Christopher Baxter reports in the Morning Call that Berkheimer will soon be contracted by the City of Easton to collect taxes (and extract their fee) from any residents who have failed to pay their per capita tax of $15 by the deadline. Is there anyone else out there that thinks this is a ridiculous, contrived tax? At least our other taxes levied at least make a pretense of providing a service, but a $15 tax just for the pleasure of living here?
The good news: it won't cost the city any more of our tax money to hire Berkheimer. The bad news--the collection fee will be charged to residents directly, and the fee is more than the tax itself, bringing the total to $33 if you're late, times the number of years you're late. What the heck?
Important dates and fees associated with Easton's per capita tax:
•Pay by March 4: $14.70
•Pay by May 5: $15
•Pay after May 5: $16.50
•If the city hires Berkheimer and the firm must garnish wages, residents could pay as much as $33 for a year.
Posts
27 comments:
I pay my taxes so why should the deadbeats get away with not paying theirs? $15 or not the tax should be paid. A per capita tax does exactly what it is meant to do -- keep an accurate account of who is living int he city. I give the mayor credit - finally someone who understands fairness and the fact that I don't want my taxes going up because of people who don't pay. It's simple math.
Why should we pay $15 each to count people in the city when we have a census? That makes no sense. It's a source of revenue coming out of tax payers' pocket and isn't justified by providing a corresponding service. It's baloney. If other cities don't levy this tax, why should Easton?
all cities in Pa levy this tax. in some of the area townships its a lot more. the census is every ten years as I recall.
In light of that I was in attendance at a budget meeting when the mayor said he would like to eliminate it. But until it is and can be replaced by othere revenue then you need to pay it.
Easton needs to get rid of the tax. The school district is entitled to half if it asks for it. I cannot believe that the city makes any money on this tax. It seems a lot of people neeeded to screw in this lightbulb.
I'll admit I find it an annoyance, but without accurate and recent demographics, the city is going to have a really hard time getting state and federal aid which it needs desperately, and can't live without.
Like it or not, the numbers mater , granted I'd love to see the west ward gentrified, and then we'd be able to get rid of it. But until such a time, we're probably stuck with it.
Peace,
David
Still, I favor fair enforcement.
Is it possible that the City has run out of assets to sell to use to balance their budget?
Just asking.
Sal Panto says:
BullVon you are talking history. Our administration has not balanced our budgets with one shots since taking office. Any sale or one shot that comes in goes to the capital budget, not the general operating budget. We take proper financing very seriously. Very simply, if you balance your budget with a one shot where is the next one the following year. With one shots you aren't closing the gap of the expenditires you are only delaying it. We balance our budget by determining the expected revenues first and then lowering our expenses to meet those revenues. Hence, no property tax increase in the last three years and even though our vendor has raised our trash fees we have absorbed them into the budget (by making cuts) and not passed on the trash increases to our residents.
As for the per capita tax, I agree and as soon as we can do without it we will. The good news is that we are not going to be spending precious city dollars collecting $15. They will collect and charge the delinquent resident.
Mayor Panto,
Thank you for your reply. It is indeed refreshing that you took the time to explain your position, which I agree with, and your efforts to make our government more transparent. Oftentimes, the public is denied the reasonings behind the decisions their elected officials decide.
Yes, Mayor, thanks again for posting to address residents' concerns.
David Caines said...
the city is going to have a really hard time getting state and federal aid which it needs desperately, and can't live without.
State and Federal aid is nothing more than borrowed money which will never be repaid. That cities throughout the US have created cost structures they cannot sustain themselves, and that those cities "desperately need" to depend on money from other jurisdictions who must borrow it in order to provide it, tells you the average Joe hasn't a clue.
The vote buyers have you thinking all you have to do is pay your little $15 tax and the state/feds will pony up the rest and take care of you.
How about this? Pay for all those goverment services you so desperately need out of your own pockets, and then see how badly you will want them.
Or, keep listening to the vote buyers and squabble over the price of a case of beer. That's what they're counting on.
