No Pottstown Tax Hike Due, In Part, To 3-Year-Old Report Says Council President

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

Editor’s note:  And also due to the tireless efforts of Jason Bobst, Janice Lee and Dan Weand for fixing the broken accounting system.  Imagine what Pottstown could become if Council President Toroney followed the ULI Report recommendations!

POTTSTOWN — Borough Council President Stephen Toroney credited a 2009 consultant report on the borough’s finances for starting Pottstown down the road to what he considers a landmark achievement, that was made official Monday with the adoption of a $38.5 million that does not raise borough taxes for the first time in recent memory.

Councilman Mark Gibson, who, as a paid driver for the Empire Fire Company could be said to benefit financially by voting for the budget, which makes contributions to the fire companies, abstained from the vote.

But the budget, officially balanced at $38,530,729, otherwise received unanimous support from the remainder of council.

Read more:  http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/20121214/NEWS01/121219662/no-pottstown-tax-hike-due-in-part-to-3-year-old-report-says-council-president#full_story

Pottstown Borough Budget Revisited

More 11th hour hijinx with taxpayer’s money!  Why should a police chief need a clothing allowance?  I mean seriously!  Councilman Rhoads was correct in voting NO.  $800 is needlessly being wasted when this individual makes $98k.  I think Flanders can afford to buy his own clothes for cryin’ out loud!

Why at the last minute was Flanders’ raise bumped up a half of a percent?  The idea here is to cut fat from the budget.  I have not gotten a raise in years because my employer is nonprofit and can not afford to give me one.  I think Pottstown Borough is not in a position to give raises either.  When you are this far in the HOLE you can not afford to spend money you do not have.

It never ceases to amaze me that the school board and council spend money like we have an orchard of money trees that can be harvested at will.  We are flat broke and there is no more money.  You can not squeeze the people of this town any further. Why is this a difficult concept for people to grasp???

After reading the Mercury article, it sounds as though Flanders has not actually “opted out” of his health insurance that will save Pottstown $20,000.00.  Is there a timeline here?  How long does Flanders have to decide if he is opting out and taking the additional week of vacation?  It seems a mute point to be making until he actually opts out of his health insurance and actually saves the money.

Inquiring minds want to know!!!