City already counts on casino cash

20 new Officers is a great idea, but not practical. Where do they expect to put 20 more cops in the police station? Not enough lockers, chairs, and especially cars as it is now.

The citizens of the city of Bethlehem have had a primary and general election recently. During the primary, the Morning Call focused on the casino impact fee issue. Two democratic candidates campaigned on a platform of returning the “Impact” fees to voters as tax relief. Those two candidates lost. The voters voiced their opinion. The candidates who wanted to use the impact fees to help the city deal with the casino impact were the candidates who were elected.
In the general election, a new city controller was elected. Meg Holland was elected in a bit of an upset. During her campaign she included monitoring the casino related permits, fees, and taxes as one of her major jobs. Again, the voters have selected her to monitor that money. Let’s let her do the job
The city of Bethlehem is in debt. Why would we give money away? Let’s use that money to deal with the actual impact of the casino. No one knows what that impact will be, and there is no reason to rush to committing that money yet. If there is some extra money, then let’s pay down our debt. What kind of finance committee would propose giving money away when there is debt to pay?
City taxes have not increased this year and the Mayor’s proposed budget does not call for an increase next year. The time to talk about lower taxes will be when the city is out of debt and realizing actual tax revenue from the casino. It will also be up to the elected officials at that time to make those decisions, not some foolish politicians who are trying to make political points now.

Tired wrote:

20 new Officers is a great idea, but not practical. Where do they expect to put 20 more cops in the police station? Not enough lockers, chairs, and especially cars as it is now.

Ask Allentown what kind of lockers they use. How many chairs do you need to be on patrol? Cars are a problem. I agree. Get up and do something instead of sitting in a chair doing nothing.

I'm not so sure that you can pay down the city's debt ahead of time. Bonds have investors who expect their return over the period of the bonds. But if yous want to designate casino impact fee to pay down debt, then that's less money you will need from the taxpayers for that same purpose. Either way, the property owners win.
The city must absolutely develop a cash reserve and can do so over a period of time by allocating a percentage of these fees to that reserve.
My recollection of the elections was that all candidates wanted those who paid taxes to benefit, and all supported hiring additional public safety personnel. Their methodology and timing may have differed, but they all believed that the same results needed to be attained.

Tired wrote:

20 new Officers is a great idea, but not practical. Where do they expect to put 20 more cops in the police station? Not enough lockers, chairs, and especially cars as it is now.

I would say about six new positions created in the Vice Unit would be a good idea so the City can start addressing the drug problem. Let's see 20-6=14. Drop another four into investigations. 14-4=10. Put the remaining ten on patrol with a bias toward night shift since they often patrol the most dangerous time of the day with less than 7 officers. The rest can be split up between the remaining three days/middles platoon. Your looking at maybe 1-2 officers more per days/middles platoons. Even if the breakdown wouldn't happen that way and all 20 would go to patrol the "room problem" could be fixed(SARCASM). There are two seats in the front of a patrol car. I have legs and could walk a foot patrol (being younger I might actually enjoy it more). Or better yet, actually get patrol officers out on the mountain bikes that the department has.

I don't think 20 new officers after the Slot Parlor opens is a good idea. I think 20 before it opens is a good idea and then look to increase again when you see if the "fragile" city finances can handle it after this wonder money comes in. City cops have learned to do more with less but that can only go on for so long. I like Bethlehem and don't want to see it turn into Allentown.

1. Don't committ spending money until the year after you actually run a surplus. Build cash reserve. We are only 2 quarters away from a recession.

2. Any intrafund transfers should be paid pack that there is sufficient funding for accounts for A) Bond repayments, B) sewer & water infastructure maintenance, upgrades, etc.

3. After a year of meeting these obligations and you have a surplus the 2nd year, then you can consider it for.

4. Minimal service enhnancements in the city, whether public safety or administrative. The city must prove that it can afford to take on new hires without increasing taxes.

5. Capital spending requirements.

6. Then review the possibility of tax reduction, but I would bank they never come, so be content with no tax increases.

Wow. I am honestly impressed with all of these comments. Usually when a politico talks about cutting taxes everyone jumps on board. It appears that people are finally waking up to this crap. How can you talk about cutting taxes when the city is so far in debt. The streets department barely has enough people to pick up leaves and from what i understand are not able to get overtime to do the job right because the city is so short on money right now. A tax cut is an absolutely insane and irresponsible idea.

Schweder said the police union was receptive to his proposal to hire 20 additional officers. Wow, that's a shocker!

Schweder is grabbing at straws with the idea of a tax rebate before paying off the debt of the city. It sounds as if he'll use this as a slam against Callahan for not giving tax reform to the taxpayers if and when he thinks he can get elected mayor of Bethlehem. He railroaded the issue through the finance committee just befor the council meeting, so the mayor couldn't respond to it before the meeting. He didn't contact the proper officials before presenting it to the finance committee. Schweder sounds as if he belongs on Cesar Chavez's cabinet.

AH, politics! Nothing like it. Had Callahan suggested this, guess who would have been agin' it?

I agree totally with Kneejerk in Emmaus...This is pure politics. As our friends Councilman Mowrer and Donchez have said before "slow and and careful" when it comes to projections like this. It is hoped that the other folks on council agree with Mowrer and Donchez and let the dust settle before spending the money. It's time to bury the political hatchets and begin to work together as Bethlehem's team to make Sands BethWorks the benchmark project it has the capability to become. Anna Mosity should leave the building immediately!

I am glad the commenters see through this crap that Schweder is pulling.

