Here are our weekly editorials from the past 5 weeks ...
This editorial will air on Oldies 1410 WLSH on Wednesday, January 7 and Thursday,
January 8
THIS WEEK'S EDITORIAL
WAS INSPIRED BY CALLERS ON LAST WEEK'S AIR YOUR OPINION SHOW. MANY FOLKS HAVE
A BEEF WITH SANITATION, WATER, & SEWER RATES & HOW THOSE RATES ARE
COMPUTED.
LET'S START WITH
SANITATION. I PAY $80 A QUARTER FOR WEEKLY GARBAGE PICKUP. THAT'S FOR A 5 BAG WEEKLY
MAXIMUM. MY WIFE & I ONLY PUT OUT I
BAG A WEEK. WHY MUST I PAY THE SAME AS A FAMILY
OF 4 OR 6 THAT PUTS OUT 5 BAGS OF TRASH WEEKLY? I PUT OUT 1 BAG OF TRASH WEEKLY
BECAUSE I MAKE REGULAR TRIPS TO WEST PENN'S RECYCLING DROPOFF WITH NEWSPAPERS &
CARDBOARD, METAL CANS, #1 & #2 PLASTIC ITEMS. WHY AM I & OTHERS THAT RECYCLE
FAITHFULLY NOT REWARDED WITH LOWER RATES?
MY QUARTERLY
SANITATION BILLS JUMPED FROM $38 A QUARTER IN 03 TO $80 A QUARTER HERE IN 09--A 111%
INCREASE IN 6 YEARS. I HEARD EVERY EXCUSE FOR THOSE INCREASES FROM HIGHER
STATE-MANDATED TIPPING FEES TO SKY-HIGH FUEL PRICES. FUEL PRICES HAVE DROPPED LIKE A
ROCK SINCE SUMMER. WHY HAVEN'T WE SEEN FUEL SURCHARGE CREDITS?
WHY CAN'T WE PAY FOR
GARBAGE PICKUP BY THE BAG? AFTERALL, WE BUY GASOLINE & HEATING OIL BY THE
GALLON. WE PAY FOR ELECTRICITY BY THE KILOWATT HOUR. WITH ALL THE TECHNOLOGY
AVAILABLE TODAY & LAPTOP COMPUTERS, IT SHOULD BE EASY TO DEVELOP A "PAY BY
THE BAG" SYSTEM. THAT WOULD SLASH SANITATION BUDGETS IN ALL OUR COMMUNITIES BY
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS A YEAR. IT WOULD REDUCE THE NUMBER OF SANITATION
DEADBEATS TOO. PAY BY THE BAG WOULD BE GREAT FOR OUR ELDERLY POPULATION
LIVING ON FIXED INCOMES.
ANOTHER QUESTION
RAISED LAST SATURDAY--WHY MUST CUSTOMERS ON A PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM PAY FOR A
MIMIMUM WATER CHARGE. IF EACH CUSTOMER HAS A WATER METER, WHY CAN'T CITY
WATER CUSTOMERS PAY BY THE GALLON? IT'S THE SAME IDEA AS PAYING BY THE BAG
FOR TRASH. YOU HAVE 1 PERSON IN A HOUSE WHO MAY NOT USE 7,000 GALLONS OF WATER
IN A QUARTER. THAT PERSON MAY SHOWER ONCE A DAY, DOES NOT WATER A LAWN,
& MAY COOK VERY LITTLE. THAT PERSON USES ONLY 4,000 GALLONS OF WATER A QUARTER.
HOW DOES THAT PERSON GET REWARDED FOR CONSERVING A VALUABLE NATURAL
RESOURCE? HE PAYS FULL FREIGHT LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.
