Category: Delco

Womack Dissents As Delco Passes Crushing Tax Hike — Delaware County (Pa) Council, last night, Dec. 11, passed its budget with its crushing and expected 23.8 percent tax hike on property owners.

This means that the average homeowner will paying $184.69 more to fund things like a DEI department and a mismanaged prison.

The vote was 4-1. The courageous dissenter was Councilman Richard Womack.

Delco’s operating budget will increase $37.7 million going from $358,825,036 to $396,576,506.

Council has been baldly lying about the need for the explosive hike. It claimed it was due to inflation and that the previous Republican administration had not raised taxes for a dozen years.

Media GOP Chairman Michael Straw, at the budget’s first reading, Dec. 4, pointed out that the expensive Health Department, DEI Department, free yoga classes and a vending machine with condoms were all choices. None were mandates.

Council majority treats spending — and government in general — as though they were still spoiled, rich, private college students with daddy’s dough always there for them, and that while consequences didn’t matter, peer approval certainly did.

Womack Dissents As Delco Passes Crushing Tax Hike

Prison More Expensive And Dangerous Under Delco Control — George W. Hill Prison is a major reason for Delaware County’s (Pa.) looming 23.8 percent tax hike and was a subject at the Dec. 4, Council meeting.

The county took over the prison  from GEO Group in April 2022 and hired Laura Williams as warden.

The choice was puzzling as her previous job had been as as chief deputy warden at Allegheny County Jail where she was the subject of numerous complaints, and she only started her career in corrections in 2014 as a substance abuse counselor.

Anyway, since the county took over and her tenure started, Hill has been a place of turmoil and a money pit.

Delco is now spending $13 million more for George W. Hill Prison despite having a third fewer inmates.

Inmates have died horrific deaths and those tasked with watching them are demoralized.

Last night, Kimberly Brown of Colwyn, an outspoken caseworker at the facility, said the turnover is unreal and the county doesn’t care.

Several major positions are unfilled. She said the majority of inmates are not from Delco.

She said it’s freezing in the jail and bathrooms barely work due to low water pressure.

Ms. Brown often appears before Council. She says every time she speaks she is called into administration and grilled by a lawyer.

Also speaking was Al Johnson of Morton, a correctional service officer at Hill. He confirmed Ms. Brown’s claim that retaliation is routinely practiced against whistleblowers and that he has been subject to it.

This did not stop him from criticizing Ms. Williams, however. He said contract negotiations with her went nowhere for two-and-a-half years until County Executive Director Barbara O’Malley became involved. He said in about five months about three-quarters of the issues have been settled, thanks to her.

Maybe the most concerning thing in Johnson’s three minutes — see here starting at 3:25 — was an implication that Ms. Williams was in an inappropriate relationship with Councilman Kevin Madden.

Madden is Council’s prison liasion.

“Do you know (Warden Williams) recently had us sign papers to let you know who’s involved in a relationship?” Johnson said. “So after two and a half years after the county has come in now they’re worried about who is in a relationship with who. So I’m wondering if Mr. Madden and the Warden got that same paper. I’m wondering if the deputy warden got that paper as well.”

He said Council has given the Warden has “full immunity to do whatever she wants around here.”

“But we’re suffering. We are stressed beyond stressed and we are getting no relief from leadership,” shouted Johnson. “As a matter of fact she is tightening the noose harder around our neck. When are you guys going to get involved with this situation and say enough is enough.”

A similar point was made by Tevin Dix of Haverford, a few speakers earlier. While Dix’s comments appear to have been cut from the official video, they can be found on Facebook.

Delco Is Sanctuary For Illegals; No Longer In Doubt — The looming 23.8 percent tax hike was the big story from last night’s, Dec. 4, meeting of Delaware County (Pa.) Council but all doubt ended that the place had become a sanctuary for illegals.

Council members led by Christine Reuther have been shrilly denying the claim as recently as October.

Last night, however, Tom Flocco of Media forced Council to the reality that Chester was used as a major human trafficking hub.

Further, Mia Tiernan DeJohn of Springfield described how an car driven by an illegal struck her vehicle and escaped all charges.

Ms. DeJohn said she emailed all County Council members requesting the dockets showing the prosecutions of illegals. The only response she got, she said, was from Ms. Reuther who said she just wasn’t going to get them.

Ms. DeJohn’s story mirrors that of Sharon Devaney who has been speaking at Council meetings about what happened to her in 2017.

Like Ms. DeJohn, Ms. Devaney testimony was dismissed by councilmembers, namely Ms. Reuther. Ms. Devaney suffered permanent injuries from her accident, unlike Ms. deJohn.

Ms. Devaney also spoke last night. See her at the 3:15:09 mark. She said that since she made illegals in Delco a cause she has had her cell phone tampered and car tracked.

