Higher taxes expected for Altoona
By William Kibler, bkibler@altoonamirror.comAltoona City Council introduced a $24.3 million budget for 2010 Tuesday, with a higher-than-expected tax increase.
Debt millage will rise 5.63 mills, up from an estimated 4-mill hike. An $8.5 million bond issue floated in February necessitated the increase. The additional millage will add $56 to the tax bill of a resident with an assessed value of $10,000.
"It was a difficult decision, but at the end of the day, we need fire trucks, police cars and to take care of our buildings," Mayor Wayne Hippo said.
The capital funding also is paying for a nearly finished municipal Wi-Fi system that should increase the effectiveness of the police force 10 percent by allowing officers to spend more time on the beat and less time "sitting around the station doing paperwork," Hippo said.
The system could add the equivalent of six officers, Hippo said
"I never heard a single person say we need fewer cops," he said.
General purpose millage will remain 30 mills, the state maximum. The city will have to go back to Blair County Court early next year for permission to levy beyond the 25-mill soft cap. Recreation millage remains 6.72 mills and shade tree millage remains 0.10.
Total millage is 47.84 mills, which will result in a bill of $478 for the resident with property having a $10,000 assessed value.
The budget predicts an operational deficit of $621,000, which the city will cover by drawing down its unreserved fund balance of an estimated more than $3 million. The spending plan is $1.1 million more than the 2009 budget.
That fund balance has remained about the same this year, as 2009 will turn out to be break-even operationally, City Manager Joe Weakland predicted.
The city operated with a surplus the past few years but is now entering into a period of financial difficulty, given systemic problems - a stagnant tax base and rising expenses - outlined by the Pennsylvania Economy League.
The council can reopen the budget early next year when three new members take office. Councilman-elect Dave Butterbaugh said he'll worry in January about whether anything might need to be tweaked in the proposed budget.
Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 949-7038.
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brutis
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11-13-09 6:06 PM
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This is PERFECT example , "WE THE PEOPLE" ARE NOT....
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brutis
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11-12-09 12:55 PM
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FARMBOY made a good point. Our fire services were built when there was some 75,000 people in the city. Now it's down to less than 33,000 and shrinking. Consolidate. Get rid of 2 fire houses. And stop the construction on the highly wasteful water company building. Such a scam.
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brutis
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11-12-09 12:50 PM
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ERROR: I am NOT advocating....
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brutis
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11-12-09 12:49 PM
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I am advocating laying off our police. I do not see the need for more police. Altoona and the entire Blair County reigion is getting smaller. The Mirror reported about a year ago, some 10,000 people left. So why a bigger police force, a new and bigger water company, and new equitment for police and fire? The Fire companies do not see much action, their equitment is hardly used. Police ars are being going to need replaced, yes. But even this can be ran more efficiently. Espacially since the merger with Logan Township. The real issue is people are still leaving. The Tax base is shrinking considerably. Now people must ask, "Is it really worth staying here"?
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Monainpa
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11-12-09 12:38 PM
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You can never have too many cops and they do not get paid enough for what they do and they never will.
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Farmboy
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11-12-09 11:19 AM
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Let's look at a "Real" waste of money. Four Fire tations all manned 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Why? Why not go to voluntter Fire dept. like all the other area from Harrisburg to Pitts.? Why does the fire dept. find it necessary to chase ambulance calls ? I'll tell you why, to boost numbers. What are they doing when their are no fires? I see them washing and waxing their personal vehicles, ON TAXPAYERS EXPENSE!!! Why are the Taxpayers paying these firemen to SLEEP while getting paid. I'm not saying the police dept. is without problems, but let's get real. We pay alot of people to wash their own vehicle, chase ambulances, sleep, watch TV, play video games and GET PAID. Fire them, go volunteer.
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voiceofreason
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11-12-09 8:53 AM
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One other question I pose to you. Has anyone ever been in a situation where you called for the police and REALLY needed them? It feels like it takes forever for them to get there when in reality it took only two or three minutes. As long as they are careful and follow the rules, I have no problem with cops driving fast to get where they need to go. It is no fun waiting for them when things are not good, trust me.
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voiceofreason
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11-12-09 8:49 AM
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Johnparker has a brilliant arguement about police pay. In essence he says they know what they are getting into before they take the job so they should be happy with what they get, i.e. if it is a minimum wage job they will take it if they want it. The flip side is the arguement I see on here all of the time about "you get what you pay for". I beleive that it is important to compensate these officers for what they do and for what they may have to do. The city needs to keep the salariescompetitive so that we can attract the cream of the crop and not get the left overs from the higher paying areas. Low pay translates into fewer people applying and a greater chance of being forced into hiring officers who are less capable, less professional, and possibly less ethical.
