fi ie The Dallas Post 3 be signed and include a telephone number so that we may verify authen- | would probably hurt the turnout. | tion and to change would not be t | popular.” week. 5 fo BAY DF eV UaRaanhaaar AC Lael nat salial Wednesday, May 10, 1989 Dallas, PA FA 4 The Dallas Post Tie SDALLASC0ST This tax reform plan misses the mark Like everyone we talked to while preparing this week's. articles on tax reform, we think Pennsylvania's tax systems are sorely in need of change. And we are not among the voices who would decry any change in taxation as inherently an increase, and therefore evil. On the contrary, a look at communities and states that are prospering reveals in many cases higher tax rates than those paid by northeastern Pennsylvanians. It’s not how much tax is collected that matters sometimes, it’s what is done with it. : Moving the tax base for local municipalities and school districts from a heavy reliance on residential property taxes to incomes offers some real advantages. By their very nature, income taxes tend to keep pace with increased revenue needs, whereas property taxes - especially with infrequent reassess- ment - do not. Income taxes are generally considered to be more progres- sive; those most able to pay are taxed the most. Property taxes, on the other hand, tend to be applied more heavily to those who have purchased property recently, regardless of ability to pay. ~ Those things said, we oppose the passage of Act 145. We have several concerns with this bill. First, it would tax business and commercial property at a different - higher - rate than residential property. We'll leave the constitutionality of that to others; it will surely be chal- ‘lenged in court. We are concerned because it has been tough enough for the economy of this area to get to where it is today and we don’t want to see any obstacle placed in the path to greater success. Penalizing businesses is not the route to economic prosperity. Another major failing of this act, in our opinion, is that it does not force counties to reassess property on a regular basis. In many states, 10 year reassessment schedules have meant higher tax receipts without higher rates, and more equity among homeowners’ tax rates. We also are worried about the costs of adminstration that this bill will demand. There are numerous provisions that will require monitoring and enforcement, and the act makes no mention of how this will be done or paid for. As simple a question as how the tax collection will be done has not been addressed. Ed Sunday's assessment that the Abington Heights school district may lose $300,000 in interest income is enough to make this a serious concern. Finally, we think the public and the Legislature have not been given enough time to study and respond to the proposal. The final language was given to legislators only hours before ‘the close of the last session, and since then too little time has passed for the rest of us to digest the entire bill. It’s great that voters will decide this issue, but they need a little more help to understand it first. Governor Bob Casey deserves high marks for his persistence in pushing a bill he believes in. We, and many others believe in some of the same basic principles that he does. But Act 145 does not achieve the goals it seeks in a reasonable way. It’s too complicated and has too many inequities of its own. We hope the Governor and Legislature come up with a new and better plan, soon. And we especially hope the next time they give us more time and better explanations with which to + ~ understand the proposal. Letters invited The Dallas Post encourages readers to share their opinions with the | community by writing a letter to the editor. All letters for publication must ticity. We will not publish anonymous letters. Send letters to: The Dallas Post, P.O. Box 366, Dallas PA 18612. Letters received by Noon on Monday may be included in that week's issue. Published Weekly by Bartsen Media, Inc. LE P.O. Box 366, Dallas PA 18612 ; g Telephone: 717-675-5211 Charlotte E. Bartizek Associate Publisher Charlot M. Denmon Reporter Ronald A. Bartizek Editor and Publisher Tami Britton