17512 Columbia

today’s news … Sunday, May 19

In Uncategorized on May 19, 2013 at 5:02 am

today’s news and information gleanings from here and there! 

Quote for today… “The hospital turned it over to a collection agency after a year of haggling and I ended up paying $30,000 (my IRA). The only reason they didn’t get anymore is because I have zero assets – no house, no car, etc.” – Salome, a Virginia commenter to this New York Times article (New Jersey Hospital has highest billing rates in the nation.) after paying on a $220,000 hospital stay for heart surgery.

special ed costs

  • “In the Columbia Borough School District, special education students declined from 383 to 314 over the 12-year period studied; but costs rose from $1.5 million to $4.1 million, and special education spending as a percentage of the overall budget rose from 13.1 percent to 20.1 percent. ‘It’s always a hot topic, people saying the reason we’re having money issues is special education,’ says Jennifer Zolenas, Columbia’s special education coordinator. ‘You have to do what’s right and what’s best for the kids. But it does put a strain on the budget.’” – from a page one article in today’s Sunday News about special education funding in schools.winner

hazardous hospitals

  • Klawitter to return as superintendent: This article in today’s Sunday News states: “Former Columbia superintendent Kenneth Klawitter will return to the school district in July as acting superintendent for the coming school year. Klawitter will replace Superintendent Barry Clippinger, who announced his retirement in September. Despite having nine months to find a
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Auction action

In Everyday Living, Opportunities on May 19, 2013 at 5:00 am

“ANNUAL LANCASTER COUNTY DRUG TASK FORCE PUBLIC AUCTION Saturday, May 18, 2013 9:00 a.m. Location: LANCASTER COUNTY PARK BLDG. , 950 ESHELMAN MILL ROAD, LANCASTER, PA. DOORS OPEN AT 8:00 A.M. FOR INSPECTION VEHICLES TO BE SOLD AT 12:30 P.M. PURCHASED VEHICLES MUST BE REMOVED FROM PARK PROPERTY BY 4:00 P.M. ON THE DAY OF THE AUCTION.”

It was a dark and cloudy Saturday … a good time to head out to the annual public auction of merchandise that’s netted from drug arrests in the county.

The Lancaster County Drug Task Force Website says, “County Non-monetary assets such as jewelry, electronic equipment, and vehicles are sold at an annual auction held at the Lancaster County Central Park.  The proceeds of the auction and any forfeited monetary assets are placed into an escrow account as provided for by P.S. 42 Pa. C.S. §6801.  These funds are available for use by the District Attorney’s Office to purchase equipment or fund investigations that are directly drug related.”

Auctions provide great people-watching and it’s always a prurient sense of interest to see what’s being sold; how much it goes for and who buys it.

Besides, there’s always auction food. Another prurient delight!

So here are some pictures from the auction.

DTF AUCTION01

DTF AUCTION02

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“reform” or “dumass and irresponsible actions?”

In Opinions on May 19, 2013 at 4:47 am

This week, the Governor’s newsletter focused on the topic of “pension reform.”

Columbia news, views & reviews bristles at that tag.

“Reform,” according to one dictionary means “the improvement or amendment of what is wrong, corrupt, unsatisfactory, etc.: social reform; spelling reform.

If the state of the pension system is “wrong, corrupt or unsatisfactory,” then blame has to be placed where it belongs. It’s greater that the “greedy unions,” and the “greedy teachers” and others. The “wrong, corrupt or unsatisfactory” finger needs to be pointed directly at the dumass and irresponsible actions of previous and current members of the legislative and executive branches of this commonweal.

Add to that: cronyism; personal interest; failure to look at the repercussions of legislation introduced and passed and a lack of concern for the folks who pay for their dumass and irresponsible actions.

The Governor’s email is entitled, “Pension Reform: The Cost of Doing Nothing.”

“Pennsylvania needs pension reform. That is why last week Governor Tom Corbett, along with state legislators, proposed a bold plan to help tackle Pennsylvania’s pension crisis. Let’s look at the cost of doing nothing:

  • Without reform, many local school districts face insurmountable pension costs, already contributing to local property tax increases for one third of all districts across the commonwealth. Governor Corbett’s pension reform plan reduces the pension payment obligations of school districts by $138 million in 2013-14 alone.
  • Without reform, each Pennsylvania household’s share of pension unfunded liability would be about $9,500.  That is expected to rise to more than $13,000 by 2018 if we don’t institute reforms now.
  • Without reforming our pension system, more than 60 cents of every new General Fund revenue dollar will be spent on employer pension contributions.

“Pennsylvania can’t afford the status quo. Let your legislator know you support Governor Corbett’s pension reform plan.”

We wholly agree that the actions of the past are unsustainable. We disagree with the battle cry of reform. Let’s call it what it is: dumass and irresponsible actions.

… and let’s have responsible discussion about REAL REFORM for:

  • The unwieldy size and inordinate expense of the Pennsylvania legislature.
  • The ethics of allowing corporate and monied interests to have access to dumass and irresponsible elected “public servants.”
  • Term limits for legislators.
  • Citizen oversight of pay, pension and other benefits for elected “public servants” at all levels of government.
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