AS LONG AS WE ARE
TAKING A REALISTIC LOOK AT BILLS, LET'S TALK ABOUT SEWER BILLS. USUALLY, THESE
BILLS ARE BASED ON YOUR WATER BILL. IF YOUR WATER METER READS 10,000 GALLONS,
YOUR WATER & SEWER BILLS BOTH SHOW 10,000 GALLONS. BUT, NOT ALL WATER
GOES DOWN THE DRAIN. SHOULD SEWER BILLS BE ADJUSTED TO A PERCENTAGE OF WATER
USAGE...LIKE 80 OR 90%.
LANSFORD FOLKS ALSO PAY
A SEWER TRANSMISSION FEE. IT STARTED AT $50 A YEAR. IN '08 THE FEE WENT FROM
$75 TO $90, WHERE IT STANDS FOR '09. THIS FEE IS SUPPOSED TO CREATE A "RAINY
DAY" FUND IN CASE OF A MAJOR SEWER LINE COLLAPSE. WE'RE TOLD PAST LANSFORD COUNCILS
BORROWED FROM THIS FUND TO BALANCE BUDGETS. WE DID AN EDITORIAL ON
LANSFORD'S SEWER TRANSMISSION FEE AT THE END OF 03. WE FOUND OVER $33,400 IN DELINQUENT
MONEY OWED. AT THAT TIME THERE WAS ONLY A $5 LATE FEE & NO 18% ANNUAL FINANCE
CHARGES. AT THAT TIME WE CALLED IT A SUCKER TAX. IT SEEMED ONLY SUCKERS PAID IT.
TODAY, LANSFORD BORO OFFICIALS STAY ON TOP OF THAT & REPORT DELINQUENCIES
GOING BACK TO LAST YEAR ONLY.
THANKS TO LAST WEEK'S
AIR YOUR OPINION, TODAY WE TALKED ABOUT GARBAGE, WATER, & SEWER BILLS & HOW
THEY SHOULD BE MODIFIED FOR THE 21ST CENTURY. THESE BILLS SHOULD BE BROUGHT INTO
LINE WITH THE OLD SAYING--"YOU PAY FOR WHAT YOU GET & YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY
FOR".
I'M MARK MAREK WITH
THIS WEEK'S OLDIES 1410 WLSH EDITORIAL.
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This editorial aired on Oldies 1410 WLSH on Wednesday, December 31 and Thursday,
January 1
EVER HEAR THE STORY
ABOUT THE COW THAT GAVE GOOD MILK, BUT KEPT KICKING THE BUCKET OVER. IT WAS A
MOST WONDERFUL COW...A COW THAT GAVE WHITE & CHOCOLATE MILK ON COMMAND. IT
WAS THE BEST MILK ON THE PLANET. BUT, EVERY TIME THE COW GAVE MILK, IT KEPT KICKING
THE BUCKET OVER. THIS STORY MAKE A GREAT LEAD-IN FOR THIS WEEK'S EDITORIAL.
ON THE THURSDAY BEFORE
CHRISTMAS SCHUYLKILL HAVEN STATE POLICE ARRESTED A 17 YEAR BLUE MT. HIGH
SCHOOL STUDENT & CHARGED HIM WITH CRIMINAL ATTEMPT TO COMMIT HOMICIDE,
CRIMINAL SOLICITATION, TERRORISTIC THREATS, & OTHER OFFENSES. THAT STUDENT, GREGORY
NASON, WAS COMMITTED TO SCHUYLKILL COUNTY JAIL IN LIEU OF $100,000 BAIL. BUT,
NASON WAS RELEASED FROM JAIL AFTER HIS FAMILY POSTED 10% OF THE REQUIRED BAIL.
HERE'S A KID WHO IS CHARGED WITH PLANNING A MASSACRE AT A LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL
& HE IS FREE ON BAIL.
