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The Steel and Slag column last Monday
The Steel and Slag column last Monday called for public audits of the Community Development Corp. I must admit, when that was written, I was thinking of a period from several years ago when there was a long, long delay before an audit was finally released. Reports are now handed over publicly at council meetings, and as a registered nonprofit, federal tax returns are made available online. The fiscal year just ended (June 30) will be audited as usual and that report will be made available later this year.
However, a fair number of negative comments about the CDC contract extension were not really complaining so much about the transparency of the finances as they were complaining that any significant finances at all were being committed by the council.
Skip Lawrence has explained that “for a total of $333,333 over three years, the Borough netted $6 million in county, state and Federal dollars for economic revitalization projects.”
Investing in the CDC definitely seems like a good deal for someone who has the money to make investments. However, prettier streets and increased activity downtown are small consolation for someone with a fixed income whose bills keep rising, or anyone whose raises (if any) aren’t keeping up with the combination of inflation and local tax increases.
Overall, in the long run, it seems likely that the investment in the CDC will help the borough as a whole. But can anything be done in the meantime to make it easier on people who are already staggering under their burdens?
Maybe they can bear it, but don’t ask them to grin.
-- Patricia Matson,
Editor, The Phoenix
However, a fair number of negative comments about the CDC contract extension were not really complaining so much about the transparency of the finances as they were complaining that any significant finances at all were being committed by the council.
Skip Lawrence has explained that “for a total of $333,333 over three years, the Borough netted $6 million in county, state and Federal dollars for economic revitalization projects.”
Investing in the CDC definitely seems like a good deal for someone who has the money to make investments. However, prettier streets and increased activity downtown are small consolation for someone with a fixed income whose bills keep rising, or anyone whose raises (if any) aren’t keeping up with the combination of inflation and local tax increases.
Overall, in the long run, it seems likely that the investment in the CDC will help the borough as a whole. But can anything be done in the meantime to make it easier on people who are already staggering under their burdens?
Maybe they can bear it, but don’t ask them to grin.
-- Patricia Matson,
Editor, The Phoenix
posted by The Phoenix Files at
9:33 PM
1 Comments:
Trish, I want to commend you for your editorial on Council's action to fund the CDC through our tax dollars.
There comes a time when each of us must decide to take a stand on an issue which affects all of us or as the adage reminds us, we will fall for anything.
The average resident is basically powerless against the decisions of a governing body unless and until the voices of the people rise above the din created by most often effective and powerful marketing by special interest groups.
In the case of the extraordinary vote by four votes on Council to bypass the normal channels of the budget process, the tax payers of Phoenixville have been sent a horrendous message. "We don't care!", is what we heard.
Councilmembers Kirkner, Senley, and Buckwalter, however, were the few who chose heed the warnings of an economic crisis and challenged the mind-set of those who's message we heard loud and clear.
Not only are we currently witnessing and party to, a historical global financial downturn, we are also witnessing Council's fiscally dangerous precedent of funding the CDC out of turn. This action by Council Members Ciruelos, Gill, Speck, and Wagner was made with the already public knowledge of an impending double-digit tax increase in Phoenixville!
If, as you and others suggest, an investment in the CDC would help Phoenixville as a WHOLE, the CDC should find those with private monies wildly excited and begging to donate to the fund raising campaign.
Somehow, I just can't see a line of benefactors standing outside the CDC office door.
A wise Council would re-visit the vote and table the CDC request. All it takes is a request by a Council member who voted for the action to place the question back on Council's table.
The good news announced by Councilman Senley regarding an early beginning to the work on the budget will give everyone a clear picture of the financial status of the borough, and whether the tax payers of Phoenixville should continue to subsidize CDC "bling".
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