Hey clem...agreed, the city and the people in it absolutely have to become more self sufficient.
Particularly now that we're pretty much broke as a nation. But in the interim, the numbers still have value. Numbers always do.
Peace,
David
TO be fair, I think Mayor Panto and his administration have been doing a bang up job. From everything we can see the city is far more economically sound than when he took office and the area is also safer.
I think it's possible that we may be moving towards a time when state and federal aid will be something we need less, but will still want as all communities do. We'll have to see what the future holds there.
In either case, if we're going to have the tax, fair enforcement is well just.... fair. And having it come at no cost to those who pay the tax is a nice bonus. This is the sort of thinking we need in this economic environment.
Peace,
David
Clem, David and BullVon--thanks for posting with names/monikers. It's nice to see people willing to own their words--or at least allow readers to follow a clear thread...
On Berkheimer...I was also at the council meeting where the delinquent accounts were discussed and I agree that the tax may be unfair (the various arguments so far haven't quite cleared it up for me yet, either way - I'd like to hear more on it's purpose) but having them do it makes fiscal sense since they have all the contact data for the people who aren't paying - making them the most efficient collectors of the debt. I also agree with whoever said that as long as it is a tax (that most of us pay) everyone should pay it...some of these people haven't paid in a looong time.
On the other hand, Berkheimer has shown little regard for customer service, working out issues with taxpayers or even returning phone calls. I have had two negative conversations about them with city residents just this week. I am sure the city is aware of this and I am optimistic they will not being getting another collection contract with the city after this one expires.
I also commend the mayor for stopping the infuriating practice (mostly under Goldsmith) to sell capital assets to run the city...from the former Palmer Street public housing on Southside to the Williams Township land (now a golf course), we've been nothing but hamstrung by these dopey decisions.
As for the idea that we are getting back our own tax money from federal sources and that we should some how feel bad about it and run the city without appropriations...get real. This country hasn't had a legitimate concern for the plight of cities since...well since forever.
Even so-called liberal progressive administrations have favored rural and suburban locales over cities back to and including the New Deal. Any positive spill-over effecting cities was sheer coincidence to other political aims.
The irony of this situation is that cities and their immediate city regions are the creators and drivers of the economies that the rural and suburban regions must attach their umbilical to for survival. There is a clear misunderstanding by the best known economists of the ages (and today) of where economic growth actually comes from and how to enhance it. There is no such thing as a "national economy" - only local and regional ones - so macro adjustments like the Fed's interest rate manipulation and national stimulus programs mean little. And transfer payments from haves to have-nots have ultimately proven to be failures.
But if we are going to move wealth around by redistribution of tax revenue it should be going to the places that drive the region's economies - and that is the cities. They must of course first show reason why they would do more with it than leaving it where it was.
DRL
Dennis, I love when you post. I do have a point of contention and it is this-
The irony of this situation is that cities and their immediate city regions are the creators and drivers of the economies that the rural and suburban regions must attach their umbilical to for survival. ------
While this remains somewhat true, most manufactures and the like and equally any who can afford to have moved out and away from the cities.
Office parks dot the suburban and once rural areas as do shipping and manufacturing concerns and when it comes to a small city like our own, mostly we have become like many others, an island in which to house the poor, and a place to house the workers.
Truth be told we spend almost no money in easton proper, we don't eat here, shop here or even often get gas here, Palmer and the more suburban areas have better stores, offer safer venues (at least seemingly so) and I'm way less likely to have someone start a conversation with me by calling me Bitch. With rare exception whatever Easton may offer isn't generally worth the aggravation of getting it.
And a surprisingly and noticeably large number of people feel the same.
Can this be fixed ?
I hope so, but at present the smaller cities like our own are mostly dumping grounds for those not wanted elsewhere. Wish I'd known that before we moved here....but hindsight is 20/20.
We'll have to see what the future holds and deal with the present realities as effectively as we can. I for one do not feel that Easton has passed the tipping point, I hold out some hope, but barring some major changes, smaller cities at least are no longer truly economic powers.