IN AN AFFADAVIT OF
PROBABLE CAUSE STATE POLICE ALLEGE THAT NASON APPROACHED A STUDENT AT BLUE MT. ON
DECEMBER 17TH & SAID IF A DECEMBER 18TH COURT HEARING FOR A PREVIOUS OFFENSE
DOESN'T GO WELL, WATCH OUT. NASON TOLD THE STUDENT IF HE SEES HIM ENTER
SCHOOL WITH A TRENCH COAT & DUFFLE BAG ON DECEMBER 19TH, HE BETTER RUN BECAUSE HE
WANTED TO SHOOT THE SCHOOL UP & START KILLING PEOPLE. HE WOULD NOT STOP
UNTIL HE WAS DEAD.
IT'S ALLEGED NASON
WANTED THAT FELLOW STUDENT TO HELP HIM. NASON THREATENED TO KIDNAP THE
STUDENT'S GIRLFRIEND & HOLD HER HOSTAGE TO MAKE THIS STUDENT HELP HIM KILL PEOPLE.
STATE POLICE SAY NASON PLANNED TO ENTER BLUE MT. HIGH SCHOOL, PROCEED TO THE
CAFETERIA AREA WHERE EVERYONE CONGREGATED FOR BREAKFAST & SOCIAL
GATHERING. HE WOULD THEN BEGIN TO SHOOT & BE ABLE TO GET AT LEAST 10 TO 20
STUDENTS, MAYBE 30 IF HE WAS LUCKY. NASON WOULD THEN MOVE TO THE LOBBY AREA & SHOOT
PEOPLE DURING THE CONFUSION AFTER THE INITIAL GUNFIRE.
THE BLUE MT. SCHOOL
DISTRICT & SURROUNDING COMMUNITY OWES AN ENORMOUS DEBT OF GRATITUDE TO
THE STUDENT WHO WENT TO SCHOOL OFFICIALS INSTEAD OF REMAINING SILENT. IF
SCHOOL OFFICIALS POLICE WERE NOT TIPPED OFF & NASON WAS ABLE TO GET PAST BLUE
MT.'S FRONT DOOR SECURITY & EXECUTE HIS PLAN, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A CRUMMY
CHRISTMAS FOR THE COMMUNITY & COUNTY.
BECAUSE THIS BRAVE
STUDENT & REPORTED ACTIONS BY OTHER STUDENTS, BLUE MT. SCHOOL AUTHORITIES
CONTACTED STATE POLICE WHO LATER RAIDED NASON'S HOME. IN NASON'S BEDROOM POLICE
FOUND A MILITARY DUFFLE BAG WITH KNEE & ELBOW PADS, BOONIE HATS, LEATHER
TACTICAL GLOVES, CAMOUFLAGE NETTING, AMMO POUCHES, FACSIMILE DEVICES,
& OTHER TACTICAL GEAR.
A PLAN "OPERATION
SPECTOR" DETAILING WHAT ITEMS WOULD BE NEEDED TO CARRY OUT THE ASSAULT WAS FOUND
IN A NOTEBOOK INSIDE NASON'S BEDROOM. ALSO FOUND IN THE HOME WAS A ROMANIAN
AK-47 ASSAULT RIFLE, REMINGTON 870 SHOTGUN, A REMINGTON MODEL 700 TACTICAL
RIFLE & 35-20 ROUND BOXES OF AMMO. IT WAS REPORTED ON GREGORY NASON'S MYSPACE PAGE
THAT HIS MOOD IS CRAZY & HE WANTS TO SEE THE WORLD BURN.
IT'S REPORTED NASON'S
ATTORNEY FRED FANELLI OF POTTSVILLE WANTS NASON TO BE TRIED AS A JUVENILE.
FANELLI ALSO WANTED NASON TO BE FREED WITHOUT ANY BAIL. FANELLI MAKES THE
LUDICROUS CLAIMS THAT NASON WOULD APPEAR FOR ALL COURT DATES, IS NOT A FLIGHT
RISK, & HAS NO PRIOR CRIMINAL RECORD OR SOURCES OF INCOME. FANELLI WAS EVEN
QUOTED AS SAYING THAT GREGORY WILL BE EXONERATED AT TRIAL.
