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JCC fest to offer welcome to 2012
SUNDAY, JANUARY 1, 2012 PAGE 3A
LOCAL SEPTEMBER FLOODING
Tax base takes a wallop
Local psychology professor says take small steps when attempting change in 2012.
A party next weekend will give area adults a favorite atmosphere of celebration.
By JERRY LYNOTT jlynott@timesleader.com
By GERI GIBBONS Times Leader Correspondent
WILKES-BARRE – When Jesse Savitz talks about the annual Ike Cimmet New Year’s Eve party, it is evident the event is more than a little bit of night gaiety. Instead, the annual event is a reflection of both Cimmet’s love for the New Year holiday and the spirit in which older area residents are invited to share in the celebration at the Jewish Community Center of Wyoming Valley. The party is subsidized by the family of Ike Cimmet in his memory. The party will take place next Sunday, from 4 to 7 p.m., a more convenient time for more area residents to attend the annual celebration. Savitz, co-chairman of the event, said it generally draws "older area residents," but it welcomes adults of all ages. And although the party takes place on Jan. 8 instead of Dec. 31 and ends before the midnight hour, Savitz emphasizes that in no way will it lack all the elements of a New Year’s celebration. There will be noise makers, hats, colorful decorations, and even a midnight countdown. For $10, attendees will be able to partake of appetizers and hors d’oeuvres, a full-course dinner, dessert and dancing to the sounds of the Scott Green Band. The event is open See PARTY, Page 4A
Laflin OKs real estate tax increase
Part of the reason for the hike is the costs of round-the-clock police protection. By JOSEPH DOLINSKY Times Leader Correspondent
LAFLIN – Borough council, at a special meeting early Saturday morning, officially approved a tax increase for 2012. The increase in the real estate tax was set at .2834 mills. The increase equates to roughly a $30-$35 tax increase on a property assessed at $100,000. A mill is a $1 tax for every $1,000 in assessed property value. Officials adopted the increase to make up for the $44,405 deficit the borough faced from 2011. After the formal increase was read by solicitor Samuel M. Sanguedolce and approved by council members, Mayor Dorothy Yazurlo commented that she has received “very little negative feedback” regarding the increase and that “the community seems willing to pay as long as they have the 24hour police coverage.” Police protection is among the largest expenses within the borough, and one of the primary reasons for the increase is to fund that 24/7 coverage, which features three full-time and seven part-time officers. Last month, Laflin borough lost out on a police contract from neighboring Yatesville borough, which had paid Laflin $32,000 annually for coverage. Jenkins Township now is providing police coverage to Yatesville. In other new business, council passed a motion to take out a tax anticipation note for $150,000. A tax anticipation note is a short-term loan to help municipalities pay expenses until tax revenue comes in.
Start slow, don’t ‘leap’ into new resolutions
PETE G. WILCOX PHOTOS/ THE TIMES LEADER
Two kayakers drift along in flooded Shickshinny in September. The water was a result of the Susquehanna River overflowing its banks and spilling into the center of town. Along with West Pittston, Duryea and Plymouth, Shickshinny was devastated by the floodwaters.
Devastation impacts home values By MATT HUGHES mhughes@timesleader.com
The September flood will have an impact on the tax base of Luzerne County and affected municipalities and school districts, but officials aren’t yet sure how drastic the loss will be. “There definitely will be (a reduction in the tax base),” Luzerne County Assessment Appeals Director “You hope Tony Alu said. “You hope that the taxing that the body’s prepared, that’s all you can really do.” taxing The Luzerne County body’s pre- Commissioners announced in late Septempared, ber that property ownthat’s all ers whose home value you can had been reduced by at least 50 percent because really do.” of flood damages could Tony Alu apply for temporary reLuzerne County ductions in county, muAssessment nicipal and school disAppeals director trict property taxes through the county’s independent assessment appeals board. Those reductions would come in the form of a partial refund of taxes paid in 2011. About 120 have applied so far, but Alu couldn’t say how much would be refunded, or whether the tax breaks would continue into 2012 for those still displaced, because the assessment appeals board will not review the reduction requests until 2012. “We don’t know just exactly how much compensation or how much relief they’re going to get,” Alu said. “Now that creates a problem for the taxing bodies because we don’t know how much we’re going get and that makes it hard to budget.” Alu said the return of properties eventually bought out and returned to municipal ownership through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Hazard Mitigation Acquisitions Program could also erode the local tax base. An estimated 1,463 properties in the county were damaged by flooding, and
Route 239 in the center of Shickshinny immersed by overflow from the Susquehanna River. September flooding will impact the county’s tax base.
about 130 of them were destroyed.