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negativened
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11-12-09 8:20 AM
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AMAZING this information did not get to print before the election! Get rid of the police department they are a bunch of slugs anyway.
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Debboe
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11-12-09 7:10 AM
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Look, I understand bringing more police on board is a good thing, but elected officials all over this country are killing the average Joe and Jane with tax hikes. Between constant tax increases, over priced doctors visits, high gas prices,health insurance premiums that are over the top, unemployment, or having less money coming in, society simply can't handle the financial overload. Mark my word, there will be a tax revolt in this country at some point. People are fed up, as they should be. Elected officials have to do what the rest of us do when we have less money coming in, you*****it up, you sacrifice, you go without.
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JohnParker
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11-12-09 5:40 AM
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Hey Wakeup, The police officers are paid far more than our soldiers are. Yes, they all decided on their profession, but police officers can quit if they can't handle the job. Our soldiers do what they are ordered to do and have no choice. Police officers that have served their country in a war zone deserve every penny they get. They paid their dues. The young ones with no military service do not deserve the same pay rate, they do not know what real danger is.
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wakeup123
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11-12-09 3:22 AM
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kathy, how much should we pay the police to get shot at? everyone thinks they have all the answers and can do the job of the police sitting behind your computer.
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kathymcburn
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11-12-09 1:03 AM
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Every one should go and read for the record and just see what the cops and their chief get paid a yr. Then figure what they each get a week. I see big cuts could go there.
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ManofMystery
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11-11-09 11:54 PM
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higher taxes for a water building. Water company is an authority of the city the city doesn't own or run it. There is no tax money used for that. Now it will not increase revenue for the city. To many cops are you serious!
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JohnParker
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11-11-09 7:01 PM
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Corruption in a small town.
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gramsboyz
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11-11-09 5:42 PM
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Listen folks you all can say what you want about too many cops and the ones we have being where they should not be....but, if any of you were in dire straights, y'all would be asking the same questions......Where is the cops when you need them? I think that most of the raise in taxes should be added to these fine men and women's salaries..........I wouldn't want thier jobs even on a good day. Keep up the good work protecting and serving! Happy Veterans Day!
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RidgeRunner
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11-11-09 3:02 PM
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Sounds like a hair-raising investigation going on there...someone call the AM!
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lambs1
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11-11-09 1:35 PM
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Broad Avenue, hair salon accross from the Jaffa Shrine check out how many days and how many hours one of the cruisers is sitting at this place of business.
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brutis
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11-11-09 12:06 PM
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More taxes to pay for the highly wasteful new water company building. And what "buildings" is Hippo speaking of? What is happening to the money now? I sense a lot of "fast talk" by another politition who has a financial intrest in downtown PSU housing.
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AdamGarde
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11-11-09 12:03 PM
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I think there are too many cops as it is in this town. Many of them around this town (not all) are ********. True story... I was driving to Sheetz one day and was passed by a recklessly driving cop car with it's lights flashing. I was wondering what in the world could have happened that he was in this big of a hurry. Turns out he was heading to the same Sheetz I was where his buddies were hanging out. There was no emergency unless there was a problem in the MTO line. I regret not getting his badge # and wanted to tell him that I would let it go this time but when Altoona raises our taxes I'll report him.
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brutis
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11-11-09 12:03 PM
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I am saying it"We do not need more police". WE have enough now. Actually, we have more than we need. Note the activity on your scanners after midnight. There is at least 4 police doing nothing. The day shift is also questionable. They cruise around writing tickets . Yes, they help thwart crime, and intervene in serious crimes. But overall, the cops we have now is plenty. I have many questions regarding the need to build a WI-FI connection for the city. How much? How is this going to act as 6 additional cops? There is many, many un-answered questions. I am glad my time in this city is very limited.
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voiceofreason
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11-11-09 8:47 AM
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At the very least we can say that there isn't any wasteful spending in the city, unlike the Federal gov't. I think that generally our city leaders, the politicians and division heads do pretty well with what they have to work with. Until there is help from Harrisburg or our selfish commissioners decide it is time to reasses the city, townships, boroughs, and school districts are getting the short end. As for their salaries, I don't feel that they are all of that out of line. Depsite you personal feelings the money they get they deserve. The responsibility of runnigna city like Altoona is great. A lot of these problems can be traced back to the idiots on council, at the time, that LOWERED or taxes. That put us behind the 8 ball and we haven't recovered. Not to say that is the single problem, but a major contribution.
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lambs1
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11-11-09 8:19 AM
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Happy Veterans Day to all of our Vets!!!!
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Aces20
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11-11-09 7:59 AM
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Funny .. City has a surplus up to the time Hippo leaves, then suddenly, it is break-even or deficit time.
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Aces20
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11-11-09 7:59 AM
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Funny .. City has a surplus up to the time Hippo leaves, then suddenly, it is break-even or deficit time.
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