Advertising Acct. Exec. Jean Hillard Office Manager Rob Zapotoski Composition Olga Kostrobala Classified/typesetting MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION AND THE PENNSYLVANIA NEWSPAPER PUBLISHER'S ASSOCIATION Relaxed posture This barn along Hays Corner Road in Dallas Township seems to be taking it easy these days. Perhaps its working days are over. (Photo by Charlotte Bartizek) { Letters Urges voters to make an informed choice Editor: It has come down to the wire for the people of Dallas Borough to stand up and be counted. Much has been written and discussed in the past year concerning develop- ment in Dallas Borough. The fact is that “The Dallas Borough Pres- ervation Association” is expound- ing managed growth to preserve the environment, wetlands, the reservoir and our semi-rural life style. Let us not forget several facts before we vote on May 16— 1. Water problems of the past year. Dallas Water Company still has not had a public hearing de- tailing their plans. (As was man- dated last November by the Public Utility Commission.) 2. The school board is floating a bond issue to take care of the new students which will be coming. 3. Sewer rates went up this year and no doubt will climb higher. 4. Traffic which is already bad will become increasingly heavy. 5. The Borough Council ignored a petition signed by 339 voters against the Deer Meadows project. The fact the incumbents did not feel obligated to attend the town meeting of April 26 should also be remembered. It seems that the voters of Dal- las Borough have a clear-cut choice. Know your candidates and what they do or do not stand for! Vote accordingly. In this predominantly Republi- can Borough, Democrats can vote only by writing in names of their choices. The fact is that this is a “pri- mary” election and no candidates should be endorsed by a political party. So get out and vote for your conscience. Anees B. Barakat Dallas Only yesterday 50 Years Ago - May 12, 1939 HARVEYS LAKE FIRE GUTS TROXELL HOUSE Five local schools’ to give diplo- mas to 140 seniors. Flames destroy the old Troxell house at Outlet, Harveys Lake, owned by W.L. Evans of Wilkes- Barre. Clarence LaBar succeeds Ernest Line as phys ed teacher at Dallas Borough High School, and Julia Dolton of Somerset, Philadelphia was named home economics and English teacher. Showers curb forest fires but woods are still dry. Engaged - Florence Wentz and “James Davenport. Dallas Borough nine defeats Lake team 6-5. 40 Years Ago - May 13, 1949 KINGSTON TWP. GETS $175,000 BUDGET Mrs. Harry Haycox is named chairman of the solicitation to collect items for the library auc- tion. Zoning code is tobe explained at the public meeting of Dallas Town- ship May 17 at Dallas Township High School auditorium. Kingston Township School Board Monday adopted a tentative budget for the year of $175,708.44. The committee in charge of Sweet Valley Volunteer Firemen's Parade is receiving entries daily for the Memorial Day event from or- ganizations throughout the Back Mountain region. A Wed - Mary Delaney and Tho- -mas Garrity; Henrietta Jane Le- Grand and Charles Ciro Cucchio. Dallas batters trim Carverton exploding for 16 hits to collect 11 runs to defeat their opponents 11- 5. 30 Years Ago - May 7, 1959 LINDA GREY NAMED MAY QUEEN Linda Grey willbe May Queen at Lake-Noxen building of Lake- Lehman Jointure. ; Citizens of Columbia Avenue, Memorial Highway and Lake Streets ask Dallas Borough Coun- cil for abatement of noise created by motorcycles in a neighboring motorcycle business. Daughters arrange open house for Mrs. Kocher on Mother's Day. Engaged - Alice Joanne Sidler and James William Tethers, Jr.; Louise Williams and John M. Fink. Rev. Charles Gilbert will retire from the Methodist ministry to his home in Mt. Zion. 20 Years Ago - May 8, 1969 LETTER POSTAGE TO RISE TO 7 CENTS Opposition to the proposed Back Mountain Expressway was voiced by Dallas Borough officials. Rep. Frank J. O'Connell, Jr. urged PennDOT to consider groov- ing to correct hydroplaning on the Luzerne-Dallas Highway. Glenn Johnson seeks Lehman Township,supervisor post. Postal rate hike of six to seven cents for a letter is proposed for July. : Engaged - Joyce Ann Steven and Carl Tupper. - Wed - Laura Ann Naperkowski ‘and Kurt German; Karen Ann Snee and Maris J. Ziemelis. Lake-Lehman nine edges Dal- las 3-2. Dallas golfers lose to Spartans 13 1/2-4 to drop from first place. 