Reading Area Community College Likely To Raise Tuition Nearly 6%

Students at Reading Area Community College could see a 5.84 percent tuition increase this fall.

The $28.77 million budget proposed for 2012-13 calls for raising the cost per credit $8, to $145 from $137, for part-time students.

For full-time Berks County students, tuition would rise to $2,175 per semester from $2,055.

RACC’s president, Dr. Anna D. Weitz, said the proposed increase is a response to several factors, including a 5 percent decrease in state funding, increased expenses and a decline in full-time enrollment at community colleges across the state.

Read more: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=391115

Ripple Effect Of “Shop Smart.BuyLocal.Shop Pottstown” Campaign Could Equal $440,520

You see, the 55,065 dollars (WOW – impressive in and of itself) spent locally by the Pottstown School District in the month of May (with an average of $83 per Pottstown School District employee during the month long initiative), in “buy local” speak may translates to as much as 440,520 dollars for the Pottstown community just by the compound effect of keeping those dollars local! (I encourage you all to Google the “multiplier effect of buying local” to do some fact checking/research of your own.)

I, too, am almost speechless buy such simple, yet staggering numbers!! But, to be fair to such an awesome accomplishment and commitment from the Pottstown School District, and to help the Pottstown Buy Local committee attract our next Pottstown business willing to take our challenge to “Buy Local” for a month, we need some help from you all with shouting it from the Pottstown rooftops!

As always, thank you for your continued support and, in the words of Margaret Mead, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed. It is the only thing that ever has.”

Power to the Pottstown People!

Amy Francis

PS – Captain Buy Local and trusty sidekick Small Biz are available for interviews by appointment only, and on a first come, first served basis. 🙂

Is More Low-Income Housing Trying To Sneak Into Pottstown? Rumor Has It!

Location of Pottstown in Montgomery County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Editor’s note: This email was sent to us from a concerned Pottstown Borough homeowner.  While we tend not to post speculative things, two people told our writer the same tale of woe regarding this matter.  It would seem plausible with Jason’s departure looming on the horizon and Councilor Rhoads’ resignation, some may think this is a good time for a Trojan Horse maneuver??

A concerned citizen writes:

“Yesterday, it was reported that the Pearl Project, low-income housing for seniors by the river is d.o.a.  But what’s coming in through the back door but yet ANOTHER developer with low-income tax credits to ply and where else but Pottstown?  Rumor has it that a meeting is slated, sometime soon, with the newly departing borough manager, Jason Bobst, to discuss low-income house right next door to the former Pearl site, in the Old Shirt Factory.  BUT HEY, weren’t there plans not so long ago that envisioned this building as upscale, market rate condos?  Wouldn’t that vision align with the ULI recommendation to make “magic” on our riverfront?

While Pottstown struggles with re-defining itself we’ve seen the unexpected resignation of a vital member of council and a maybe not-so-unexpected resignation of our beloved Borough Manager.  Come on people, we are reeling from these set backs now is NOT the time to sit idle while the big tax credit investors now try to enter through the back door with their low-income concepts that are wrong, wrong, wrong on every level for Pottstown.  Jason, if you can leave this community with just one more, vital parting good deed….PLEASE JUST SAY NO.  Give us a fighting chance to re-group and redefine, to seek qualified leadership that supports a better vision for Pottstown.  We know that we have so much more to offer and we ask only for your consideration and kindness.  Please leave us with a legacy of hope and a reason to continue to strive.”