The Borough of Sharpsville brags that Santa Claus visits every home in the borough on Christmas Eve. This year the residents of Sharpsville also received an early Christmas present everyone in Mercer County would like to get — a tax cut.
Sharpsville council is planning to cut taxes — an almost unheard of move for any municipal or school taxing body.
Longtime Sharon Councilman Vito Manilla, one of the top political figures in the area during the 1970s and ’80s, used to expound a firm rule: “Never cut taxes.”
But that was then; this is now.
Sharpsville council Wednesday night approved a preliminary budget of $1.36 million for 2010 that includes a 1-mill property-tax cut. And even better news for the taxpayers, councilmen Jack Cardwell and John Alfredo hope to reduce it even more or they will refuse to vote for it.
Alfredo made a strong point when he stressed that with water and sewer rate hikes next year, “Our citizens are maxed out.” He said it’s time for council members to “get creative.”
Getting creative is a good idea for every taxing body, whether it be at the state, county or local level. While we don’t urge anybody to pass a budget 101 days late as the state General Assembly did, we would hope that all taxing groups take a serious look at how to reduce taxes.
Earlier we editorialized that it was imperative for county commissioners to hold the line on taxes. But for anyone to reduce taxes as Sharpsville council has proposed is a great step for its citizenry.
After all, we are mired in the worst economic downturn in several decades. Unemployment in this area is running rampant and people are struggling to pay their taxes as they already exist. Throw in the fact that sewer, water, gas and electricity boosts are being felt in some locales, and Alfredo’s words ring true: “Our citizens are maxed out.”
In Sharpsville, longtime Mayor Ken Robertson will take over as city manager in January for the retiring Mike Wilson. But Robertson has already received an obvious message from council that he will need to run a tight ship.
In the private sector, almost every business has made cuts to survive in the current recession. All public entities need to do the same.
Congratulations to members of Sharpsville council who hope to reduce the fat and help out the taxpayers. Every other area taxing body should do the same and try to cut the tax rate for at least the next year.
But if that can’t be accomplished, one thing is a definite: No one can raise taxes.
Opinion
OUR VIEW: All taxing bodies should follow Sharpsville’s example
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