Harrisburg City Council rejected the Act 47 plan, and now they have rejected Mayor Linda Thompson’s plan one last time. Critics say the mayor’s plan is basically the same plan as presented by the Act 47 team.
Rejecting the mayoral plan means the original plan will end up being enforced by the Commonwealth. Council is delaying the inevitable. However, denying the plan gives naysayers the ability to distance themselves from the plan should it go badly. This amounts to a CYA move for the no votes on council and the ability to come back and say “I told you so!” later.
Governor Corbett says he will sign legislation to appoint an oversight board to enforce the state recommended financial recovery plan. Harrisburg is $310 million dollars in debt from a failed retrofit of the city’s incinerator.