Local legislators have concerns on Corbett’s budget plan
Worry that revenue projections too optimistic, pension issues not addressed
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Gov. Tom Corbett
Gov. Tom Corbett unveiled his 2014-15 budget plan Tuesday in a speech to a joint session of the state legislature — and it appears that some provisions, such as cutting state pension fund contributions and increasing spending without a clear way to pay for it could...
Op/Ed: Chester County worked together for a successful 2013
By Terence Farrell, Chester County Commissioner
Terence Farrell
Happy New Year! ¡Feliz año nuevo! And best wishes for a healthy, happy and prosperous new year. As we transition from 2013 to 2014, it is worthwhile to look back at the year that just ended to assess how Chester County government is doing to meet the needs and expectations of its constituents, and to make plans to do even better...
Only modest revisions to final Kennett budget
Longtime supervisor Michael Elling retires from Kennett BOS
By Rick Marts, Staff Writer, The Times
Kennett Township Board of Supervisors chair Michael Elling is retiring after serving 18 years as a supervisor. Monday evening was his final public meeting as a member of the board.
KENNETT — Township Manager Lisa Moore opened Monday evening’s public meeting by saying, “The final 2014 operating...
Letter: Leff needed in Kennett for real change
To The Editor,
I just wrote a very big check for KCSD school taxes, up yet again from last year. It is indeed a privilege to live in bucolic Kennett Township, and good schools are important, but the resulting taxes are becoming prohibitively expensive for many of us.
A major part of this problem is the current haphazard approach to development in our township. For every new house built, two...
Letter: Kennett Twp. holds too large a surplus
To The Editor,
The financial management of Kennett Township funds is in disarray. With an operating budget of approximately $3 million/year, the current Board of Supervisors has accumulated a massive General Fund of $9 million dollars. Kennett Township also continues to receive 0.25% Earned Income Tax (EIT) for open space, only a very small fraction of which has been used, and now totals another...
Free income tax return help from AARP
KENNETT SQUARE — If you haven’t started or have questions about preparing your income taxes – help is just a phone call away. Oh, and here’s the best part – it’s FREE, confidential, and you don’t have to buy a program or pick from an a-la-carte menu for services.
The AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program is here to help by offering free, confidential services to...
Why doesn’t your town like business?
Hostile attitude toward business growth must change to fix tax problem
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
You’ll excuse my sense of de ja vu.
Back in my youth as a young reporter, the hot catch phrase for the overbuilt and tax-revenue challenged northern New Jersey suburbs was “ratables.”
Ratables are a very special kind of real estate: they use little in the way of local or school district...
Will new homeowner tax effect you when you sell your home?
By Jill Goldman, Special to The Times
The “homeowner’s tax” that Congress created to help pay for the Obama Healthcare Law is theoretically a scary proposition, since it applies to the proceeds of real estate sales including primary residences. In actuality, however, few homeowners will be affected since only a relatively few sales will generate enough proceeds to high enough wage earners...
The damage of narrow self-interest
These days, it’s everyone for themselves and we all suffer
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
We’re all in this together, right? I’ll pause while you stop laughing.
The 1970s were supposed to be the “Me Decade,” but it seems that what really happened was the emergence of the “Me Generation.” As that generation took power in the halls of government and corporate governance,...
County poised to assess towns for emergency services
Local officials object to timing, costs of the $5.20 per person fee
By Mike McGann, Editor, The KennettTimes.com
Chester County appears poised to impose a per-capita tax on the county’s 73 municipalities — $5.20 per person — for emergency services starting with the 2013 fiscal year, but municipal officials are blasting the move as little more than an excuse to shift a tax hike.
The Chester...