Ms. Devaney praised Councilman Richard R. Womack for showing empathy, and asked that partisanship be put aside in solving the county’s problems.

She said the county Republicans gave only lukewarm support to its congressional candidate Alfe Goodwin because she showed independence.

A Broomall woman also described her journey from Democrat to Republican to “Uniparty” skeptic. She said that taxes are killing them and that the schools are leading the young to a very dark place. She asked that the Nativity scene be returned to the Rose Tree Park Christmas display.

Kaylee, a young woman from Newtown Square, also asked that the traditional Nativity scene be returned to Rose Tree Park. She sang a short, beautiful Christmas hymn.

Delco Hears Revenue Plans From Citizens — The crushing tax hike that looms for Delaware County, Pa. residents caused some to air at last night’s., Dec. 4, Council meeting plans tor raise money.

The most direct was the sale of the county-owned Delcora water authority to Aqua, which has evolved into a huge multi-state corporation known as Essential Utilities.

The Aqua subsidiary has offered $276 million for Delcora.

Aqua employees Charlie from Springfield and John from Newtown Square exhorted Council to sell the authority and use the money to balance the budget.

Brian from Aston and a woman spoke out against the sale saying the rates would skyrocket when Aqua took over.

Councilwoman Elaine Schaeffer also spoke out against the sale citing the same reason.

Gary Ryder of Marple said the county could use its parks for revenue by hosting car shows and fireworks displays.

Joe Finio of Marple said he didn’t want Delco Woods to cause anyone to lose their homes and said he was willing to support public/partnerships for the developed part of the property.

Delco Hears Revenue Plans From Citizens

Delco Council Faces Heat For Tax Hike Due To Reckless Spending — Delaware County Council, last night, Dec. 4, held the first reading of a budget for fiscal year 2025 that will raise taxes $184.69 for the average homeowner.

This is a 23.8 percent increase.

See charts below.

The average home is assessed at $255,108.10

Delco’s operating budget will be $321,355,826 which is an increase of $30,425,373 from this year, according to a presentation by county Executive Director Barbara O’Malley. The capital budget, which is financed mostly through bonds, is rising from $74,852,754 to $120,926,840.

The county’s total spending for 2025 will be $898.3 million an increase of about $10 million.

The operating budget, however, is what is funded through property taxes and that is what will hit the residents with immediacy.

Ms. O’Malley did note that county fees will rise as well.

A full house faced Council and was overwhelmingly against its spending plan. Of those speaking we counted 23 against with three — two of whom were Democrat municipal councilwomen — defending Council.

Kathy from Haverford asked Council if it ever got back the $500,000 it lost in a hacker attack. She also pointed out that Delco self-insures its employees including retirees. This means that the local taxpayer pays for their medical expenses, not insurance companies or federal programs. The Dems let the county be embroiled in lawsuits, she said. These include ones involvng sexual harassment and 2020 vote fraud allegations.

Delco had a $290 million surplus in its rainy day fund when the Dems took over in 2020, she said.

Councilwoman Christine Reuther’s claims the Dems started with a budget deficit. She nd the other council members say that and inflation as one of the reasons for the big tax hike.

So what is it?

Does it matter?

One woman asked why the Dems started expensive projects uch as creating a health department and a diversity, equity and inclusivity department, if there was a deficit.

Dave Galluch of Newtown, who warned in June about a big tax hike, said another is coming next year. It will be about 15 percent, he said. Ms. Reuther had dismissed his previous warning, he said.

Spending on county vehicles is up 800 percent, he said.

He said that Council created an expensive health department yet the local hospitals have crumbled.

He later expressed a wish to work with Council to keep more pain from happening.

Michael Straw of Media called out Council’s disingenuous reasons for the tax hike. He said that the Health Department, DEI Department and free yoga classes and a vending machine with condoms were all choices. None were mandates.

The county does not have to be paying $4.1 million legal fees, he said.

He said that while he likes green space, parkland has to take a back seat to bill paying.

“If it’s a trial versus rent, I pick rent,” he said.

Mary Ann from Drexel Hill wanted to know how those who live paycheck to paycheck are going to pay the new taxes.

She said evictions in the county are through the roof.

Kimberly of Media also spoke up for renters. She said the tax hike would crush them as landlords would just pass on the costs. Delco already has high rent, she said. She noted that 69 percent of county residents are renters.

A 24-year-old woman told Council that she has done all that society expects with regard to getting an education and a job but the taxes supported by Council are crushing her generation. She said she’d love to raise a family here but can’t afford it. She blasted Council’s spending decisions.

Mitch of Upper Darby said he is a new homeowner and taxes are up 30 percent over three years. He had not expected that when he purchased. Life is getting hard for him.

