Bauer: Consolidation Necessary to Survive
By ANNE HOLLIDAY
WESB/WBRR News Director
If municipalities in the Tuna Valley are going to survive, they’re going to have to consider consolidation of services.
Bradford Township Supervisor Gayle Bauer remarked on that issue during the third annual Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce Legislative Luncheon held Thursday at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford.
“I think it would be very easy for me to stand up here and say everything is fine and dandy and we can keep on doing what we’ve been doing,” Bauer said when asked about consolidation of services. “But I really don’t think that’s the case. I think every municipality in the Tuna Valley and surrounding areas is going to have worse budgetary problems every year we go on.”
“We’re going to have to look at the consolidation issue probably staring with something that’s easy and not too controversial. Right now we’re talking about consolidation of sewer services where there’s duplication,” Bauer said.
She said she’s not talking about consolidation of governments, just services.
“In the future we’re probably going to have to look at some areas that aren’t going to be too popular,” she said, “but I think it’s going to be necessary if we’re all going to survive.”
Mayor Tom Riel brought up the consolidation issue while talking about the state’s Early Intervention Program which, he said, Bradford City Council will address during its meeting Tuesday.
He said one of the strategies in the program is “cost-sharing services with neighboring municipalities.”
Riel mentioned that the “ever-increasing cost of providing essential services” is becoming more difficult for the city and other municipalities. He said that’s not only because of a decreasing tax base, but also because of loss of other revenue.
He specifically mentioned the lower timber revenue and the state of the national and global economy.
Another issue raised during the luncheon was the possibility of raising the gasoline tax to help pay for the transportation needs of the state.
State Representative Marty Causer said “there’s no consensus right now on what to do to tackle the issue” of transportation costs.
But he did say that when Governor Ed Rendell gave his speech to open the special legislative session on transportation funding, he talked about options he would consider, but didn’t mention a couple of other things.”
“Never, anyplace in his speech, did he talk about curbing costs, and cutting expenses,” Causer said. “I think no matter what we do as a comprehensive transportation strategy we have to somehow curb some of the costs and cut back on some of the expenses. That has to be a central component of any plan we move forward with.”
State Representative Kathy Rapp added that the governor and some legislators are not very concerned about the transportation needs of rural areas.
“They always want to give a break to Philadelphia and Pittsburgh for those who ride the metro system, but they want people who drive to pay extra costs,” Rapp said.
“We’re paying for a car. We’re paying for maintenance. We’re paying for tires, but this governor particularly has always wanted to give a huge break to the city of Philadelphia and people on mass transit,” she said, adding that one of the reasons the federal government rejected the plan to impose tolls on Interstate 80 is that the money would be going to Philadelphia and Pittsburgh and not staying in the I-80 corridor.
Rapp said one idea lawmakers are looking into now is public private partnerships.
“I don’t have the answers right now. I don’t think anybody does,” she said. “We’re still gathering information and trying to come up with ideas to try to fix this – just one of Pennsylvania’s problems.”
Larry Persing, field representative for State Senator Joe Scarnati, mentioned that this is an election year for the entire Pennsylvania House and half the Senate.
“It’s a year in which passing higher taxes, which never seems to bother our governor, is a difficult thing to do,” he said, adding that people don’t want to see an increased cost of gasoline.
Others attending the luncheon were McKean County Commissioners Joe DeMott and Al Pingie; Peter Winkler and Deborah Pontzer, representatives for Congressman Glenn Thompson; and Bradford City Councilman Jim Evans.
Pictured, State Representative Kathy Rappy talks about transportation issues while BACC Board member Danielle DeLong, Dianne Sheeley and McKean County Commissioner Joe DeMott listen.
WESB/WBRR News Director
If municipalities in the Tuna Valley are going to survive, they’re going to have to consider consolidation of services.
Bradford Township Supervisor Gayle Bauer remarked on that issue during the third annual Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce Legislative Luncheon held Thursday at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford.
“I think it would be very easy for me to stand up here and say everything is fine and dandy and we can keep on doing what we’ve been doing,” Bauer said when asked about consolidation of services. “But I really don’t think that’s the case. I think every municipality in the Tuna Valley and surrounding areas is going to have worse budgetary problems every year we go on.”
“We’re going to have to look at the consolidation issue probably staring with something that’s easy and not too controversial. Right now we’re talking about consolidation of sewer services where there’s duplication,” Bauer said.
She said she’s not talking about consolidation of governments, just services.
“In the future we’re probably going to have to look at some areas that aren’t going to be too popular,” she said, “but I think it’s going to be necessary if we’re all going to survive.”
Mayor Tom Riel brought up the consolidation issue while talking about the state’s Early Intervention Program which, he said, Bradford City Council will address during its meeting Tuesday.
He said one of the strategies in the program is “cost-sharing services with neighboring municipalities.”
Riel mentioned that the “ever-increasing cost of providing essential services” is becoming more difficult for the city and other municipalities. He said that’s not only because of a decreasing tax base, but also because of loss of other revenue.
He specifically mentioned the lower timber revenue and the state of the national and global economy.
Another issue raised during the luncheon was the possibility of raising the gasoline tax to help pay for the transportation needs of the state.State Representative Marty Causer said “there’s no consensus right now on what to do to tackle the issue” of transportation costs.
But he did say that when Governor Ed Rendell gave his speech to open the special legislative session on transportation funding, he talked about options he would consider, but didn’t mention a couple of other things.”
“Never, anyplace in his speech, did he talk about curbing costs, and cutting expenses,” Causer said. “I think no matter what we do as a comprehensive transportation strategy we have to somehow curb some of the costs and cut back on some of the expenses. That has to be a central component of any plan we move forward with.”
State Representative Kathy Rapp added that the governor and some legislators are not very concerned about the transportation needs of rural areas.
“They always want to give a break to Philadelphia and Pittsburgh for those who ride the metro system, but they want people who drive to pay extra costs,” Rapp said.
“We’re paying for a car. We’re paying for maintenance. We’re paying for tires, but this governor particularly has always wanted to give a huge break to the city of Philadelphia and people on mass transit,” she said, adding that one of the reasons the federal government rejected the plan to impose tolls on Interstate 80 is that the money would be going to Philadelphia and Pittsburgh and not staying in the I-80 corridor.
Rapp said one idea lawmakers are looking into now is public private partnerships.
“I don’t have the answers right now. I don’t think anybody does,” she said. “We’re still gathering information and trying to come up with ideas to try to fix this – just one of Pennsylvania’s problems.”
Larry Persing, field representative for State Senator Joe Scarnati, mentioned that this is an election year for the entire Pennsylvania House and half the Senate.
“It’s a year in which passing higher taxes, which never seems to bother our governor, is a difficult thing to do,” he said, adding that people don’t want to see an increased cost of gasoline.
Others attending the luncheon were McKean County Commissioners Joe DeMott and Al Pingie; Peter Winkler and Deborah Pontzer, representatives for Congressman Glenn Thompson; and Bradford City Councilman Jim Evans.
Pictured, State Representative Kathy Rappy talks about transportation issues while BACC Board member Danielle DeLong, Dianne Sheeley and McKean County Commissioner Joe DeMott listen.
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