AG board member objects to criticism
OK, Paul (Sunyak). I hope that you will agree that ignorance of the law is no excuse, including for an editorial page editor. I am referring to a “scowl” given to the Albert Gallatin Area School Board in the Herald-Standard on February 23. The scowl was in reference to action taken by the board in rejecting the local tax study commission’s recommendation for a 0.1 percent increase in the district’s earned income tax. The board then voted unanimously to prepare and send a referendum to the election bureau to be placed on the primary ballot which would ask the voters in the school district if they favor increasing the earned income tax by 0.4 percent for the sole purpose of providing property tax relief in the next fiscal year.
All school boards in Pennsylvania, except for the largest cities, are required by Act 1 of 2006 to prepare such referenda. The taxpayers, not the members of the tax study commission and not the school board, will determine if the earned income tax is increased and if they will receive property tax relief at this time.
Here’s where your ignorance of the law shows. You stated that our board ignored the commission’s recommendation. Nothing could be further from the truth. We presented the commission with all the necessary financial data that they needed. We listened to and considered their input. When the recommendation was analyzed, the board realized that the commission took into account projected gaming proceeds provided by the state. Since that money is not currently available, only local increases in either personal or earned income taxes can be used to determine property tax relief at this time. By law, the legislature has indicated certain minimums that must be included in the proposed referendum, thus the 0.4 percent rate. The only other requirement that matters is that the decision is up to the voters.
The most outrageous part of your scowl was when you asked “Walt” what would happen if the gaming money didn’t come through from the state. Then, showing an all-knowing attitude, you implied that you and everyone else knew the answer – the rate wouldn’t be decreased from 0.4 to 0.1 percent – that bunch on the school board and their administrators would put the extra money to whatever use they favored.
Act 1 specifically provides that increased taxes, if provided by public referendum, can only be used for tax relief, not football fields, library books, salary increases or anything else. Paul, I’m afraid that this outrage is just another attempt on your part to inflame the public against government officials and to sell newspapers with caustic and, in many cases, sloppy journalism.
Maybe Bobby (Foltz) and his gang will come to your rescue by electrifying the radio waves with their vitriolic verbiage.
I serve with eight other members on the school board who I couldn’t respect or admire more. We as a group have helped to accomplish many positive academic and physical improvements in the Albert Gallatin Area School District. Like all other governmental groups, we disagree on some issues, but have managed to govern by consensus without grandstanding or posturing for personal gain. I am confident that the kind of nonsense and mischief which the scowl tends to promote will not change our positive attitude.
As you can probably tell by my salutation and another reference in this piece, I think that your “OK Walt” remark in the scowl is if not disrespectful, then tasteless. Mr. Vicinelly deserves respect in his position as superintendent. No, I did not say homage or reverence; I just mean common courtesy and respect.
As an American of Eastern European descent, I also take offense to your references to Stush Halupkie, Tony Rigatoni and any other ethnic slurs which you have used. Please don’t lecture me about lightening up or say that some of your best friends are Halupkies or Rigatonis. That is, as enlightened people know, the type of argument used by some of the world’s worst bigots.
Finally, why do I read this paper and listen to the local talk show? Mostly because I need to help my blood circulate. Seriously though, Al Owens is an entertaining writer whose libertarian views I generally share. I like to read the few positive articles that you print about our young people and schools. They are our future.
I listen to the talk show to hear the “Morgantown Man” give us an outsider’s view of how jealous and distrustful some Fayette countians act toward people who have more than we have or to people in public life who really do want to serve the public. Maybe we should worry more about being progressive and building for the future, rather than who will be the next notch on our belt.
John Gruskowski of McClellandtown is a member of the Albert Gallatin Area School Board.