PROPERTY TAXES: A RECURRING THEME

Since many years ago our city's economy is in crisis due to the poor handling of the last government. The 10-years of Barletta meant to the city a major setback, because there was no sustained planning to stimulate local businesses, and similarly, to boost the economy of the entire city. His administration was focused on a political career and always taking very personal a national problem "illegal immigration" This helped to aggravate the crisis that our city has dragged for many years, due to the to mishandling  and lack of management. The city had to pay a lot of money in legal fees and in the courts by the demands that resulted from the disastrous failed-attempt of this ordinance that was rejected by the federal courts because it was considered unconstitutional.

Last January 4^th members of the city council passed the city budget with 45% above the previous one, leading this to increase all property taxes from 3.11 to 4.51., this translates into a total of 8,681.197.

When posting a number of other integrated fare increases in the fiscal budget, the owner of a $ 100,000 home has been hit with a total increase of 63 percent, when considering the increase in property taxes, adding $50 to a new storm-water system for maintenance fee, $ 5 more per capita tax increase and an increase in the tax rate of income made, amounting all of this to 2.25 percent in 2012 to 2.35 percent this year per inhabitant. This EIT Increase will cost taxpayers an additional $ 20 to $ 40, depending on the amount of money you make.

The current administration has had to choose to raise taxes to get the money that the city needs to finish fixing the streets, hire more police, as well as overtime pay to the staffs of our local council. Certainly, taxpayers are those who have to pay for the bad government of the last 13 years.

On Thursday August 23^rd members of the Coalition of Pennsylvania Taxpayers Association gathered at City Hall hoping to find support for the elimination of property taxes. Only 35 people in total attended to this proactive environment. The meeting was organized by Councilor Kevin Schadder. State Rep. Tarah Toohil also attended as co-sponsor and State Senator John Yudichak, as co-sponsor as well. Both represent the law in both chambers 76, which seeks to reform the property tax.

Hopefully other meetings are made to further discuss this situation, so that they can reach out to state legislators and pass as soon as this long-awaited reform of property taxes.

By: Eddy Ulerio

Translation: Carlos Rodríguez

PODER LATINO NEWS