Schweder is trying to push this spending plan 18 months before the City gets the money! Why? Because Schweder is more interested in playing politics and running for mayor than doing his job. He is attempting to ram through legislation before Reynolds takes office in January. Schweder had four votes now with Szabo, Belinski and Leeson. Callahan can veto the bill and Schweder does not have the votes (five) to overturn it. Schweder still wins because he can campaign against Callahan because Callahan vetoed a tax cut.

This is purely politics.

Reynolds agrees more with Donchez and Mowrer and will do the right thing with the money, which is wait and see before acting.

What happens if the money is spent now, and then the city needs more policeman and firemen and stop lights and road improvements, The year after the tax breaks, there will tax increases.

The money is to counter the impact of the casino, not to cut property taxes.

Mowrer, Donchez, Dolan, and councilman- elect Reynolds all spoke in favor of waiting until the city has more information and more understanding of the impacts before even voting on Schweder's ordinance, which was written by him with help from the city clerk and solicitor and with no input at all from Department Heads or anyone except for union employees.

Leeson expressed no opinion last night. Belinski was weakly in support of Schweder's plan but talked about debt even though debt isn't addressed in the ordinance.
Szabo was not present due to illness.

This ordinance, if it passes, will be by a very small margin, and will either be overturned or vetoed within weeks. It's incredibly dumb and transparent political pandering to promise a tax break and new hires two years in the future with money you don't have. Schweder really blew it on this one.

Reality Check, Belinki, Szabo and Leeson will support Schweder. I am sure other will attest to that.

Szabo being sick prevented Schweder from having Council vote on the legislation last night, which was his original plan.

"Despite criticism by the mayor, Bethlehem City Council President Michael Schweder on Tuesday proposed using half the $8.7 million casino fees to cut taxes and add another 38 employees to the city payroll in a little more than two years."

Any member of City Council is entitled to float his or her own initiatives, just as a Mayor can if he or she wants. Having a mayor's blessing isn't a prerequisite.

Why not begin this debate early anyway?

As one of the unsuccessful candidates in the May Primary election, I don't mind it at all. All seven of us saw the casino host fee as a way to bring about tax reduction, improve public safety, and build cah reserves so our city government wouldn't always be in the bind that it currently is in. We differed in our approach, that's all.

If you follow local politics, the mayor and some in his administration believe that the host fee will be a panacea for the city's financial ills. It won't, and can't do all some expect because nobody in city hall or elsewhere knows exactly how this casino will impact Bethlehem. Therre will be positives and negatives as a result of the casino construction.

Sound fiscal management which City Council should be doing as part of our system of checks and balances, should also include cost containment and responsible revenue growth. That's what should be hapening right now during budget hearings, which I would encourage more of the public to attend. If people knew where their hard earned tax dollars are being spent and in some cases wasted, they'd be yelling long and loud. Ask questions and express opinions. Tell your elected officials what is important to you and how your taxes should be spent.

Our elected officials many times seem disconnected from the fact that the money their playing with isn't their's, it's everyone's.

And don't forget, there will be much more expansion of the city's tax base through wage, business and real estate tax growth, not just because of the casino, but also because of development throughout the Bethlehem Steel lands.

Is some of this politics? Absolutely! But, nobody should be offended by this kind of political debate because it is part of the American system of governing. And, the politics factor works in both directions. Mayors and Council Members are all generally political animals, and if the discourse brings about a better life for the people who live in Bethlehem, so much the better.

At least 75% of the voters I spoke with during my primary campaign, between 1,500 to 2,000 homes visited, do want lower taxes. And, they don't care if it's school ,county or city real estate taxes that are reduced.

So, there's merit in what each of these elected officials state. We have about two years to get it all figured out in the best interests of the people of Bethlehem.

Of course Dana Grubb would support Schweder, just like Schweder supported Grubb in his campign.

Dana, you say the City has two years to figure this out, then why do we need a binding resolution now?

Jim wrote:

Of course Dana Grubb would support Schweder, just like Schweder supported Grubb in his campign.
Dana, you say the City has two years to figure this out, then why do we need a binding resolution now?

Jim:
And, I received campaign funds from other public officials, too, as well as friends from all over the United States.

You missed my point entirely.

Mike Schweder wants to push this issue, just like Karen Dolan pushed an Environmental Advisory Committee (with which I agreed) and Bob Donchez has pushed for adding police and paramedics (with which I agreed).

Any member of council can advance what they'd like when they'd like to do it, whether you or I agree or disagree with them.

Sure, I'd like to see tax reduction for property owners, as would most property owners.

So, what's the problem with opening up the discussion now? If it takes two months or two years, more than anything the administration and council need to hear what the people of Bethlehem would like done with that host fee money.

That was my point, Jim.

Dana, I am not doubting Schweder's ability to push his agenda. You are right, a councilman can introudce resolutions and legislation. I am more concerned about how Schweder is doing it. The attempt by him to push this through in the next month is foolish.

Schweder is not opening this up to discussion, he is attempting to circumvent the discussion. He did not get public input and he did not talk to department heads. How is that opening it up to discussion?

He came up with a plan on his own and now wants to implement it. He does not want debate.

I see that their already finding ways to spend the Planned Property Tax deduction money from the Casinos. What a joke. The State tells us to wait for Property Tax Relief and yet our city is already planning on using the Funds for other things. I'm fed-up with politicians telling us one thing and doing something else.

Slots revenues are falling at Mt Airy. What do you think is going to happen here when people can't afford to gamble. I think your counting your chickens without a rooster.