Penndel Revisits Possibility Of Earned Income Tax

At the tail end of an otherwise uneventful Penndel Borough Council work session on Tuesday, councilman Sean Weckerly made a motion to have the borough’s earned income tax (EIT) paperwork looked at a second time.

In the words of Acting Chairwoman Arlene Harms, the borough needs the paperwork “reworked and dusted off.”

Penndel recently decided to raise taxes in the newest 2015 fiscal budget.

The idea of whether to impose an EIT or Earned Income Tax, has been a continuous issue of debate in countless boroughs and municipalities across the Lower Bucks County region. Click here to learn more about an EIT.

The three residents in attendance at the meeting were not happy with Weckerly’s suggestion. Weckerly was recalled from his role as president at the council’s last meeting on January 5.

“Other boroughs and even Falls shut [an EIT] down, because the working person is going to get hit again,” former councilman Mike Smith said.

“I’m sorry but I want my EIT that’s going to Lower Moreland, coming here,” Councilwoman Beverly Wolfe said.

Wolfe speaks of the concept of an EIT, where if your residing municipality does not have an EIT, but the municipality in which you work does, your money is used elsewhere.

“Then move there,” Smith said. “If you move there than you know where your moneys going. Why institute it against the other 60% who don’t pay it, in government you never get anything back.”

“Never,” echoed long-time Penndel resident Sam Simon.

“Council needs to know from top to bottom what [an EIT] is,” Harms said.

The council voted to have the borough’s solicitor look over the documents again. A member from the solicitor’s office said instituting an EIT is a great idea for the borough and may even be necessary.