said he isn’t sure of the impact of those buyouts or the assessment appeals for the borough, which collects about $300,000 annually in real estate tax revenue, but council has considered the question. “Even during the budget process, even though it’s not going to impact in the coming year, it’s something they’ve talked about,” Bonita said, adding that council did not raise taxes in its recently passed 2012 budget. In Shickshinny, where flooding damaged 77 homes and 26 of the .4-square-mile municipality’s 28 businesses, buyouts likely will erode a larger percentage of the bor-
West Pittston damage By municipality, West Pittston saw the highest number of assessment appeals at 55, but Borough Manager Savino Bonita said that given the roughly 800 West Pittston homes affected by the flood, that number could have been worse for the borough’s revenue. “It could have been more significant,” Bonita said. “I would say that number probably represents the people (who) haven’t come back into their homes yet.” About 30 borough homeowners have also expressed an interest in the federal hazard mitigation buyout program. Bonita See TAXES, Page 4A
Nanticoke budget includes property tax increase Because of the transition to home rule, new five-member city council has until Feb. 15 to amend budget. By MATT HUGHES mhughes@timesleader.com
NANTICOKE – At its last meeting before the new home rule government assumes power, Nanticoke City Council passed its 2012 budget at a special meeting Saturday morning. Council was required by state law to pass the budget by the end of the year, but because of the transition to home rule, the new five-member city council will have until Feb. 15 to amend the spending plan after taking office. The budget includes a property tax in-
crease of .35 mills, or approximately $17.50 on a home assessed at $50,000. A mill is a $1tax for every $1,000 in assessed property value. The earned income tax and other tax rates will not change. The budget allows for about $4.3 million in expenditures, about $22,500 less than the 2011 budget. Director of Finance Pam Howard said the city raised taxes so it could put $50,000 into a capital expenses account for contingency expenses because council has vowed not to take out a tax anticipation loan in 2012. Treasurer and Tax Collector Al Wytoshek criticized the tax hike, saying the city should look to reduce expenses instead. The city spent about $260,000 on attorney and legal fees and the salaries
and benefits of the city administrator and finance director in 2011, he said. “We just can’t afford that; not this small a city,” Wytoshek said. In other business, council also approved,subjecttosolicitorreviewandapproval, an agreement with the Luzerne/ Schuylkill Workforce Investment Board to bring10 employees and a supervisor to work with the city road department for six weeks at no cost to the city. Council also approved the sale of the old CVS building on East Main Street, assessed at $160,000, to the city’s General Municipal Authority and the sale of 24 S. Prospect St. The city will host an auction at the municipal building this month to sell the property, with bidding starting at the building’s assessed value of $106,000.
This could be the year to follow through on those resolutions. It’s a leap year and another day is tagged on to the end of February, giving folks a little more time to get in shape, save some money or write a novel. With the additional 24 hours, state Superior Court President Judge Correale Stevens might be able to complete a chapter or two. “I would like to finish a novel I started to write,” said Stevens of his New Year’s resolution. “I know in my mind what I want to write,” he said. It would be along the Stevens lines of a John Grisham novel, only set in New England and the West. Wilkes-Barre tow truck operator and citizen crime fighter Bob Kadluboski is Kadluboski making a federal case out of his resolution. “My resolution is to bring about a half dozen people to justice and I’m going to get it done,” said Ka- Duggins dluboski. Forget about counting on the FBI in Scranton. “I’m going to go to Washington myself,” he said. The past year has Corcoran been a busy one for Darlene Duggins. She ran for a seat on Wilkes-Barre City Council, held her annual block party and graduated from Luzerne County Community College. Her resolution is to continue with her activism and work in the community. Duggins said she’s still trying to determine “which way I want to go.” Ruth Corcoran has a less ambitious resolution, but is equally committed to sticking to it. “I’m kind of a workaholic,” said Corcoran. By day she works at Corcoran Communications. By night Cork Restaurant in Wilkes-Barre has her attention. This year she wants to “try and spend a little more time with my family.” It’s easier said than done, but doable with a little effort and scheduling. “I’m going to do it,” she said. A positive attitude helps and so does a plan on how to achieve the desired outcome, said Dr. Marie Gray, an adjunct professor of psychology at Misericordia University. Her advice is sound anytime and it’s worth repeating, especially at this time of year when people tend to be reflective and desirous to start anew. For many, their 401k plans took a beating last year, she said. It might be wise to do some research on the investments in the plan and make some changes. “Knowledge is power,” said Gray. That applies to the person too. See RESOLVE, Page 4A
R E S O LV E T O B E R E S O L U T E Making resolutions is one thing. Seeing them through is another. Dr. Marie Gray, an adjunct professor of psychology at Misericordia University, has some advice on developing and sticking to challenges ahead: • Be realistic when making a resolution or setting a goal. • Develop a plan to achieve the desired outcome. • Know your strengths and build up on weak areas. • Take small steps.