SO, YOU ASK HOW THIS
NEAR TRAGIC STORY IN BLUE MT RELATES TO OUR STORY ABOUT THE COW THAT GIVES
GOOD MILK BUT KICKS THE BUCKET OVER. WELL, YOU HAVE A KID THAT IS BRAVE ENOUGH
TO SHARE NASON'S PLANS TO BLUE MT. SCHOOL OFFICIALS. YOU HAVE SCHOOL OFFICIALS
GO BY THE BOOK & CONTACT POLICE. POLICE GO BY THE BOOK & OBTAIN THE
PROPER SEARCH WARRANTS & SEARCH NASON'S HOME.
POLICE FIND SUFFICIENT
EVIDENCE TO FILE CHARGES. A DISTRICT JUSTICE COMMITS GREGORY NASON TO
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY JAIL & SETS BAIL AT $100,000. UP TO NOW EVERYTHING IS
GOOD--JUST LIKE OUR COW THAT GIVES GOOD MILK. THANKS TO OUR WHACKY JUDICIAL
SYSTEM, NASON IS NOW FREE AFTER FAMILY MEMBERS POST ONLY $10,000 OR 10% OF THE
REQUIRED BAIL. THAT'S LIKE OUR COW KICKING THE BUCKET OVER.
I'M MARK MAREK WITH
THIS WEEK'S OLDIES 1410 WLSH EDITORIAL.
DOWNLOAD THIS EDITORIAL HERE in PDF format
This editorial will air on Oldies 1410 WLSH on Wednesday, December 17 and Thursday,
December 18
I GOT A LETTER FROM
BLUE RIDGE CABLE TELLING ME RATES ARE GOING UP IN 2009. WHAT ELSE IS NEW! WHAT
BOTHERED ME IS SOME OF THE REASONS BEHIND THOSE RATE HIKES.
BROADCAST BASIC WILL
GO FROM $17.37 TO $18.82 A MONTH--AN 8.35% INCREASE. THAT'S WHAT MANY SENIORS ON
FIXED INCOMES HAVE. BASIC PLUS WHICH INCLUDES BROADCAST BASIC GOES FROM $50.64
TO $53.55--A 5.75% INCREASE. DIGITAL GATEWAY, DIGITAL BASIC, & DIGITAL BASIC
PLUS ARE GOING UP A BUCK A MONTH WITH MONTHLY PERCENTAGE INCREASES RANGING FROM
6.69% TO 20%. IF YOU HAVE AN ADDITIONAL DIGITAL OUTLET, YOU ARE FACING A 20%
MONTHLY HIKE. LET'S NOT FORGET THE FCC USER FEE--THAT GOES FROM 6 CENTS TO 7
CENTS A MONTH...A 16.67% INCREASE.
YES, THE COST OF DOING
BUSINESS HAS GONE UP. PENCOR, BLUE RIDGE'S PARENT FIRM, EMPLOYS OVER 1,000
LOCAL PEOPLE. IT COSTS MORE TO PROVIDE THEIR BENEFITS & WE UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT,
JEFF REINHARD, BLUE RIDGE'S PRESIDENT, CITES OTHER REASONS FOR CABLE RATE
HIKES.
JEFF SAYS FCC MANDATES
HAVE INCREASED SET-TOP BOX COSTS DRAMATICALLY, INCREASED FEES BEING
PAID TO BROADCASTERS LIKE ABC, NBC, & CBS. HE SAYS THERE ARE LARGE ANNUAL
INCREASES FROM PROGRAMMERS LIKE ESPN, FOX NEWS, USA NETWORKS, ETC.