Peace,
David
David--please speak for yourself. I spend most of my money in Easton and my positive interactions with neighbors in Easton far outweigh the negatives. I know a lot of neighbors in the West Ward as well as Eastonians in other neighborhoods who feel the same way. It has to do with where one tends to focus one's attention and how one extends one's self to others in a community.
Easton has economic and social challenges like any depressed American town trying to make a comeback. But Easton is definitely on the rebound and has good restaurants, pubs, hiking trails along the rivers and creek, and a strong arts community to offer.
The reason that Easton residents have to go to Palmer to get certain things is because the city has allowed investors to buy up most of our old mom and pop storefronts and convert them into rental apartments, adding to the density of the population, the parking issues, and the lack of walking access to certain things that would be nice, like a hardware store, for instance.
We need to focus on urging the city to step up de-conversion efforts and we need to elect judges that we feel will have enough integrity to levy maximum penalties on slumlords who do not take care of their properties, regardless of their campaign contributions or personal connections.
There is a judge running for re-election this year (see my latest post on this)--does anyone know anything about his judgments in the last 10 years, or how to find record of them? If he is re-elected he will be in for another 10.
We need to focus on urging the city to step up de-conversion efforts and we need to elect judges that we feel will have enough integrity to levy maximum penalties on slumlords who do not take care of their properties, regardless of their campaign contributions or personal connections.--
Agreed, we're all in, we're stuck here. And I'll admit my focus could be broadened. My local inter actions have been mostly with ghetto types and criminals and that does tend to skew one's view.
But in any event, we're prepared to do what we can to make the city a better place.
I'll also agree that the city is on the rebound. Maybe this spring we'll get out and about a bit more.
Care to recommend a decent restaurant downtown?
Peace,
David
Nationally though I feel my assessment of trends is fair, granted if we get the train to NY, we'll gentrify...lots of problems solved.
best all-around restaurant in my opinion is Porter's. the food is consistently good, service is down to earth, competent and friendly, and when they have music, it's of good quality. they also have a great selection of beers.
Sette Luna has delicious food, but the service is some of the most pretentious i've ever come across. keeping in mind that the root of "pretentious" is "pretend," the servers consistently have a snotty attitude as if they are great servers, when the service is sub par. for instance--recently, i went for lunch with 3 friends and ordered soup and a salad, while they each ordered a 1/2 pizza and a salad. the waitress brought my soup and nothing else. 15 minutes later she came back by and asked disingenuously, "how everything?" and had the nerve to act surprised when i told her that she could take my soup back, reheat it and bring it out when my friends' food was ready--that i had no desire to eat alone in front of my friends. they like to pretend there that they are serving in a good New York restaurant, and yet that would never happen in good restaurant in New York, because the waiters know what they're doing, and if they don't, there are 50 hungry actors ready to take their job and do it right. still, the food at Sette Luna is really good, so every once in a while i go back to see if the service has gotten any better. the answer so far is NO.
I'll be the first to say...a little pretension never hurt anyone, but if that had happened in a NY place that I managed, there'd be one hungry actor on the street and one getting trained.
Granted a good waiter /ess is someone who trains and trains well...it's not quite as dumb a job as many think...but still.
The few times we've been out and about, the question has been standards.
At the vitamin shop, the girl looked at us like loons when we got miffed that she ignored us to argue with her Bf on the phone for fifteen minutes.
And we have yet to hear back from one other place, two years latter about a special order. Which we filled on Amazon. I don't expect NY standards, but some standards would be nice.
Still, we'll try porters, some Gaelic music would be nice and if they don't have a band that plays it I can recommend one, they're friends and damned good.
To be fair we had a great night down town listening to a singer at one of the art places, ruined by a confrontation with some ghetto who ended our night with "B3tch move your f3cking piece of sh3t." To be fair, he went away after a short starring match, but it shagged up what was otherwise a good and hopeful night. Maybe this year we'll go back. the place was well lit with tea lights, it was a great little escape, sadly ruined by something I wouldn't bother to scrape off my shoe.
