.
The commissioners said they were pleased to be able to deliver a budget with no increase in taxes, but warned that the budget outlook at the state and federal level will pose financial challenges for the county in 2011, if those governments cut spending that flows to the county.
All three also defended their decision to cut in half the annual $20 million bor
rowing for open space projects in the county in 2011. The county could not afford to borrow the full amount, the commissioners said, but they also maintained there is less pressure to fund the same level of preservation projects in the coming year because the real estate market has dried up locally.
"Our staff heard a clear message from our citizens, that there should be no tax increase in Chester County," said Chairwoman Carol Aichele, noting that the county had not raised taxes in four of the past five years. "We heeded that message. Our challenges will be difficult in the coming years, but if anyone can do it, Chester County can."
All three commissioners heaped praise on the county staff and department heads for coming up with a budget that kept taxes down.
"Everyone came in prepared to make reductions, in line with their strategic goals," said Commission Terence Farrell. "The public should know that we are going to return value to the taxpayers. "
Commissioner Kathi Cozzone said that the county continues to face the financial burden of paying for unfunded mandates made by the state, which passes the cost of government on to local entities instead of paying for state services, like the Common Pleas courts.
"When we are talking about the pressures (those costs put) on property taxes in the county, the public needs to understand that it runs the gamut of services," Cozzone said.
The total county operating budget is shrinking this year from 2010's plan, down to $507. 1 million from $542.3 million. Real estate taxes — the only tax available to third-class counties in Pennsylvania like Chester County — account for 35 percent of the county's overall revenue, about $149.8 million.
The county cuts its full tax millage of 3.965 into four slices. In 2011, the taxes dedicated to the parks fund will stay the same at .156 mills, and the library taxes will also remain level at .190 mills. The general funds taxes will shrink to 2.730 mills from 2.853 in 2010. The amount dedicated to debt service — the amount of interest principal and interest paid on county bond issues — will increase to 0.889 from 0.766.
A mill in taxes equals $1 for every $1,000 of assessed property value. The county has said that a taxpayer with a property assessed at $299,657, the median market value in the county, will pay $658 in county property taxes.
The budget challenges that the commissioners said they faced this year, in addition to the reduction in revenue from the state and federal government, included a continuing drop in interest income, and increased costs in public safety, the courts, debt service, building lease payments, and county health care contributions.
The county will begin leasing a new office building for administrative and non-court related departments on West Market Street in West Chester at a cost of $2.4 million in 2011. The county signed the lease in 2007 before the current economic downturn that began in 2008.
The commissioners said they had heard a number of comments from land preservation advocates, organizations, and municipalities that the county should not turn away from a commitment made in the county election of 2007 to borrow up to $20 million a year to fund open space projects in the county. They decided to cut that to $10 million, and thereby decrease the pressure to raise taxes, because of the county's general economic outlook.
"There is no way in 2007 that we could have predicted this kind of a downturn in the economy," Aichele said. "Our taxpayers are struggling through this recession."
Mark Rupsis, the county's chief administrative officer and point person on the budget, said he had never seen an era in the county in the past 30 years when the real estate base was either flat or in recession. That, and the loss of interest revenue, put the county in the position of having to cut non-mandatory program funding across the board.
Aichele said that when the economy begins to improve, the county can return to its previous level of support for open space and other programs feeling the pinch.
"We can restore these programs as money becomes available," she said. "We are committed to open space preservation, and we will be the first ones back in the game." She contended that the county is still on pace to meet its goal of preserving 30 percent of its acreage by 2015.
To that end, Cozzone asked Rupsis to begin preparing some form of measurement so that the commissioners can see when development pressures on open space return. "I'd like us to be in front of the return of development, rather than behind it," she said.
To contact staff writer Michael P. Rellahan, send an e-mail to mrellahan@dailylocal.com.
Staff Writer
WEST CHESTER — The Chester County commissioners adopted a 2011 budget Tuesday that calls for no county property tax increase, but makes cuts in spending at Pocopson Home, reduces the amount of planned borrowing for the county's open space preservation program, and forgoes staff salary increases for the second year in a row.
