Letters to the Editor 9/2/2010

Published: September 2, 2010

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Commissioner speaks on gas severance tax

EDITOR: On Friday (Aug. 27) we had a press conference with the governor in Tioga County where I was able to speak on the need for a local share of any proposed natural gas severance tax. My full remarks are presented below:

It has been a pleasure working with other county commissioners and local government officials on the natural gas severance tax issue. Being involved in this debate has been a challenge and a privilege. It is the most important debate and fight I will engage in during my four years in office. Our county faces challenges on a day-to-day basis, but none can compare to the rapid development of natural gas industry and the fact that it touches every thread of our local communities.

Local governments have a long history of servicing their communities, they are the ones that do the best job, and they are the ones that need the revenue. As counties and local governments we are used to working on shoestring budgets. Year after year working with declining state reimbursements. We do it the best we can.

We meet our challenges head on. However, local governments can't do this on table scraps.

This is too big, this is too important, this is not just about economic development but is more importantly about trying to hold on to the lifestyle and quality of life to which we are accustomed. It is to ensure our roads are taken care of. It is to ensure that the people and their property are protected.

A large share of the severance tax needs to remain locally because it is here, in these counties and local communities, that the developments are unfolding. These are the places where the environmental impacts are occurring; these are the boroughs and townships that are dealing with the high volume of traffic; these are the places where volunteer firefighters and other emergency responders are struggling to keep up with the demands on their personnel and equipment; and these are the counties that are dealing with rising administrative burdens and even more importantly rising social costs.

These are places where the money belongs; these are the communities that need their fair share, that need the resources to be an equitable partner of this development instead of being a victim of it.

This is why such a large local share of a natural gas severance tax is so important.

We have people willing to work towards enhancing and protecting their communities. We have people ready to help those in need. They are ready to help those who have suffered through issues such as the shortage of housing; we have people ready to respond to emergencies. We have the energy and willingness to do the job but what we need are the resources.

Mark W. Smith

Chairman

Bradford County Commissioners

The looney left

EDITOR: Mr. Dugan, you liberals are so far left you will never find third base. What a pity that conservatives have one of five or six major networks to listen to without complete liberal nonsense. I used to listen to CNN a lot, then, for a fair and balanced political discussion they had an out and out liberal for the Democrats and Chuck Hagle for the Republicans. Senator Reed would have served as well.

In my life, I have known many right-wing conservatives and if they were still alive and in power our country would be in far better shape than with the looney left in charge. Instead of worrying about right-wing facists running our country, I'm worried about tax-and-spend liberals getting us so far in debt, we can't print useless paper money fast enough.

Don't worry, China will bail us out.

Duane Hunter

Athens

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