Mayor pitches 35%-41% tax hike

How about cutting the waste and unnecesary spending the the government is so famous for? The last thing we need is a cut in police. The crime in the city is out of control already. How about if we cut back on planting trees in the sidewalk or putting up decorations and the like? Stop wasting our money and you can balance the budget and give us some of our tax dollars back too.

The days of big government in Lebanon are over. It is time for the conservatives to take us back to lower taxes and less governmant (less government anyway). Fire some more of those lazy city workers that are sucking on the public tit. No one seems to care if people in the private industry loose their jobs why should we care if city workers loose theirs?

Cut the judges and other big shot goverment workers saleries they make to much.

The term is about over.
You lost the election.
I can't call it a reeelection,
because you were never elected !!!!!

It's time to be the lame duck.

Get in your convertible,
collect your slum rents....
enjoy the sunsets...
and leave local government to the ELECTED.

You wanted her so now you have to deal with her......

If speeding laws and noise laws were enforced and people were made to pay their fines the city would not have to raise taxes.The streets are in bad shape when they get dug up a halfassed job is done repairing them.Just drive on Chesnut St. between 6th and 7th street and you will see what I'm talking about.

the laws are enforced, but those damn PR's move around every two weeks and don't change their address so hows the city suppose to make them pay their fines when they can't even find them!

The problem with any government budget is maintaining the pension funds. Pension funds are nothing more than ponzi schemes. Bernie Madoff went to jail for running a ponzi scheme. The guaranteed payouts and increases are unsustainable without raising taxes.

“Based on Ward's projections, the city will take in about $9.2 million in revenue next year without a tax increase. That is about $125,000 less than the city pays in salaries and benefits to its 100 employees and dozens of retirees, she said”

I would like to know how much of the $9.3 million is needed to maintain the pension funds. All government pension funds should be converted to 401K funds and then pension funds should be outlawed.

I truly understand the need for tax increases, but two points I must bring out.

Point one- It is so convenient that the Republican Mayor of Lebanon waited until after the elections to announce tax increases.

Point two- Republicans can take their tax and spend hypocritical judgements of Democrat's and stick it where the sun doesn't shine.

So in the Republicans great political ideological philosphies of cutting waste and not increasing taxes. What happens when there's nothing more to cut ?

I love it when a Republican plan comes together and we all get to watch.

southsider wrote:

the laws are enforced, but those damn PR's move around every two weeks and don't change their address so hows the city suppose to make them pay their fines when they can't even find them!

Typical response, blame the poor and the people that can't defend themselves. Where have I seen this before ? I remember every election cycle all the problems of the country are put on the backs of the poor welfare women by the Republican Party.

Only Republicans would demand that every poor women on welfare have an unborn fetus and then use this same women and child as a voting tool to get votes at election time.

Blame it on the Republican Mayors that are paid by taxpayers to run the city.

Randy wrote:

The days of big government in Lebanon are over. It is time for the conservatives to take us back to lower taxes and less governmant (less government anyway). Fire some more of those lazy city workers that are sucking on the public tit. No one seems to care if people in the private industry loose their jobs why should we care if city workers loose theirs?

I agree, the conservatives should fire and close all the city workers including police officers, and the fire departments.

Why not hand out the fired Police Officers guns and ammunition to all the citizens of Lebanon City so they can shoot a child that steals a candy bar from a local store. Conservatives will show 'um.

Conservatives will show them lazy SOB'S and child candy bar stealers who's boss in the City.

"We looked at every single operation of this city to make it more efficient and less expensive, and we have done that," she said. City employees - were ALL of your operations looked at and made more efficient?????? Who is 'we' and when did this changes supposedly happen?

What are local bus. to do when they are already paying re. taxes of 30-40-50,000 per year.When is someone going to realize we have to stop taxing our small bus. to death.They are the ones that drive the local economy."Know it all" is correct the pensions got to go.I hope cappello disagrees with this idea.A lot of bus. will leave down if this happens.Dont forget these same bus. are going to get nailed with higher elect. rates in 2011.

Conservatives up taxes wrote:

<quoted text>
Typical response, blame the poor and the people that can't defend themselves. Where have I seen this before ? I remember every election cycle all the problems of the country are put on the backs of the poor welfare women by the Republican Party.
Only Republicans would demand that every poor women on welfare have an unborn fetus and then use this same women and child as a voting tool to get votes at election time.
Blame it on the Republican Mayors that are paid by taxpayers to run the city.

Well, well well, Hello HIH. How have you been? I see you are still dragging out the crying towel for "poor welfare mothers". It's an old saga. No excuse to suck welfare and have babies. Birth Control. Less parasitic drag on the system would help bring this chaos in check. There would be no need to up taxes then.

Conservatives up taxes wrote:

I truly understand the need for tax increases, but two points I must bring out.
Point one- It is so convenient that the Republican Mayor of Lebanon waited until after the elections to announce tax increases.
Point two- Republicans can take their tax and spend hypocritical judgements of Democrat's and stick it where the sun doesn't shine.
So in the Republicans great political ideological philosphies of cutting waste and not increasing taxes. What happens when there's nothing more to cut ?
I love it when a Republican plan comes together and we all get to watch.

How's life been for you since your messiah has taken office?

you think jackie parker was bad ? wait till this woman is finished ! When will someone run for mayor that will clean this city up??

How did anyone not realize that taxes would have to increase in the city? Isn't it time to put party politics and party blame behind us and start holding all our elected officials as individuals, whatever party, accountable.

I think we need to ask how many fines to people like John Light have been dismissed and why? How much money did the city lose in that decision? How many more are out walking the streets with unpaid fines because somebody in the city isn't doing their job but still getting paid? I don't really care if it's a Republican or a Democrat, individually these people need to be held accountable.

I don't mind paying more taxes if it means the city will improve but we are going to pay more for less and removing police or cutting back safety inspections is only going to makes things worse in the city. Once again it just appears that the failures or inability to properly govern will be attached to the backs of those who obey the laws and try to do the right things so that those who break the laws can continue to do so and get there do not go to jail cards free of charge from our judges and the people who should be holding the criminals accountable.

You have to know it's a sad day when a Mayor who helped drive his city into financial ruin is appointed executive assistant to the director of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency. Nothing like rewarding bad behavior!! That should help demonstrate that both parties are ripe with corruption all paid for on the backs of those who try and do the right thing, registered Republican or registered Democrat.

Conservatives up taxes - since you seem to be a proponent of both high taxes and social programs please post your mailing address so I can mail you my tax bill.

No we dont think Jackie Parker was all that bad. But Fat Bob and prune face Trish ward are the reason we are where we are. Sherry Capello will clean house in that filthy municipal building

lebanon guy wrote:

you think jackie parker was bad ? wait till this woman is finished ! When will someone run for mayor that will clean this city up??

Paraphrasing Winston Churchill:

I contend that for a city to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle.