Students of this blog know that I don't make nice with much, people or institutions. I would like to express my gratitude to Jarrett Coleman for following through with his campaign pledge to make the NIZ more accountable. He has received no support from his local elected peers, in either the state senate or lower house.
There is however one monkey wrench in Coleman's good intentions. In the meantime, between Coleman's election and his senate NIZ resolution, Governor Shapiro appointed Pat Browne director of the Revenue Department. Pat Browne was the architect of the NIZ. The information needed to evaluate the success of the NIZ must ultimately come from Browne's department?!?
Pennsylvania has always been the place where the good old boys and girls stay safe and protected by each other. It's no accident that we have some of the highest taxes in the country and that the incumbents stay forever.
I'm hoping that Jarrett doesn't join the club.
I also commend Mr. Coleman for his success in making progress on uncovering the true story behind the NIZ. Taxpayers surely haven’t been given that by our local news media.
ReplyDeleteWhen so many of our tax dollars have been thrown around like this, when we are obligated to hold full responsibility for maintaining the program, we deserve to know the true facts about how our money has been spent. Was this a good plan financially for Pennsylvania? Or, did it fail us financially?
My opinion was formed very early. The NIZ was destined to be a boondoggle, a money pit. A scheme that just hasn’t worked as planned, nor as is being presented in the media. I believe there is STILL a huge taxpayer revenue deficit created. One that will not be filled. Taxpayers are about 100 million dollars in the red, and the hole grows deeper.
In reality, the NIZ failed in creating additional tax revenues for Pennsylvania citizens. Taxpayers have experienced no financial gain over where we would now be without the NIZ being established in the first place.
We just don’t get the full math behind this idea. Only small bits and positive press release fluff. Just move along, folks. No need to see under the covers. Trust your politicians. Sure . . .
If there is any way to do so, this program needs to be halted.
I'd be a lot more comfortable if the state hired a independent private auditing firm. Seems to me there is a conflict of interest if Brown goes it alone.
ReplyDeleteAs an example of the subterfuge behind ANIZDA reporting we might read that the zone produced $29 million dollars this past year. The message is the zone is producing more than it did pre-ANIZDA. What we don’t read is, for several prior years this new zone produced much less than it once did. The whole thing is still running at an overall loss. Plus, as far as anyone can tell, it will be our tax dollars that will maintain them.
ReplyDeleteDon’t expect to be made whole upon the sale of the shiny buildings. We don’t own them. Is there ANY known procedure for a change in ownership and a possible benefit to taxpayers if that occurs?
It is outrageous that legislation is required to make what should be, by all accounts, public information public. Pat Browne became part of the problem and his excuses for his actions to prevent NIZ public right to know reveals a very troubling side of a man many once respected. Jarrod is a breath of fresh air, integrity is far to rare in Harrisbugh. My hat is off to him.
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