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Wows & Scowls

3 min read

Wow: The state Supreme Court has upheld the legality of Pennsylvania’s slots-machine gambling law, thus preserving the potential for school district real estate tax relief for property owners across the state. Had the Commonwealth’s highest court struck down the law, it would have been a major blow to an effort that required lengthy and often contentious negotiations in Harrisburg. However, the court did strike a provision that would have allowed the state Gaming Control Board to over-ride local zoning ordinances as concerns casino placement. That, too, was a prudent move. Now it’s up to the legislature to figure out a way to get 400 school districts to participate in the program, which projects average tax cuts of $330 across the state. —

Wow: In a related development, state Sen. Richard A. Kasunic (D-Dunbar) joined other Democrats in Harrisburg in supporting a plan to allow voters to decide in November whether they want their school districts to participate in the slots-revenue/tax reduction program. The move would essentially let voters in 400 of the state’s 501 school districts override school boards that decided not to participate. It also removes from the equation a requirement that school districts adopt a one-tenth of 1 percent increase in the earned income tax in exchange for gambling-related property tax reduction. We couldn’t summarize it any better than Kasunic, so we’ll quote the senator from his press release: “While four of five school boards across the state may have rejected Act 72, it is important to note that 77 percent of citizens support the plan,” Kasunic said. “In my view, the voters should have the final say on whether they want property tax cuts and school district spending controls … Remarkably enough, 30 percent of school boards that rejected property tax cuts for homeowners turned around and hiked property taxes, sometimes at the very same meeting.”

Wow: Anyone needing a dose of inspiration needs look no farther than 22-year-old K.J. Polish of Carmichaels, an archer who earned a spot on the U.S. Men’s Compound World Target Championship Team despite being rendered a paraplegic in a vehicle rollover accident nearly six years ago. His excellence is a testament to the resiliency of the human spirit. It also serves as a reminder to us all that not everyone cruises through life making excuses, even when they could.

Scowl: The merry-go-round involving Fayette County Housing Authority finance director Sonya Over thankfully appeared to slow down with a recent state Civil Service Commission ruling that dismissed a one-day suspension doled out by Executive Director Thomas L. Harkless in 2003. Over has gotten back her lost wages and had the one-day suspension expunged from her work record. The Harkless-Over dispute still simmers in federal court, however, concerning a separate 30-day suspension Harkless imposed on Over after his board of directors refused his 2003 recommendation to fire her. With all of the problems at the FCHA, including a still-unsolved mystery involving the theft of new refrigerators from the main warehouse and a slap-on-the-wrist punishment for employees who appropriated materials and used appliances, sticking it to Over for alleged nonperformance doesn’t make sense.

Wow: The Belle Vernon Area School Board adopted a no-tax-increase budget for the upcoming school year – and even hinted at a slight tax decrease. This is an encouraging sign, as is the Uniontown Area School Board’s decision to revisit cost-cutting before imposing an 11.1 percent hike in school district property taxes to balance its new budget.

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