Media Borough Council Voices Both Concerns And Approval to Harrisburg

Members of the Media Borough Council voted unanimously last Thursday to pen two letters to state lawmakers -- one of disapproval and another of approval -- regarding proposed amendments to current legislature.

The first is a bill the council thinks will cripple Media. SB405, sponsored by Sen. Pat Browne, R-Lehigh, will allow businesses that have brick and mortar outside of the borough to alude taxes even when they do business inside the municipality.

In effect, council member Paul Robinson said, locally-located businesses that are located inside but do work outside the borough will be disadvantaged by being forced to pay the tax and raise their rates. The council fears these businesses will be encouraged to leave.

The borough will also be short changed if the amendment passes.

Meanwhile, businesses located outside the borough and doing business in Media may be able to alude a tax period, as Robinson explained that not all municipalities have the tax -- as Media does.

Borough manager Jeff Smith also weighed in.

"I think the biggest thing to keep in mind is what it means in terms of lost revenue," said Smith. "Every municipal government is struggling with its revenues. We want to ask the state delegation to take another look at [the bill] from the perspective of local municipality."

The bill has passed in the Senate and is currently sitting on the House floor.

The second letter will voice approval for HB1934 printer number 2624.

The bill's language will be altered, if passed, to ensure 70 percent of recycling fees goes to local municipalities.

As Robinson explains, the current language of the bill gives the state some leeway to take some of the funds, which can leave the borough with less cash than expected.

"It's mandating the state not to play these games anymore," said Robinson.