Cornwall socked with 67% tax hike

It appears residents will see their first tax increase in 16 years. In a narrow 3-2 vote, Borough Council gave preliminary approval Monday to a $1.48 million 2010 spending plan that is funded in part by a 4-mill tax increase.

[Cornwallboroughs ucks]

I don't see why the taxes need to be increased. Its not like cornwall borough does anything it help its citizens. The Police Department has to be one of the laziest departments around. I think all of the Police Officers are afraid of the dark and of making traffic stops. If anyone wants to test out how fast your car goes come to Cornwall the cops won't stop you.

[What]

Cornwallboroughsucks wrote:

I don't see why the taxes need to be increased. Its not like cornwall borough does anything it help its citizens. The Police Department has to be one of the laziest departments around. I think all of the Police Officers are afraid of the dark and of making traffic stops. If anyone wants to test out how fast your car goes come to Cornwall the cops won't stop you.

I work in the Cornwall area and see the Cornwall Police Department out running speed checks on a regular basis. So I'm not really sure what game your playing.

[Cornwall happy]

Living in Cornwall I can tell you we have one of the very best police departments around.

Where one has to be concerned with living in Cornwall is the future borough council - Thomas, Thomas and Thomas will un-doubtedly bring our community down to the ground.

[Bob Thomas]

"Cornwall Happy" I agree with your comment about the Police Department and also share a similar opinion of the Highway Department. However, upon what do you base your uninformed opinion of me that I "...will un-doubtedly bring our community down to the ground"?
You clearly know nothing about me and very little about the fiscal management of the Boro. I love Cornwall. I live here intentionally and with purpose. I have no agenda but to sincerely serve the Boro as a community volunteer.
Feel free to post with your real name and I will glady discuss my own personal plan of community service with you. Or, as unlikely as it is, if you have the testicular fortitude, feel free to introduce yourself to me at any Boro meeting.
By the way...what have you done lately to serve your community?
Bob Thomas
Councilman - Elect

[carl]

Hey Bob, I dont know you either and you are probably a decent guy, However I always have to chuckle at comments like: "if you have the testicular fortitude...". I mean first, maybe Cornwall Happy is a women and 2nd, that statement in one way could be construed as "lets have a confrontation" ( its not very humble) or maybe its just a "cliche'" you use ? I hope its the latter. Anyway, being a public servant as you will be, your best bet to comments like Happys is "No response"

Good luck with your endeavor

Real name with held ( no testicular fortitude?)

[Bob Thomas]

Hey Carl! Thanks Carl for the unsolicited advice. I appreciate I could give you a chuckle...really, sounds like you actually got that one. FYI..testicular fortitude was a running gag in the old WWF many years ago...that obviously wouldn't apply to a female poster....but hey, thanks for pointing out the obvious.
Also, I have no intention of being a "public servant," or of making any "best bet(s)", as I stated, I am a community volunteer. Reading comprehension Carl...reading comprehension. Feel free to make a comment on grammar next...that would be helpful :-)
Same offer to you, feel free to introduce yourself or post under your real name and we can discuss my personal plan of community service if you are sincerely interested.
What have you done lately Carl to serve your community?

[Cornwall]

Cornwallboroughsucks wrote:

I don't see why the taxes need to be increased. Its not like cornwall borough does anything it help its citizens. The Police Department has to be one of the laziest departments around. I think all of the Police Officers are afraid of the dark and of making traffic stops. If anyone wants to test out how fast your car goes come to Cornwall the cops won't stop you.

Are you joking? Cornwall police do an amazing job keeping the borough steets safe, may it be from reckless drivers, or detriments to the safety of the community. 9 times out of 10 on my drives through Cornwall i see a police officer patrolling the streets, running speed, ect. in addition every time i have dealt with an officer from the borough i was treated with the utmost respect. Because of all these factors i fully support the department, especially when compared to my experiences with many other departments. as far as the tax increase goes, even with raising the taxes 67%, they are still only equal to that of south lebanon, who had the second lowest tax rate in the county behind only cornwall

[Gees Bob]

Is this the type of public servant we want representing our community?? What a JERK! Obviously not too many people in Cornwall know you or you would certainly not be an elected JERK! May Cornwall rest in peace with you involved- gees.

[Bob Thomas]

Thanks Gees Bob aka Cornwall Happy. I appreciate that you have questioned my motives (I have none)and now throw around names.

Like I said before with sincerity, feel free to stop by a meeting we could certainly use you in fundraising or other volunteer efforts that will serve the community. I hope I spiked some interest in volunteering in you now ( I guess that was a motive!).

[WOW - Bob Thomas]

"Or, as unlikely as it is, if you have the testicular fortitude, feel free to introduce yourself to me at any Boro meeting."

"Thanks Carl for the unsolicited advice. I appreciate I could give you a chuckle...really, sounds like you actually got that one. FYI..testicular fortitude was a running gag in the old WWF many years ago...that obviously wouldn't apply to a female poster....but hey, thanks for pointing out the obvious."

"Reading comprehension Carl...reading comprehension. Feel free to make a comment on grammar next...that would be helpful :-) "

Wow, just wow. I too would have given you the benefit of the doubt but you just shot yourself in the foot. You may be the best public servant in the world but you sure do need to learn a LOT about tact and engaging the community.

