Residents Upset About New Tax Turn Backs on Supervisors

William O’Connor speaking to upset residents before the meeting.
Credit: Kelly Armstrong/LevittownNow.com

The biting cold and police blockades did not keep away Middletown Township Taxpayers United on Monday as the citizen group rallied again at the Middletown Board of Supervisors Meeting to protest the newly implemented 1 percent earned income tax.

Despite the board saying that they will be lowering the tax to .5 percent along with a 2 mill reduction in property taxes, which comes to about $58 a household, around 100 residents attended the meeting to say that the decreases in the tax will not do so long as the EIT stands.

During public comment, many residents expressed their desires to reopen the 2014 budget so it can be altered to close the $3 million deficit without an earned income tax, which would heavily burden wage earners.

Then there were residents that offered alternatives and pleaded with the board saying, “it’s a new year…you [the Middletown Board Members] need to make it a priority to manage this budget efficiently.”

William O’Connor, one of the founders of the MTTU, offered an “11-point plan” alternative to the EIT during public comment.

O’Connor’s plan called for movements such as pay freezes on all non-union staff, a hiring freeze, freezing the purchase of capital equipment, and preventing any promotions until the creation of an Infrastructure Oversight Committee. This committee would be comprised of board members and citizens and would evaluate all expenditures “on a case by case basis.”

Another proposal made by citizens was for an 8 millage tax increase instead of an EIT. Citizens say that it would be the fairest alternative, for everyone living in Middletown will be benefitting from the services that will be provided with the income.

Some residents even went so far as to call for petitions to replace the board entirely or reduce it from its current five member board to a three member board.

Newly appointed board members William Oettinger and incumbent George Leonhauser, both republicans, were also sworn into office during Monday night’s meeting.

In silent protest of the actions of the newest members of the board, many residents in the audience turned their backs on Oettinger and Leonhauser as they were administered their oaths of office.

Residents have said they felt they were lied to by the new members, who during their campaign, said to have seven years of no tax increases.

Board members said that they will take the budgeting matter to the township manager and see what can be done before the next meeting, which will be held on Jan 21.