Rico (phonetic), who described himself as a contractor with experience on many major projects, challenged Council to give him a price on three yards of concrete. He said they were clueless about expenses. He also said the county was riff with corruption.

A woman whose husband has stage 4 cancer said the extra $184 expense is a crisis for them. If they lose their home they won’t be able to get another, she said. She said food banks are closing.

Nick Weston (phonetic) of Wallingford sneered at Council’s attempt to blame inflation for the hike. Nobody trusts them he said.

“Aren’t you supposed to be looking out for us?” he asked.

He said a hero is someone who balances the budget and doesn’t take money from the people.

Mike Hannigan (phonetic) said home ownership is going the way of the dinosaur. He said voters must participate in every election, not just the presidential one.

One woman said nasty things about the Republican Party and that she was not inclined to fight Council over the $184 tax hike, but her school taxes were up $1,500 and that was killing her.

Charlie Alexander of Marple said that Council’s goal was to end single family homes. He said Gov. Josh Shapiro was behind it along with major law firms. Alexander announced that he will be running for County Council.

A Concord woman, who described herself as a former controller, praised Ms. O’Malley’s presentation but noted she didn’t see a breakdown of costs for electronic voting machines. There are cheaper ways of running an election, she said. She also pointed out that the machines are vulnerable to hacking when they are upgraded.

Sharon Devaney of Haverford also brought up an election concern. Ms. Devaney is minority inspector in her township’s 6-2 precinct. Her poll pads could not be shut down when closing out the Nov. 5 election. She and her fellow workers contacted the election assistance hotline. The man with whom she was put in contact screamed at them. Put them away leaving them running, he said. She said she has contacted the election authorities about it — including Election Director James Allen — and has yet to receive an explanation.

Concerns regarding poll pads been expressed to Council for almost two years.

Kathy from Haverford said Delco was the last in the state to turn in provisional ballots despite claims from Councilwoman Reuther.

Councilwoman Elaine Paul Schaefer made an extraordinary tone-deaf motion to add money for parkland. It did not receive a second.

Richard R. Womack was the only councilmember who received significant praise during the four-hour meeting as he was the only one he appeared to exhibit sincere empathy.

He said he heard from many about the suffering the tax hike will cause and proposed a committee to address the problem.

Of course, how a committee will help those suffering is a thing to ponder.

Here’s a better idea: Vote against the budget Dec. 11. Demand an end to free yoga and condom vending machines and the DEI Department.

How about demand a new warden for the prison?

Here’s a link to a video of the meeting.

Elaine Shaeffer Can’t Blame Herself For Delco Fiscal Crisis — A massive — 23 percent estimate — tax hike looms for Delaware County, Pa. and Delco Council meets tonight, Dec. 4, at 6 p.m. when a hearing for the budget is scheduled.

At the Nov. 20 meeting, Councilwoman Elaine Paul Schaeffer, a wealthy Main Line, Radnor lass, explained — see council comments — that the reason for this was that the previous — Republican — councils had not raised taxes for 12 consecutive years.

Um, that’s the not reason why Delco’s in debt, Elaine.

Delco is now spending $13 million more for incarcerating no-good-niks since it took over George W. Hill Prison from GEO Group in 2022. This is despite having 66 percent fewer no-good-niks incarcerated. By the way, the no-good-niks are treated far worse as are those tasked to watch them.

Delco is also now spending $19 million on the very unnecessary, by all reasonable metrics, health department it started. Hey, but it comes with neato electric vehicles and drug-vending machines.

The county has incurred $35 million in debt with the goal of no-longer using the Covanta trash-to-steam energy plant in Chester. The idea is to landfill the waste.

And let’s not forget that Delco has involved itself in expensive and unnecessary legal spending that competent leaders would have easily avoided.

Of course, if the goal is to shovel money to political pals it wouldn’t be incompetent. Evil, yes, but not incompetent.

It’s time for a change, Delco.

UPDATE: Kudos to Media GOP Chairman Michael Straw who was featured on Fox 29 giving it Delco’s councilmembers for their crude capriciousness and lack of caring.

Elaine Shaeffer Can’t Blame Herself For Delco Fiscal Crisis

Councilwoman Schaefer Promises Delco Tax Hike — Delaware County (Pa.) Councilwoman Elaine Paul Schaefer  promised her constituents a tax hike, last night, Nov. 20.

“I think my colleagues and our staff . . . recognize there is a budget deficit and we share in that concern and we’ve been working very hard with laser focus on trying to address it and minimizing the amount of tax increase that we will be forced to put in to address it,” she said.

She was addressing a concern expressed by Media GOP Chairman Michael Straw.

Delco has a $54 million budget deficit due to idiocy leading to avoidable lawsuits and starting expensive projects that sound really neat but end up being money-pits whose only use is to create government jobs.

Expect that “minimizing” means really, really big tax hike.