New Castle News

Local News

Discussion

October 30, 2006

Public avoids tax study hearing

By MaryAlice Meli

Maybe residents of the Ellwood City school district already understand the tax choices to be offered in a May referendum.

The only visitors to a hearing conducted by the district’s tax study commission for public comment and questions Tuesday night were two school board members.

Sandy Douglass and Carol Gibbons said they wanted to hear what the public had to say about raising wage taxes or converting to a personal income tax as a way to reduce property taxes.

But no one was there except commission members, administrators and the district solicitor.

Linda Cole, tax commission chairwoman, said, “The public should know that, because Harrisburg passed this, school districts ... have to clean up a mess they didn’t make.”

School districts do not gain extra revenue from the switch from property taxes to earned income or a personal income tax. The revenue from whichever tax voters choose will be returned to property owners in a reduction in taxes on the property on which they live.

However, some residents may wind up paying more in the tax increases than is returned as tax relief, according to district business manager, Richard Zarone.

“If we start jacking up the wage taxes to give property owners a break, the workers are going to move out,” said David Reese, school board president and commission member.

“This could determine where people live and send their kids to school,” said Joe Carofino, commission member.

“How will you (school board) do your budget year to year when you don’t have any idea of how much earned income will come in? At least, with property taxes, you know what you’re going to get.”

“Do you want to tax just the workers or everyone?” Reese asked.

With a conversion from earned income tax to personal income tax, more income sources could be taxed in addition to wages: rents, dividends, interest, property sales, gambling and others.

Social Security and retirement income will not be taxed.

While the state has required the school district to put the referendum before the public, the state does not allow districts to offer voters the current property tax system as one of the options.

However, Reese said, “It may cause so much confusion, it may fail.”

Voters may say either yes to the district’s recommendation — which will be either an increase in the wage tax or conversion to personal income tax — or no to the choice, which would keep the property tax system as it stands.

“We urge people to vote,” said Tina Bridge, commission member.

“Get out and vote but know what you’re voting about,” Carofino added.

The commission will meet two more times — at 7 p.m. on Nov. 7 and on Nov. 21 — sessions the public may attend.

It will make its non-binding recommendation to the school board on Dec. 4.

Carofino said, “We want public input.”

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Local News
  • Mitchell.jpg Elected councilman contests disqualification

    A New Castle City Council candidate contends he should not be disqualified from holding office because he is seeking clemency.

    February 3, 2012 1 Photo

  • Ramsey.jpg Dave Ramsey: Proper insurance can transfer risk

    “Dave Says" is a weekly column featuring financial advice from nationally syndicated radio host Dave Ramsey. His column is filled with timely, relevant questions and answers taken from actual letters and calls on Ramsey's radio program, “The Dave Ramsey Show.”

    February 3, 2012 1 Photo

  • City planning OKs school addition

     The New Castle Planning Commission has recommended a conditional use be granted for a school addition. The New Castle Area School District plans to construct an addition to the Harry W. Lockley Kindergarten Center and create an early learning center.

    February 3, 2012

  • money.jpg Mortgage rates trigger surge in buying, refinancing

    Some sectors of the economy may still be sluggish, but the housing market in Lawrence County isn’t one of them. Mortgage loans, both for refinancing and home purchases, are up significantly in the last several months in the county, according to local banks and real estate agents.

    February 2, 2012 1 Photo

  • Brothers.jpg Lori Brothers: Organic is good, but it’s not always necessary

    How often do you have a great conversation with your produce man? I encourage it. I got quite an explanation about how organic veggies are handled. I also found out there are certain guidelines about where they can even be located to be sold as “organic.”

    February 2, 2012 1 Photo

  • Mastrangelo.jpg Our Opinion, Part 2: Mayor’s hiring of his son raises more serious questions

    If you ask New Castle residents to identify the biggest problem in local government, one word will stand out:
    Nepotism. The term, of course, refers to the hiring of one’s relatives for positions, regardless of the fact others are equally — or more — deserving of available positions.

    February 1, 2012 1 Photo 1 Story

  • gavel.jpg Candidates make their pitch to council

    New Castle City Council interviewed nine candidates Tuesday night. The successful candidate will fill the pending vacancy created by the election in November of Gary Mitchell who has felony convictions on his record.

    February 1, 2012 1 Photo

  • Sansone.jpg Our Opinion: Why didn’t council keep Chief Tom Sansone?

    Last week, a majority on city council refused to confirm Mayor Anthony Mastrangelo’s appointment of Tom Sansone to continue as police chief. For the moment, the city has no police chief, and city residents are left to wonder why.

    January 31, 2012 4 Photos

  • Black.jpg Historical society to host slavery story program

    The Works Progress Administration was more than a simple New Deal agency that employed workers to carry out public works projects.

    January 31, 2012 1 Photo

  • Education task force to meet in Grove City

    The Midwestern Local Task Force Right to Education meeting will be Feb. 9. The group will meet from 10 a.m. to noon at Midwestern Intermediate Unit IV in Grove City.

    January 31, 2012