Make some real cuts before asking for any new taxes

Make some real cuts before asking for any new taxes

EDITOR:

It is beyond this taxpayer how townships and school districts can just close their eyes and keep asking for more from us. Austintown Township trustees and the school board have both stated in the paper that they will have a levy on the November ballot.

One of the trustees said that she understands that this is not the best time to ask for more money, but workers’ compensation rates have gone up, and with all the foreclosures we are not collecting as much. First of all, why should the remaining taxpayers have to pay for other people’s poor judgment? And second, if the fiscal officer has done his job, a lien has been placed on all these foreclosures for back taxes. It may take longer to collect, but they will get their money. If you pass the levy, do you think they will tell you when they do collect those back taxes? I think not.

Neither the township nor the school district has shown any signs of trimming cost. We as taxpayers have had to cut back on a lot of things to make ends meet, so why can’t they? Say for instance when the road department goes out to a job with four men, they don’t all have to drive a separate vehicle. Or maybe a firetruck won’t sit in front of Giant Eagle with the engine running while the firefighters are shopping. There are a lot of ways to cut cost, and I think these two need to do a little of that before they ask for more money.

But, just like always they will do what I call the threat cuts a couple of weeks before Election Day. Those cuts will consist of stopping busing, or pay to play, or open enrollment, and the township will close a fire station or cut some other protective service, so they can intimidate you into passing the levy. Vote no on any new taxes until they give a little.

And just think how many more foreclosures there will be if they keep taxing us out of Austintown.

JOHN CROSS

Austintown

It’s been a tough life

EDITOR:

I have been a life-long Democrat. I have been a life long Cleveland Browns fan. Being both have been a tough struggle in my life.

For the Cleveland Browns, I am tired of saying next year. For being a Democrat, I am tired of waiting for the American dream.

When Obama was elected, we were promised change. Cash for Clunkers was a big toilet for the U.S. car industry. When the program ended Monday, 80 percent of the cars or trucks bought were foreign. The program should have only been designed for Chrysler, GM, Ford and Hondas made in the USA. I think this was another slap in the face for all taxpayers.

When GM filed for bankruptcy and dumped the Delphi pension, it was the fault of the Democratic auto task force. GM wanted to fund the Delphi pension, but the auto task force said no. If this is the change Obama is looking for, I think his political career will end in 2012. As far as the other officeholders, we Delphi retirees — all 70,000 of us — are putting you on notice to find some sort of solution to our pension and health care.

I will be voting with my head next time, not my heart. Go Browns. WOOF-WOOF.

ANDY PAPPAGALLO Sr.

Mineral Ridge