Warren County Commissioner Chairman John Eggleston lashed out at Lt. Gov. and Senate Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati's criticism of Gov. Ed Rendell's proposed income tax increase Thursday, urging Scarnati to show his "fiscal responsibility" by cutting his staff's wages.
Scarnati spoke out against Rendell's proposed 17 percent personal income tax increase as a means to balance an estimated $2.3 billion budget deficit on Wednesday, calling the proposal "job-crushing" and "fiscally irresponsible."
"What he doesn't tell you," Eggleston said, "is that if the Senate's budget gets passed, things like your local library will go away."
The Senate's budget proposal calls for no taxes increases while slashing funding to social programs, law enforcement, education and other areas.
"Virtually our (local) library system would be wiped out," Eggleston said. "They might be able to live for a year with their endowment."
"I realize (the state legislators) are in a tough position. Everybody wants you to cut somebody else's programs, not their favorite programs. It's a big chunk of change. We understand that. But I wish they would frame it in a way that people understand if they are going to do this, these are the implications."
Eggleston scoffed at the notion that a "no tax increase" state budget actually means no tax increases in the state.
"If they pass that budget, your state taxes won't go up," Eggleston said. "But your local property taxes will because there are state mandates that still need to be funded."
Eggleston used the state mandate of counties employing a full-time district attorney as an example.
"There is no money in that budget for the district attorneys' salaries they are supposed to be paying us," Eggleston said. "Those guys made a deal and they are ignoring it."
Eggleston chided state legislators to start cutting staff members and reducing salaries as part of the belt-tightening measures in Harrisburg. "We let local people go because we don't have the money to keep them on," he said. "If you want sacrifice, let's make some in Harrisburg. Cut some of your staff's wages. Go ask Joe to do that and see what he says. He never talks about any of that stuff. Hey, Joe if you want to be fiscally responsible, take a look at your own house."