[Mike Thomas]

The sitting council's madcap spending has made Cornwall boro insolvent and then they raise taxes 67 percent.So Thomas,Thomas and Thomas get attacked even though we're not yet on council.How does that work?
Cornwall happy,if you can see into the future, give us all the winning lotto numbers (the boro could use the money)
Is it any wonder that so few good people run for office.I never would have except for this:All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing’(or words to that effect)
Mike Thomas-councilman elect

[Mark Thomas]

It is kind of funny how we have not yet gotten into office and we are somehow the bad guys. Well, the vote was clear and we were elected to clean up this mess. With prayer and much work I am confident Thomas, Thomas and Thomas and the rest of the council can deliver what the people want. We have a great foundation that got derailed slowly over the years. Coming together as a community, asking God for his blessings through prayer and hard work will get us where we need to be.For those who care I never feel its a good time to raise taxes. If you disagree, you do not have a firm grip on history and have no idea of our fore fathers intentions. As for Bob, I prefer straight talk over political correctness any day.We have children here so we all have a vested interest in not running the borough into the ground. Council/Mayor elect Mark Thomas

[Cornwall citizen]

Good luck to Thomas, Thomas and Thomas. Seems that you're getting blamed for this tax increase and the inept financial decisions and you're not even in office yet!
You all will have a difficult job cleaning up the mess from prior council mistakes.
To "CornwallBorough ucks" regarding the police department. Not all of them are lazy and afraid of the dark.

[Wow - Bob Thomas]

Mark Thomas wrote:

As for Bob, I prefer straight talk over political correctness any day.

There is a difference between "straight talk" and being crass and rude. Bob clearly lacks interpersonal skills. Don't show a lack of judgment on your part by defending him.

[Jon from Rexmont]

So along with the recent sewer/water rate increase, the pending electricity rate cap removal, the soaring gas and heating costs of the last few years...my employer has had a wage and hiring freeze in effect going on 2 years now. My health insurance premiums continues to increase yearly, etc.,etc....all things out of the control of us working stiffs.

This situation is typical of the residents of the area, we are having to live on less and less because our income is being sucked away more and more. Why must we pay more taxes now?
For example, there should be salary freezes and/or pay cuts across the board for everyone employed by the boro, and cuts to the non essential services.
Replace the retiring police vehicles with Prius's, and bicycles instead of SUV gas guzzlers.

Maybe some residents don't mind the increase because they have the disposable income to afford it...I Can't afford it! And I know quite a few neighbors that are like me, living paycheck to paycheck, barely making ends meet. If this tax increase goes through, I will be regrettably putting out a for sale sign because it's the straw that will break this camels back.

[carl]

Bob Thomas wrote:

What have you done lately Carl to serve your community?

well since you asked... 10 yrs on a "commission" in my boro, and over 30 years volunteering for the fire dept.. in dozens of positions, most likely many more hours then most people. Then there the many county wide organizations I work with including LCCM food bank...

Again good luck in your service

[Renee from Rexmont]

I too am from Rexmont. I don't really know what "disposable income" is, so I don't think I have it, but I'm not going to put my house up for sale because of a less than $80 tax increase. Please keep the amount of the increase in perspective, rather than jumping on the Daily News' inflammatory "67%". For 16 years Cornwall Councils have avoided tax increases. Since the cost of providing services and doing business has increased yearly, I think it is remarkable that we haven't had tax increases before now! Our past and current councils have obviously exercised remarkable restraint in spending to hold the line for so long!
I sincerely hope that the incoming councilmen are educating themselves about the postions they have been elected to hold. I am positive that they will be more effective if they stop slinging mud and promoting a 'we vs. them' mentality. I never heard that kind of unpleasantness in Cornwall before, and I had hoped it would come to its miserable end with the election. Unfortunately, the Thomas brothers (not Bob) seem to be intent on continuing it. Remember that once you are sworn in, you will become one of the "them".

[Cornwall_pa]

I agree with Renee- eventhough it sounds like a big increase in taxes, the montary amount is small and our taxes are still lower than most boroughs/townships.
Was it just me, or did VP Vranesec actually say two contradictory sentnces in his interview. Maybe he should not try to get his name in the paper all the time. Certainly hope the new borough does not reappoint him to council if there is an opening!!

[Alan]

Well this IS an interesting board isn't it.
I, too, am a bit puzzled by the comment about the Police being lazy.
I travel 72 and 322 a lot, and regularly see the Police hiding by the split, in the Junk Yard by the Turnpike, and on 322
close to the YMCA.
I even see them having pulled people over.
Seeing as I thankfully haven't had any vandalism or theft at my house, I can't speak for their efficiency in dealing with non motoring crimes, but as a casual observer, they seem to be out doing their jobs in my opinion.
What I am far more interested in, is the proposed Tax Increase.
Perhaps someone could give a more balanced version of what this proposed budget entails, rather than a sensational headline stating a 67% tax increase.

[Cornwall Crooks]

I agree with Cornwall Sucks. If Cornwall Police were such a hardworking ticket writing department how do you explain having a ladies purse stolen during this years National Night Out event which Cornwall PD participated? I guess they want to raise the taxes to pay for the new building they are putting up and for the new Dodge Durango the Police Department just bought. But then again they have the Cornwall Boro engineer is working for H&K with the Cornwall Preserve project. Wait no he stepped aside for this project. What a joke...