I'll admit, the EPD keep downtown right and proper, and we've just had bad luck or bad timing...we'll try again this year.
Thanks Noel...next stop "Porters"
;)
Peace,
David
Let me also recommend Porter's for brunch on Sundays. Excellent food - much better than a diner - and for about the same price (and a free Mimosa or Poinsettia!)
One caveat re: Porter's - check first to see if there's an event at the State Theater the night you want to eat there. If there is, chances are Porter's will be mobbed, so you'll want to call for a reservation.
I have to echo Noel's assessment of Sette Luna; that, and the fact they charge way too much for what is essentially no better 4 cheese ravioli than you can buy at Wegman's took it off our list after one visit. I have no qualms about paying money for excellent food and service, but Sette Luna lacks in both departments.
UT
Thanks UT- I'm a fan of some pretension, but it needs to be backed by acts. Maybe SL will get their act together...but we'll pass for now. anyone else have a fav?
We've considered "Tex-mex Trio" since it's next to the bus station which is the extent of our exploration other than college hill.
Thanks,
David
BTW Tim and Earl, I trust your taste...any thoughts?
David--re: attitude from servers--I think we agree on this--there is a difference between attitude and pretension. Pretension is pretending you're something that you're not--as in--a great waiter in a great restaurant when you're not. After 15 years in New York, I am accustomed to attitude from waiters, because they know they're good, and they rock the service. It can seem snotty to visitors who aren't used to it, but to New Yorkers, it's like a a fun dance between two good dancers--I'll be the good customer that appreciates your time, savvy and service, and you'll give me excellent service with a smirk and get a great tip, because at the end of the night, everyone had fun in their roles and most importantly, the meal and service flowed in a way that maintained a seamless flow for the diner.
That is not what happens at Sette Luna. There, waiters give you lame service, and are pretentious enough to have an attitude as if you're wrong when you let them know it.
A friend of mine who has lived in Easton all her life said that this is an affliction of most up-scale restaurants in the Valley--if true, that is really too bad. Porter's will continue to get my business on a regular basis.
UT is absolutely right though--it's always good to call ahead and get reservations, because it's often packed there--imagine that--when you consistently provide good food and good service in the midst of a sea of pretenders!
Noel:
So right. In a former life, I used to spend a lot of time in NYC. I have no problem with attitude from the waiters at the Four Seasons, Le Perigord, Le Bernardin, wherever - those are *careers* for those people and they've worked their way up from scrubbing the grout on the kitchen floor tiles. They know their stuff, and they provide food to back that up.
I enjoyed the River Grille in Easton, too - the food was fine, but a word to the wise: if you want to be able to carry on an audible conversation with your dining companion, ask to sit at the very front of the restaurant. Sitting in the large open area is like sitting in the welding area at McDonnell-Douglas. The open kitchen, high ceiling and bad acoustic design make it impossible to talk to one another.
UT
Thanks for the info.
I was a server in Ny as a kid (late teens) and it's a lot of work, but the money was worth it, if the option presents itself I'd do it again.
Still, river grill, we'll put it on the maybe list.
Thanks,
David
I have eaten at River Grille only once, when I first moved to town, and was uninspired. The was ok, and the service was irritating and rushed. The server came to our table three times while we were still eating to ask if we were finished so that they could clear our plates, apparently eager to close out, because it wasn't as if there weren't other tables open. Weird.
I have also heard from a friend who has tried the bar at River Grille a couple of times that they are stingy on their pours. I've only been to the bar once, a long time ago and don't recall, but Ocean's bar has a better ambience and energy in general, and the pours are right, if not generous.
rushed service,
nah...off the list. It is the single biggest mistake a server can make, it's rude, and I'd never go back.
Thanks,
David
@David,
Porters' has great Gaelic music on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month beginning at 7:30. It's an authentic acoustic live jam session in the bar room... just like they have them in Ireland. Check it out, it's the real deal.
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