LAST MONTH, THE MORNING
CALL RAN A STORY BY DAVE LAZARUS, A CONSUMER AFFAIRS REPORTER FOR THE LA
TIMES. THE HEADLINE READ: CABLE TV JUST KEEPS OFFERING LESS FOR MORE. HE
SAYS, ACCORDING TO A RECENT NEILSON REPORT, THE AVERAGE U.S. HOME GETS 118.6
TV CHANNELS. BUT, THE AVERAGE CABLE SUBSCRIBER ONLY WATCHES ABOUT 17 OF
THOSE CHANNELS REGULARLY.
IF ALL CHANNELS COST
THE SAME, THE TYPICAL CABLE SUBSCRIBER WOULD PAY ABOUT $9 A MONTH FOR THE 17
CHANNELS WATCHED REGULARLY & ABOUT $55 A MONTH FOR THOSE 101 CHANNELS NOT
WATCHED. BUT ALL CHANNELS DON'T COST THE SAME. ESPN IS 1 OF THE MOST
EXPENSIVE PROVIDERS COSTING BY SOME ESTIMATES AS HIGH AS $3 A SUBSCRIBER. MANY OTHER
CHANNELS COST AS LITTLE AS 25 CENTS A MONTH. WHY DOES ESPN COST SO MUCH? SOME
SUCKERS MUST PAY ALL THOSE MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR PRO ATHLETE SALARIES. WE,
AS CABLE SUBSCRIBERS, ARE THOSE SUCKERS.
ONCE AGAIN, WE RAISE
THE ARGUMENT--WHY CAN'T CABLE SUBSCRIBERS PICK & CHOOSE THE CHANNELS THEY WANT.
IF THEY DON'T WANT ANY SPORTS CHANNELS, THEY DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR THEM.
IF THEY DON'T WANT A CONSERVATIVE NEWS NETWORK LIKE FOX NEWS OR A LIBERAL
NETWORK LIKE MSNBC, THEY DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. IF THEY DON'T WANT THE
SCRANTON-WILKES BARRE TV STATIONS & JUST WANT THE PHILLY OR NEW YORK STATIONS,
THAT'S WHAT THEY GET & THAT'S WHAT THEY PAY FOR. THIS IDEA IS CALLED "CABLE
ALA CARTE".
IT'S NOT A NEW
CONCEPT. WE HAVE ADVOCATED FOR THIS EDITORIALLY FOR YEARS. A ZOGBY INTERACTIVE POLL
LAST YEAR FOUND 71% OF RESPONDENTS DON'T LIKE HAVING TO PAY FOR CHANNELS
THEY DON'T WATCH. BUT, CABLE COMPANIES
AREN'T LISTENING. ACCORDING TO THE FCC,
AVERAGE CABLE RATES NATIONWIDE MORE THAN DOUBLED OVER THE PAST 10
YEARS--THAT'S 3 TIMES THE COST-OF-LIVING.
MANY CABLE COMPANIES
HAVE SHIFTED STATIONS FROM THE BROADCAST BASIC TO THE DIGITAL LEVEL FORCING
SUBSCRIBERS TO UPGRADE & PAY MORE. YEARS AGO, IF YOU WANTED PAY CHANNELS
LIKE SHOWTIME, HBO, & CINEMAX, YOU GOT IT ON ANALOG. WITH BLUE RIDGE, YOU MUST
UPGRADE TO DIGITAL. THAT'S A DOUBLE INCREASE--1 FOR THE PAY SERVICE & 1
FOR THE DIGITAL UPGRADE.
THE FCC SHOULD MANDATE
ALL CABLE COMPANIES TO LIST THE SUBSCRIBER FEES FOR THE VARIOUS CABLE
NETWORKS AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR. SUBSCRIBERS SHOULD SEE IN BLACK & WHITE WHY
THEIR CABLE BILLS ARE SOARING. THE FCC SHOULD ALSO MANDATE ALA CARTE PRICING FOR
CABLE & SATELLITE TV OPERATORS. THAT WOULD PUT MANNERS ON OUTFITS LIKE ESPN
& THE YANKEES YES NETWORK WHO HAVE BEEN GOUGING US FOR YEARS.
