UCF tax hike likely, but no referendum
Proposed preliminary budget calls for 4.01% take hike
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
EAST MARLBOROUGH — After Monday night’s vote to adopt a proposed preliminary budget for the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District, the only two things that appear assured are that there won’t be a voter referendum to approve hikes beyond the Act 1 limits but local school taxes will increase.
The budget document...
Op/Ed: Chester County worked together for a successful 2013
By Terence Farrell, Chester County Commissioner
Terence Farrell
Happy New Year! ¡Feliz año nuevo! And best wishes for a healthy, happy and prosperous new year.
As we transition from 2013 to 2014, it is worthwhile to look back at the year that just ended to assess how Chester County government is doing to meet the needs and expectations of its constituents, and to make plans to do even better in...
Board questions proposed new visitor system for schools
Vote on Raptor system delayed until July; budget, CBA get final OK
A new proposed visitor check-in system for the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District would require visitors to show their state-issued ID on their first visit, and would create photo sticker badges for the visitors.
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
EAST MARLBOROUGH — Adoption of a new visitor check-in system for the schools of...
Quiet nature of teacher talks is good news
The numbers are close; a fair deal is there to be made. Will sense prevail?
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Sometimes, no news is good news.
Until last Monday night’s Board of Education meeting, there had been virtually not a peep about the ongoing negotiations between the Unionville-Chadds Ford Board of Education and its teachers union, a departure from the previous negotiation cycle, which led...
Free income tax return help from AARP
KENNETT SQUARE — If you haven’t started or have questions about preparing your income taxes – help is just a phone call away. Oh, and here’s the best part – it’s FREE, confidential, and you don’t have to buy a program or pick from an a-la-carte menu for services.
The AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program is here to help by offering free, confidential services to assist...
Initial UCF budget calls for 1.67% tax hike
Preliminary budget keeps hike under Act 1 limit, but Corbett budget could change final numbers
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
EAST MARLBOROUGH — A little bit like being forced to drive down a foggy mountain road at night without headlights, the Unionville-Chadds Ford Board of Education, gave preliminary approval to the school district’s proposed 2013-14 budget, Monday night.
While the Pennsylvania...
No tax hike expected in Birmingham
BIRMINGHAM — The township’s 2013 Budget is now available for public review, prior to formal approval by the supervisors on December 17. According to the draft document, the township is staying ahead of the game, with $1.8 million projected in revenue for the General Fund, versus an expected $1.3 million in expenditures. Real estate tax revenue is anticipated to remain about even with this year,...
Why doesn’t your town like business?
Hostile attitude toward business growth must change to fix tax problem
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
You’ll excuse my sense of de ja vu.
Back in my youth as a young reporter, the hot catch phrase for the overbuilt and tax-revenue challenged northern New Jersey suburbs was “ratables.”
Ratables are a very special kind of real estate: they use little in the way of local or school district services,...
Supervisors address Barnard House funding worries
Pocopson officials say building renovation won’t boost taxes
By Kelli Siehl, Staff Writer, The Times
Pocopson officials say that a planned renovation of the Barnard House into a new township building and home of the Kennett Underground Railway Museum will not lead to an increase in local taxes.
POCOPSON — During Monday night’s township Board of Supervisors’ meeting, residents expressed...
Now that the 2013 election is over…