An Unnecessary Tax: Ed Urges Council to Oppose Mandatory Ambulance Fee
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Ed Oswald, Jr. for Borough Council
108 Thomas Place
Sinking Spring, PA 19608
http://www.oswaldforcouncil.com
vote@oswaldforcouncil.com
AN UNNECESSARY TAX: ED URGES COUNCIL TO OPPOSE MANDATORY $30 PER HOUSEHOLD WESTERN BERKS AMBULANCE FEE
Sinking Spring, PA — September 24, 2009 — The Western Berks Ambulance Association has been demanding that local municipalities mandate their residents become members of the association by asking that these governments fork over $30 for every household within their limits.
The most recent municipality to force their residents to become members is Spring Township (see article), and the toll it will take on the budget is no more apparent than the tax increase that township supervisors will now have to pass onto its residents.
At the September 23 council workshop meeting, the subject arose on what council should do. There is already opposition on council to such plans: Councilman Butkus pointed out that he believed that it was unfair to force residents to join the association, and Councilman Schmidt who brought the issue in front of council acknowledged the dissent, although he pointed out there are pros and cons to the situation.
During the public comment period, Ed spoke on behalf of residents. “As a citizen, I urge council to take a stand against this. If Western Berks Ambulance will not open their books to explain why this is so necessary, then we should oppose this.”
According to preliminary numbers, it would cost Sinking Spring somewhere in the neighborhood of $45,000 yearly. As there is no room in the budget for such a large expense it will likely mean another tax increase will be on the way for residents in 2010, this to the emergency services taxes taken out of our residents paychecks.
“Like Councilman Butkus, I believe that if residents choose not to join the association, that is their own choice,” Ed said in a statement. “While I am not denying that the insurance given by membership is a positive thing, at this time we cannot pass another tax increase to our residents.”
A .5 mill tax increase is already on the way for residents in 2010, if current projections are correct. So if you’re a property owner, you’ll be getting hit twice in the coming year.
Ed remains committed to protecting our borough’s residents from unnecessary taxation. This latest “fee” is exactly that. Opposition to it is the right thing to do.