IF THE FCC CAN MANDATE
TV STATIONS TO GO ALL DIGITAL BY FEBRUARY 17TH...IF THE FCC CAN FORCE PEOPLE WHO
STILL USE RABBIT EARS TO GET NEW CONVERTER BOXES TO RECEIVE TV PROGRAMMING...THEN
IT'S TIME FOR THE FCC THE END THE LIP SERVICE & GIVE AMERICANS THE FREEDOM
OF CHOICE & MANDATE CABLE & SATELLITE TV PROVIDERS TO OFFER ALA CARTE CABLE
CHOICE.
I'M MARK MAREK WITH
THIS WEEK'S AM 1410 WLSH EDITORIAL.
DOWNLOAD THIS EDITORIAL HERE in PDF format
This editorial aired on Oldies 1410 WLSH on Wednesday, December 10 and Thursday,
December 11
SOCCER ENTHUSIASTS
HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET THEIR SPORT ADDED AT PANTHER VALLEY FOR ALMOST 5
YEARS. SOCCER MOMS & DADS MAY HAVE
TO WAIT ANOTHER 5 YEARS BEFORE WE WILL SEE OUR 1ST
SOCCER GAME AT PANTHER VALLEY.
SEVERAL PANTHER VALLEY
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS SOUNDED OFF ON SOCCER LAST WEEK. ALTHOUGH MANY
SYMPATHIZED WITH THE SOCCER PEOPLE, SCHOOL DIRECTORS CAN'T JUSTIFY ADDING
ANOTHER SPORT AT PANTHER VALLEY. EVEN WITH COACHING SALARY CUTS, IT'S REPORTED
PV'S 15 ATHLETIC PROGRAMS ARE STILL RUNNING IN THE RED. WHEN ATHLETICS DON'T AT
LEAST BREAK EVEN & YOU DON'T HAVE AN OUTSIDE SOURCE LIKE A MEN OF MARIAN
ORGANIZATION TO MAKEUP THE DIFFERENCE, MONEY MUST BE FUNNELED FROM THE GENERAL FUND.
ULTIMATELY, THAT LEADS TO HIGHER PROPERTY TAXES. REMEMBER WHEN IT WAS
SUGGESTED A COUPLE YEARS AGO THAT ALL ATHLETICS BE ELIMINATED AT PV IN A
COST-CUTTING MOVE? YOU HAD EVERYBODY UP IN ARMS.
SOCCER SUPPORTERS
SUGGESTED A STARTUP COST OF ABOUT $22,000. A 4 YEAR OLD STUDENT SURVEY
INDICATED OVER 130 KIDS WERE INTERESTED IN SOCCER. ALTHOUGH STUDENT INTEREST IS
STILL THERE, THE DOLLAR FIGURES TO KICKOFF & ANNUALLY MAINTAIN SOCCER ARE
MUCH GREATER.
LET'S START WITH A NEW
SOCCER FIELD. THAT'S BECAUSE MANY SCHOOL DIRECTORS DON'T WANT SOCCER AT
THE NEWLY-FURBISHED FOOTBALL STADIUM. YOU'RE LOOKING AT SIX FIGURES FOR A
NEW SOCCER FIELD ASSUMING YOU PUT IT NEXT TO THE HIGH SCHOOL/MIDDLE SCHOOL
COMPLEX. THAT WOULD NOT EVEN INCLUDE LIGHTS. THEN, YOU'RE LOOKING AT NEW
UNIFORMS & EQUIPMENT & ANCILLARY COSTS OF RUNNING A PROGRAM INCLUDING
COACHING SALARIES, TRAINERS, OFFICIALS, GAME SECURITY.
SOCCER SUPPORTERS
TALKED ABOUT GETTING CORPORATE SPONSORSHIPS & GRANTS, DOING FUNDRAISERS,
& ASKING COACHES TO WORK FOR NOTHING. THAT'S FINE, BUT WE ARE IN A DOWN ECONOMY.