The unanimous decision by the three-member board came after county administrative and financial staff were able to pare down a proposed 3.9 percent tax increase to fill a budget gap from increased debt service, lease payments, and reduced state and federal funding, among other changes.
The commissioners said they were pleased to be able to deliver a budget with no increase in taxes, but warned that the budget outlook at the state and federal level will pose financial challenges for the county in 2011, if those governments cut spending that flows to the county.
All three also defended their decision to cut in half the annual $20 million bor
rowing for open space projects in the county in 2011. The county could not afford to borrow the full amount, the commissioners said, but they also maintained there is less pressure to fund the same level of preservation projects in the coming year because the real estate market has dried up locally.
"Our staff heard a clear message from our citizens, that there should be no tax increase in Chester County," said Chairwoman Carol Aichele, noting that the county had not raised taxes in four of the past five years. "We heeded that message. Our challenges will be difficult in the coming years, but if anyone can do it, Chester County can."
All three commissioners heaped praise on the county staff and department heads for coming up with a budget that kept taxes down.
"Everyone came in prepared to make reductions, in line with their strategic goals," said Commission Terence Farrell. "The public should know that we are going to return value to the taxpayers. "
Commissioner Kathi Cozzone said that the county continues to face the financial burden of paying for unfunded mandates made by the state, which passes the cost of government on to local entities instead of paying for state services, like the Common Pleas courts.
"When we are talking about the pressures (those costs put) on property taxes in the county, the public needs to understand that it runs the gamut of services," Cozzone said.
The total county operating budget is shrinking this year from 2010's plan, down to $507. 1 million from $542.3 million. Real estate taxes — the only tax available to third-class counties in Pennsylvania like Chester County — account for 35 percent of the county's overall revenue, about $149.8 million.
The county cuts its full tax millage of 3.965 into four slices. In 2011, the taxes dedicated to the parks fund will stay the same at .156 mills, and the library taxes will also remain level at .190 mills. The general funds taxes will shrink to 2.730 mills from 2.853 in 2010. The amount dedicated to debt service — the amount of interest principal and interest paid on county bond issues — will increase to 0.889 from 0.766.
A mill in taxes equals $1 for every $1,000 of assessed property value. The county has said that a taxpayer with a property assessed at $299,657, the median market value in the county, will pay $658 in county property taxes.
The budget challenges that the commissioners said they faced this year, in addition to the reduction in revenue from the state and federal government, included a continuing drop in interest income, and increased costs in public safety, the courts, debt service, building lease payments, and county health care contributions.
The county will begin leasing a new office building for administrative and non-court related departments on West Market Street in West Chester at a cost of $2.4 million in 2011. The county signed the lease in 2007 before the current economic downturn that began in 2008.
The commissioners said they had heard a number of comments from land preservation advocates, organizations, and municipalities that the county should not turn away from a commitment made in the county election of 2007 to borrow up to $20 million a year to fund open space projects in the county. They decided to cut that to $10 million, and thereby decrease the pressure to raise taxes, because of the county's general economic outlook.
"There is no way in 2007 that we could have predicted this kind of a downturn in the economy," Aichele said. "Our taxpayers are struggling through this recession."
Mark Rupsis, the county's chief administrative officer and point person on the budget, said he had never seen an era in the county in the past 30 years when the real estate base was either flat or in recession. That, and the loss of interest revenue, put the county in the position of having to cut non-mandatory program funding across the board.
Aichele said that when the economy begins to improve, the county can return to its previous level of support for open space and other programs feeling the pinch.
"We can restore these programs as money becomes available," she said. "We are committed to open space preservation, and we will be the first ones back in the game." She contended that the county is still on pace to meet its goal of preserving 30 percent of its acreage by 2015.
To that end, Cozzone asked Rupsis to begin preparing some form of measurement so that the commissioners can see when development pressures on open space return. "I'd like us to be in front of the return of development, rather than behind it," she said.
To contact staff writer Michael P. Rellahan, send an e-mail to mrellahan@dailylocal.com.
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