From the BCCT. We've mentioned the referendum here and here previously. Next week, we get to decide to tax ourselves for necessary services.
Check out the BCCT story comments. They are pretty interesting.
Referendum could raise taxes $30 for ambulance squad
By DANNY ADLER, Bucks County Courier Times
Voters in Morrisville will have a say on whether to increase the borough's EMS fund to support the Morrisville Ambulance Squad.
If approved, the borough can increase the EMS fund to 2 mills, which is 1.5 mills more than permitted by the borough code without being approved by voters in a referendum, officials said. The millage for the EMS fund is maxed-out at a half mill.
The millage increase would raise property taxes for the average homeowner by about $30 a year. That translates to about $90,000 more for the EMS fund.
If the referendum fails, the ambulance squad would have to find other ways to raise funds, officials said.
Borough officials said the ambulance squad, with its roughly $450,000 annual budget, entered 2008 with a $14,000 deficit.
Danny Adler can be reached at 215-949-4205 or dadler@phillyBurbs.com.
Ballot question: Shall Morrisville Borough levy an annual tax of two mills for the support of Ambulance and Rescue Squads serving the Borough of Morrisville? YES or NO
Plain English: The ballot question asks the voters of Morrisville whether the borough should assess an annual tax of 2 mills for the purpose of funding ambulance and rescue services serving Morrisville.
A vote of yes approves the levying of a tax of 2 mills for this purpose.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
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2 comments:
If there was a $14,000 deficit this year, why do they need to collect an additional $90,000 each year? That sounds like more than they need, at least until I have a heart attack and need their services.
And haven't we learned from Joe the Plumber/Country Music Recording Artist that this whole taxation thing is just a big heaping dose of wealth-redistributing socialism?
Plus, before I vote yes for any new taxes, I'd really need to see how their response times and victim survival rates compare with those in other ambulance squads in the region, state, and country. Maybe tour the facilities and see if there's any excess space or excess personnel that can be trimmmed. See if the whole enterprise could be outsourced to the private sector for less money. See whether a 501(c)(3) could be formed to solicit donations and displace some or all taxpayer funding.
Doing some rough math, if the squad's current annual budget is $450,000, and 1 tax mil raises about $60,000, they're already costing 7.5 mils, and now they want to bump it up to 9 mils. If the average Morrisville house is assessed at $18,000, that means the average homeowner is already paying $135/yr for these services, and will be paying $162/yr if this referendum passes.
My palatial estate is assessed higher than $18,000, so last year I paid about $192 for the ambulance squad. The squad visited my house 0 times last year, so my cost per visit was $192/0 = INFINITY. INFINITY DOLLARS PER VISIT! OUTRAGEOUS!!!!
Just kidding, ambulance squad, I was just busting on some of the mindset out there, particularly as it relates to our public schools. You've got my vote. Keep up the good hard work, dedication, and sacrifice that benefits the community as a whole, whether or not we personally needed or utilized your services, because you never know when you will.
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