Posted on 12/29/2010 2:26:45 PM PST by Gondring
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 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.
[...]
"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.
They just feel that way, but it isn't?
Tie an anvil around the neck of yaxpayers in a severe recession....that’ll work!
Council Members:
http://www.west-chester.com/council.php
Unfortunately, only three of these clowns are up for re-election in 2012. Four have until 2014 before they have to face the voters.
Twenty percent. OMG.
Politicians. Lamposts. Rope, old rope.
I would love to own a U-Haul business in West Chester right now.
West Chester is a beautiful, quaint little town. I drove through it a few years back on a Friday evening and it had a nice feel about it. Many of the townsfolk were out and about walking around to the various local establishments. Made a point of booking a bed & breakfast there a few weeks later.
Can we spell recall?
Call you recall them?
What do you even say to something like that?
Used to be farm country. I hunted out there, many years ago. Route 322/202, had some very good pheasant hunting.
That's just the 26 that showed up. Others were on duty and presumably others just didn't come. How many cops does a town of 15,000 need?
20% next year, 20% the year after, and pretty soon it’ll add up to real money.
I lived in the NE and trash removal costs an impressive amount of money. I was in a town that did not charge and the amount of trash collected went way down when that changed. The other towns around us charged, and I am quite sure a good percentage of the trash was from them.
It was $800,000 in costs per year for a town of 7500.
Took a lot of convincing to get that turned around.
But it sounds like they have a lot of issues in that town, and probably the newcomers like the high taxes because it causes the townies to have to move out.
Hey West Chester, Congrats on being liberal.
Now you get to spend an extra 20% on tax to literally make retired town employees millionaires in pension, benefits, and salary.
It must be awesome to only have a high school diploma and have such a great job!
“Four have until 2014 before they have to face the voters.”
Can’t you start a petition for a recall election? In Michigan, a strong home rule state, any elected official can be recalled via petition and forced to stand for election at any time for any reason.
Below is the section on PA Code re Recalls. I don’t know if any of these Causes apply.
http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/315/articleVFX_toc.html
§ 41.10-1002. Cause for Recall.
The Mayor or a Member of Council may be removed from office at a recall election, for cause, for the following reasons:
A. Not having the qualifications for office prescribed by this Charter or by General Law;
B. Violating any express prohibition of this Charter;
C. Conviction for any offense or violation described in § 41.2-211; or
D. Failing or neglecting to perform the duties of office.
Pa is a commonwealth & doesnt have recall as I remember.
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