Tax is back on the drawing board

WESTFALL - The tax nobody wants retained its unpopularity last week. Faced with a deadline to put some income tax initiative on the May primary ballot, the Delaware Valley Board of Education could not agree on which level of taxation would prompt the greatest number of negative votes. The personal income tax issue is part of the state’s Act 1 Legislation, which is designed to decrease the education burden on property taxpayers. School administrators say the tax would be costly to administer and because of the county’s relative wealth, most people would see overall tax increases. With a minimum rate of .9 percent available, the board had initially endorsed a 2.5 percent tax rate, based on the belief that the high level would drive a large negative voter response. However, before the Feb. 22 meeting, board members left earlier video conferenced public hearings at the three district campuses concerned about the voting public’s lack of knowledge about the tax proposal. They also expressed concern that seniors, a typically dependable voting block and the one most likely to benefit from the tax, would vote while parents would not. As a result, the board amended the ballot resolution, dropping the rate to 1 percent. Sue Casey, Frank Colletta and Jack Fisher were opposed in the 5-3 vote. Bob Goldsack did not attend the meeting. A second vote, with the same voting split, was taken to provide final ratification, but the amendment will require another advertisement of the resolution. Solicitor Michael Weinstein said the measure may require a new ratification vote in March.