Opinion time again… These are my thoughts and do not reflect those of management.
I just finished reading the article by Scott Kraus and Matt Assad, Of The Morning Call.
Allentown’s 130-acre downtown Neighborhood Improvement Zone, authorized by a state law passed in 2009, is designed to collect all of the state and local non-property taxes paid by businesses in the zone to fund arena construction.
It turns out all means all, including local earned income taxes that until now have been returned to the municipalities those employees reside in: places as close as South Whitehall Township and Hanover Township or as far away as Abington Township, Montgomery County.
Basically what it’s saying is that if you work but don’t live in Allentown, your local municipality may not get your income tax money with this deal. Instead it will go to pay off Allentown’s debt to pay for the new Arena. I can hear all the evil laughs beginning already. Why pay for your own home when you can make your neighbors help right? An arena will benefit surrounding areas too right? I’m sure that people living in Northampton or Berks or Montgomery county will benefit greatly from this arena. (Emphasize the need for a sarcasm font)
What really struck me from this story was:
Word that some of its earned income tax money might be withheld to pay for the arena came as a shock to officials in Bethlehem, which is coming out of its third straight year in which it posted a multimillion-dollar budget deficit.
“What? That’s crazy,” said Dennis Reichard, Bethlehem’s business administrator. “No one from Allentown told us we weren’t getting all of our tax money. It’s enough of a challenge to balance the numbers without hearing that we’re not getting money we already included in this year’s budget.”
Not only are they siphoning tax revenue, they also may have failed to mention it to those they swiped it from.
Very interesting, BUT as you know… I’m not real big into politics. I’m into sports.
So to stay with my policy of not pointing out a problem without offering a solution….
Offer discounts to residents of those municipalities who are included in losing tax revenue to pay for the arena.
Take 10-15% off of ticket prices for locals. Really, places do this.
I went to Disneyland years ago and as I attended with a local the price was cut almost 50%.
I like to golf at Allentown Municipal Golf Course and although I live closer to Allentown than the Golf course itself, I don’t qualify for the cheaper rate but those Allentown residents do.
I’m not trying to find a better deal or push for discounts but if I’m paying for something, no matter how indirectly, I want a little something in return.
Just my opinion… feel free to leave yours in the comment section below.
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