BUSINESSES ARE BUCKLING DOWN & CUTTING BACK THEIR DONATIONS TO EXISTING
SPORTS. MANY FUNDRAISERS ARE NOT AS PROFITABLE AS THEY WERE A FEW YEARS AGO.
WHAT CAN YOUTH SOCCER
MOMS & DADS DO TO GET THEIR PROGRAM TO THE NEXT LEVEL? IN THE SHORT TERM,
PANTHER VALLEY SHOULD LOOK INTO A COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH ANOTHER SCHOOL .
NEIGHBORING WEATHERLY, JIM THORPE, & TAMAQUA ALL HAVE SOCCER. PANTHER VALLEY
SHOULD COURT 1 OF THESE SCHOOLS. REMEMBER, PV CAN RECIPROCATE WITH THEIR
SWIMMING POOL. WEATHERLY HAS NOT FIELDED A FOOTBALL TEAM FOR OVER A
DECADE. THEY HAVE A DEAL WITH JIM THORPE. YOU HAVE COOPERATIVE DEALS ALL OVER THE
STATE & THEY WORK WELL FOR THE SCHOOLS.
IN THE LONG TERM,
PANTHER VALLEY FACES A PRESSING CHALLENGE TO GET ALL ITS ATHLETIC PROGRAMS ON A
BREAKEVEN BASIS. ATHLETIC DIRECTOR KRISTIN BLACK MADE A NICE START THIS YEAR
WITH THOSE CORPORATE BILLBOARDS AT THE STADIUM. BUT, MORE MUST BE DONE TO
SUSTAIN EXISTING PROGRAMS.
LAST YEAR, PANTHER
VALLEY DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH GIRLS TO HAVE A JV GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM. THIS YEAR, THERE
AREN'T ENOUGH TO HAVE A FRESHMAN BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM. EVALUATING EXISTING
PROGRAMS & LOOKING INTO FUTURE COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS ARE 2 THINGS PANTHER
VALLEY OFFICIALS MUST INVESTIGATE FOR THE BENEFIT OF FUTURE STUDENT ATHLETES &
TAXPAYERS.
I'M MARK MAREK WITH
THIS WEEK'S AM 1410 WLSH EDITORIAL.
DOWNLOAD THIS EDITORIAL HERE in PDF format
This editorial aired on Oldies 1410 WLSH on Wednesday, December 3 and Thursday,
December 4
WHEN THAT BOGUS
PROPERTY TAX RELIEF ACT PASSED IN 2006, MANY LAWMAKERS CALLED THE LEGISLATION
"FLAWED" & SAID THE ACT MERITED REVISITING DOWN THE ROAD. WE ARE DOWN THAT ROAD. WHERE
IS OUR PROPERTY TAX REFORM? WHERE IS THAT 30% CUT IN PROPERTY TAX ED
RENDELL PROMISED WHEN HE RAN FOR GOVERNOR THE 1ST TIME? THANKS TO ACT 1 OF
2006, SCHOOL BOARDS ARE FACED WITH THE PROSPECT OF WASTING MORE TAXPAYER MONEY.
REMEMBER IN 2007 WHEN
SCHOOL BOARDS HAD TO FORM TAX STUDY COMMISSIONS & GET TAX-SHIFTING
REFERENDUMS ON THE MAY BALLOT. DISTRICTS IN 2009 HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITY TO REVISIT
THAT FRONT-END TAX-SHIFTING QUESTION. DISTRICTS WOULD HAVE TO JUMP THROUGH
THROUGH THE SAME BUREAUCRATIC HOOPS AS IN 07.