10 Years Ago - May 10, 1979 LAKE-LEHMAN SCHOOL TAX UP BY 8 MILLS Dallas Township plans Spring Cleanup May 14, 15 and May 21 and 22. Lake-Lehman School District's tentative budget would hike tax by eight mills. Howard Grossman and Jean Fadar discuss plans for the 1979 Back Mountain Folks Art Festival at College Misericordia June 2 ands3. Dallas Christian School plans to expand. Engaged - Lynne Michelle Hess and Rev. Allan Jonathan Cease. Prince of Peace Episcopal Church Women's annual antique show and sale is great success. Back Mountain Kiwanis plans its second annual rodeo. Billeck, Prop. Police Ass'n says thanks for support Editor: As Chairman of the Back Moun- tain Police Association's Sixth Annual Ham and Egg Breakfast which was held on April 23, 1989, | I would like to thank all those who made our endeavor a huge suc- cess. The proceeds of this annual event are donated to the Luzerne County Association for Retarded | (Citizens. Special thanks goes to the following merchants and indi- viduals who donated food prod- & ucts and their expertise to making the breakfast possible: Country Fresh Dairy - Dick Huey, Prop. Trucksville Gino's Shoe Store, Dallas Bill's Diner, Shavertown Burger King, Shavertown Insalacos Mkt., Dallas Trucksville Pharmacy, Neil Robert Trucksville Gus Stella, Shavertown, Chief of Food Preparation | Basil Barbacci, Dallas, Food Preparation David Wehrer, Harvey's Lake, | PD. : Of course, 1 would be greatly | remiss if] did not also mention the | fine support presented by mem- bers of L.U.Z.A.R.C., the Back Mountain Police Association, as well as our brother officers throughout Luzerne County who * turned out to support this worthy | cause. | Each year, thanks to the sup- port of the Back Mountain Com- munity our breakfast gets better and better. To all those special people, I extend a sincere thank you for your generosity and sup port. Chamberlain, 22 / Ne (a Paul M. Sabol Chief of Police Kingston Township Police De- | partment Road repairs scheduled Matthew R. Collura, Luzerne County Maintenance Manager, has announced the following work schedule for Department forces for the week of May 8, 1989: Brush Cutting - SR 4011 in Fairmount Twp:; Upper Demunds #. Road in Dallas Twp. Ditch Cleaning - Manor Drive in Kingston Twp.; TR 29 in Plymouth & Lehman Twps. Pothole Patching, TR 118 in Lehman Twp. OVE | S| pre 1h Farmers can join watershed program Farmers in the Fishing Creek Watershed of Luzerne County troubled with Nutrient Manage- ment Problems on farmland, may be eligible for cost-share assis- tance provided through the Che- | sapeake Bay Program. CE For anyone interested in par- ticipating in this program, the Luzerne County Conservation District will be holding a sign-up period from May 2 thru 17, during regular business hours, at the Agricultural Service Center, 71 North Market Street in Nanticoke. Farmland eligibility can only be determined if you sign-up. Questions can be directed to the Conservation District Office by calling 825-1703. Flossie Finn Robert Roberts Guidance Administrator Dallas Kingston “If it were on the weekend it Election Day has become a tradi- “I believe more people will stop on their way to or from work or | while they are out if it's during the Mary Ann Zier Homemaker Idetown “The way it is now is best. I wouldn't want it changed. There's plenty of time to vote during the day.” - Lou Isaac Teacher . Kingston Township “That's a good question. I be- lieve there would be less voters out wouldn't give up the time because are involved in activities elsewhere if election was on the weekend. they like to do things with their over the weekends.” Many families go away or hate to give up free time.” Linda Johnson Homemaker Beaumont “It's best as it is now. People families on weekends.” i (7) Mabel Jenkins Retired Shavertown “I don't think so. Most people
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