Matthews: 'There Has to be a Tax Increase'

Though not exactly on the agenda for the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners' meeting Wednesday, an impromptu discussion of the county's current budget situation arose, as did the possibility of a tax hike.

The county's current budget status was raised by Commissioner Joe Hoeffel, who took the opportunity to chide fellow Commissioner Bruce Castor for his about the county's perceived budget woes.

"I'm disappointed in the public comments and the lack of public understanding with the county's [current] financial situation," said Hoeffel.

He suggested that the commissioners had neglected to answer allegations about the county's poor fiscal outlook raised in the media during the current election because they did not wish to involve themselves in the campaigns of either party's candidates. Hoeffel said he now thinks the board should hold public budget hearings following the election to educate the public and the newly elected board members on the state of the county's finances.

"We are not in 'shambles,'" said Hoeffel, reffering to a quote from a recent editorial.

The commissioner went on to explain that the $42 million budget shortfall reported for next year's operating budget is chiefly the result of a 6.5 percent increase requested by some department heads following the deep cuts made in recent operating budgets. Hoeffel made assurances that those budget requests are unlikely to be approved.

"There have been a lot of irresponsible claims on the campaign trail," Hoeffel said, directing his attention to Castor. "Commissioner Castor, you tried to scare people about the pension and that blew up in your face."

Hoeffel also called Castor to the carpet for recent campaign remarks indicating that he was not familiar with the county's entire financial situation.

"You get all the same financial information we do," Hoeffel said.

Commissioner James Matthews agreed with the need for public budget hearings and warned that while things might not be dire presently there would be "a price to pay for having lower taxes now than we had in 2002."

"I'm very proud of the situation we are in right now," said Matthews. "The three of us know we have gone to the bone the last few years."

While Hoeffel would not commit to a stance on a possible tax increase, Matthews was more pragmatic.

"In my opinion, there has to be a tax increase or services in Montgomery County will suffer," said Matthews.

Castor remained silent during the discussion.