MARCH 6, 09 IS THE
DEADLINE TO APPOINT A LOCAL TAX STUDY COMMISSION. THAT GROUP HAS UNTIL JUNE 4TH TO
MAKE A NONBINDING RECOMMENDATION TO THE SCHOOL BOARD. THERE MUST BE AT LEAST
1 PUBLIC HEARING DURING THAT PERIOD. TAXPAYERS WILL FOOT THE BILL FOR ALL STUDY
COMMISSION EXPENSES LIKE SUPPLIES & LEGAL ADS. FROM MID-AUGUST THRU SEPTEMBER
3RD, SCHOOL DISTRICTS MUST SPEND TAXPAYER MONEY TO RUN AN AD ONCE A WEEK
FOR 3 WEEKS OF THEIR INTENT TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION. IT'S A NOTICE FEW PEOPLE WILL
EVEN TAKE NOTICE TO.
SEPTEMBER 3RD, 2009,
JUST A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE LABOR DAY HOLIDAY WEEKEND, SCHOOL BOARDS MUST
HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A REFERENDUM QUESTION
FOR THE NOVEMBER BALLOT & ADOPT THAT RESOLUTION. BY SEPTEMBER 4TH, ALL
REFERENDUM QUESTIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED TO COUNTY ELECTION BOARDS. EVEN
IF VOTERS APPROVE THE REFERENDUM IN NOVEMBER, NO CHANGES WOULD APPEAR
ON SCHOOL TAX BILLS BEFORE JULY 1ST, 2010.
WE WENT THROUGH ALL
THIS NONSENSE & WASTE OF TAXPAYER MONEY IN 2007. ONLY 9 DISTRICTS IN THE
WHOLE STATE APPROVED TAX-SHIFTING REFERENDUMS. MOST OPPOSED THE
TAX-SHIFTING IDEA BY WIDE MARGINS. THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WERE WASTED IN 2007...MONEY
THAT COULD HAVE BEEN USED TO BETTER EDUCATE OUR KIDS. SINCE THEN LAWMAKERS
HAVE DONE NOTHING TO FIX THIS BOGUS ACT.
THERE IS 1 GLIMMER OF
HOPE AFTER READING THE PSBA RELEASE ON THIS 2009 TIMELINE. IT SAYS BY EARLY
MARCH, 2009, A SCHOOL DISTRICT MAY DETERMINE IF THERE IS INTEREST IN SUBMITTING A
PROPERTY TAX REDUCTION REFERENDUM QUESTION TO THE VOTERS. I EMPHASIZE THAT WORD
"MAY" VERSUS USING THE WORD "MUST". THAT'S A BIG
DIFFERENCE.HOW DOES A BOARD GO
ABOUT DETERMINING IF THERE IS "AN INTEREST"?
PROPERTY OWNERS
CONTINUE TO SEEK PROPERTY TAX RELIEF, BUT IT SEEMS NOBODY IN HARRISBURG IS
LISTENING. PROPERTY OWNERS ARE OUTRAGED WHEN THEY SEE THEIR TAX-RELIEF MONEY
GOING TO BUILD FOOTBALL & SOCCER STADIUMS & HOCKEY PALACES. THIS SCHOOL
YEAR IS THE 1ST TIME DISTRICTS GOT MONEY FROM THE SLOTS GAMING FUND TO FUND
PROPERTY TAX RELIEF. UNFORTUNATELY FOR MANY, THAT RELIEF WAS MORE THAN OFFSET
BY HIKES IN SCHOOL TAX RATES.
THE 1ST PRIORITY FOR
LAWMAKERS WHEN THEY RETURN IN JANUARY IS TO WORK TOWARDS TRUE PROPERTY
TAX REFORM. I DON'T THINK WE WILL EVER SEE A COMPLETE ELIMINATION OF SCHOOL
PROPERTY TAXES. BUT, EVEN A 30% REDUCTION LIKE ED RENDELL PROMISED NEAR
THE TURN OF THE 21ST CENTURY WOULD HELP.
I'M MARK MAREK WITH
THIS WEEK'S AM 1410 WLSH EDITORIAL.
DOWNLOAD THIS EDITORIAL HERE in PDF format
