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CHESTER COUNTY PRESS
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2015
Chester County Press Dinniman town hall... Continued from Page 1A
percent in Avon Grove, 22.69 percent in Kennett, 34.74 percent in Octorara, 51.12 percent in Oxford and 17.05 percent in Unionville-Chadds Ford. Wolf’s proposal calls for an increase in personal income tax to 3.7 percent and a sales and use tax increase to 6.6 percent. The current state income tax is 3.07 percent, and the current sales and use tax is 6 percent. The Republican proposal, vetoed by Wolf, would have continued yearly increases in property taxes and made no change to the income tax or sales tax. Senate Bill 76 would eliminate the property tax entirely, and increase personal income tax to 4.34 percent and the sales tax to 7 percent. The bill would expand the sales and use tax to include new goods and services. Under House Bill 504, which was passed by the House and is now in the Senate Finance Committee, there would be $4.9 billion in property tax relief, amounting to 40 to 60 percent reductions for all homeowners, and a $125 million expansion of the property tax and rent rebate program. Income tax would be
raised to 3.7 percent, and sales tax to 7 percent. Under the Democratic proposal, there would be $4.4 billion in property tax relief, with the taxes eliminated for 2 million homeowners, a reduction of $1,900 for the remaining 1.2 million homeowners, and a $500 rebate to an estimated 800,000 renters. Income tax would be increased to 3.86 percent, and sales tax to 6.6 percent. Dinniman distributed questionnaires to everyone at the meeting, asking for their input on which proposal they would like to see. “It’s time to stop all the posturing, stop all the games and get down to work,” Dinniman said of the budget talks. “We need to negotiate. That’s what we’re supposed to do,” he said as the crowd applauded. Among other sources of revenue for education, Dinniman suggested cutting the salaries of school administrators and eliminating some positions. “There are 11 school districts in this county,” he said. “We can consolidate some things. We don’t need to have 11 back offices, 11 solicitors, 11 superintendents.” Other revenue sources proposed by Dinniman are a natural gas severance tax, a pipeline property tax, an end of the
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Sen. Andy Dinniman held a town hall meeting on July 29.
“Delaware loophole” that allows multi-state corporations to register in Delaware and avoid Pennsylvania taxes, and enacting some kind of pension reform. “Companies like Mobil and Shell are making billions of dollars,” he said. “They’re not going to be leaving Pennsylvania over a tax. It doesn’t have to be the governor’s proposed 5 percent tax, but we can compromise on a lower rate that still provides some much-needed funds.” When it comes to the broad issue of development in southern Chester County, Dinniman took a dim view of Vista 2025, a plan that would redraw zones where development could take place, particularly along the Route 1 corridor. “Southwest Chester County is one of the last bastions of open space in this county,” Dinniman said. “Development is a threat to maintaining a sense of place. Economic development is necessary, but it can be done the right way.” Dinniman objected to how the Vista 2025 plan was put together by the Chester County Development Group and suddenly announced in January 2015 at a meeting at the Herr’s corporate headquarters. Dinniman said the Vista map of development zones does not match the maps put together under the previous Landscapes 1 plan in 1992 and the Landscapes 2 plan, put together in 2009. “We need to go back and ask the residents what
they’d like areas to look like,” he said. “If the county wants to change things for Vista, we need to consult the citizens and the county commissioners again.” Dinniman fielded several questions from residents about Artesian Water and their plan to tap a reservoir in the Landenberg area and pump the water to Delaware. “Unfortunately, the law in Pennsylvania gives all the advantages to the utilities and very few to citizens,” Dinniman said. “And the process is so confusing that it’s nearly impossible to get answers.” The Artesian issue – which is being fought by a grassroots opposition group – “is not just a New Garden issue,” Dinniman said. “The aquifer goes into Little Britain Township, Franklin Township and London Grove as well.” Dinniman has joined the effort against Artesian, saying that many homeowners who use wells in the area don’t want public water and sewer installed because it would fuel development and housing construction. The major players in the standoff – the Public Utilities Commission and the Department of Environmental Protection – “don’t talk to each other, which is preposterous,” Dinniman said. “I’ve put forth two bills that would force them to talk before they act, which seems rational,” he added as the crowd laughed and clapped. “But that’s why it probably won’t get passed.” The last major issue brought up
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Penn Township supervisor Curtis Mason (left) joined Dinniman to discuss pipeline issues in the township. at the meeting was the pipeline feet underground,” he said. expansion plan of the Eastern “You could dig them up with Shore Natural Gas Company. a shovel. One of the proposed The company is proposing routes goes straight through to build a 16-inch wide pipe- out new school complex in line through southern Chester Penn. There are six stream County. The Delaware-based crossings in our township. “It’s all about the money,” company already owns a rightof-way for its existing pipelines, Mason said of the current and is seeking additional ease- Eastern Shore proposal. “There ments for facilities or temporary are two lines already, and this work spaces for construction would be a third. We feel they should stick to the route they along the pipelines. Franklin Township Board already have. I have gotten of Supervisors chairman John many concerned calls about it, Auerbach was at the town hall but I have gotten no answers. “At the end of the day, the meeting, and Dinniman asked him about his dealings with gas goes to other states. It Eastern Shore. “They already doesn’t help us at all,” said have pipelines in the township, Mason, who advised residents but they need more capacity to work for a delay in the pipeso they’re proposing a parallel line construction process so pipe,” Auerbach explained. “The discussions can be held with location is agreeable to most the company. “The only thing that will stop people in the township, although there are some historical issues. them is people,” Dinniman As a utility, they have the right said. “Not money, not lawto do what they want,” he added. yers.” The company could use “But Eastern Shore has been eminent domain to do what pretty good in working with the it wants, he said, “but if you hold them up and delay them, township.” Penn Township Board of they will work with you. You Supervisors chairman Curtis have to organize and get out Mason, however, addressed the there, and they may be more crowd about what Eastern Shore receptive. But you live in a is proposing in his township. state with very few rights Area residents received a letter for citizens about water and from Eastern Shore, Mason said, pipelines.” To contact Sen. Dinniman, but only had about two days to respond to the company. He email andy@pasenate.com, also pointed out what he sees visit www.senatordinniman. as safety concerns with the gas com, or call 610-692-2112. To contact Staff Writer John pipelines. The shut-off valves, he said, are five miles apart. The Chambless, email jchamblines are buried “three to four less@chestercounty.com.
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