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"Government is a trust, and the officers of the government are trustees;
and both the trust and the trustees are created for the benefit of the people." - Henry Clay, 1829
"Government is a trust, and the officers of the government are trustees;
and both the trust and the trustees are created for the benefit of the people." - Henry Clay, 1829
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City of Harrisburg, Central PA NewsCentral Dauphin legal fees hit $279,000; lease back fees top $395,000Folks: In August, 2009, the Central Dauphin School District published a Transportation Alert and reported outsourcing transportation would save taxpayer $775,000 annually. The District promised, “Detailed information regarding Durham Transportation Services will be coming in our district-wide community newsletter, entitled, ‘Working Together’ this fall.” There was even a headline entitled, “What does this mean to you as a taxpayer?” The District failed to deliver the newsletter, but it’s time to answer the questions. Legal costs. Rhoads & Sinon billed for 27.82 hours for outsourcing transportation in May, 2009, billed for 99.45 hours for outsourcing transportation in June, 2009, and billed for 205.73 hours for outsourcing transportation in July, 2009 for a subtotal of 330 hours or $59,400. Rhoads & Sinon’s bill for outsourcing transportation from August, 2009 to January, 2010 was $145,786.89. The dedicated legal cost to taxpayers to illegally outsource transportation from May, 2009 through January, 2010 was $205,186.89. On June 2, 2010, the CDBDA filed a RTK request for Rhoads & Sinon legal fees from January to May, 2010. (Enclosure) After a preliminary review of the invoices, it appears the law firm tacked on an additional $74,735.91 in legal fees during this period. Legal fees to break a midterm contract from May, 2009 to May, 2010 cost Central Dauphin taxpayers: $279,922.80. Lease back fees: The District sold off its fleet under the cover of secrecy on October 21, 2009. The taxpayers fee for leasing its own vehicles back from Durham is $79,131.00 per month through June, 2010 or $395,655. Total cost to taxpayers to outsource transportation from May, 2009 through June, 2010: - $675,577.80.* vs. District's projected taxpayer savings: + $775,000. * Costs do not include billing invoices from Post & Schell. Sincerely, Eric Epstein, Business Manager Central Dauphin Bus Drivers Association
Mayor candidates form plans to avoid being burned by city trash incineratorFrom The Patriot News: Harrisburg's trash incinerator is blowing its hot breath down the necks of the city mayoral candidates. The burner and its mountain of debt loom as a complex threat that has the potential to bankrupt the city and turn the victor's term into an unpleasant presiding over the unraveling of Harrisburg's past gains. City services could vanish. Taxes and trash fees could rise. And city residents and business could flee the fallout. Candidates Linda Thompson, the Democratic City Council president, and Republican Nevin Mindlin, acknowledge the high stakes.
Q&A with Harrisburg mayoral candidates on incineratorFrom The Patriot News: Patriot-News: Quite simply, there appears to be too much debt tied to the incinerator for existing revenues from the plant to meet the payments. So either you lower the debt (by selling other city assets to pay it down) or you raise revenues (which Dauphin County blocked in knocking down fees hikes for county trash). What, specifically, are your prescriptions for improving both sides of the plant’s debt dilemma? Do you have any outside the box solutions that haven’t been tried? Explain?
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