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E-mailVoice of experience
As a former Ross Township commissioner, I read with great concern the proposal by the current board of commissioners to raise property taxes on the residents of Ross ("Ross officials considering first tax increase in 18 years," Nov. 27 and TribLIVE.com).
Having sat through and participated in 20 yearly budget proposals as a commissioner, I cannot remember a budget or a township manager who did not swear to high heaven that the township could not continue without an increase in revenue for that particular year.
Granted, I am not privileged to know all about this detailed budget proposal, but I suggest that the commissioners do what former boards did: Tell the manager to make the necessary cuts to avoid a tax increase or the board will find a manager who can.
With many residents living on fixed incomes and West View Water Authority passing on a substantial rate increase to its customers in 2010, it would be unconscionable to increase Ross residents' property taxes at this time.
The commissioners might also want to rethink any more proposals to build unnecessary "castles on the hill" (a new municipal building), remembering that paying off the massive bonds floated to build it will come back to haunt them in future budgets.
Mark Purcell
Ross
The writer, a Democrat, was a township commissioner in Ross from 1978-98.
