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Our opinion: Rainy day funds still off limits

We share the concerns of state Rep. Joe Hamm, R-Hepburn Township, regarding Gov. Josh Shapiro’s plan to pull money from the state’s Rainy Day Fund to fill the gaps in his own spending plan. As Hamm noted recently the state does not have the prerogative to draw money from the fund at any given time — the money is earmarked for economic downturns. Any time that fund is touched, it must happen only under conditions of a recession or economic downturn, Hamm said. If he tries to do that, as indicated in the proposal to legislators, there is a potential for a lawsuit being filed, ...

Our opinion: Counting our delivery blessings

State Rep. Martin Causer is among those concerned about the closure of UPMC Cole labor and delivery services. The Bradford Republican, whose district includes Cameron, McKean and Potter counties, is concerned the closure will create a significant maternity care desert across multiple counties. We’re not sure, given the distance from Coudersport to Warren, if any of the women who would have given birth at UPMC Cole will end up in the delivery rooms at Warren General Hospital, but whenever there is are changes like this there are ripple effects throughout regional health care systems, ...

Our opinion: Chipping in for area road work

As Daylight Savings Time returned this weekend, work on important highly traveled roads cannot be too far off. Last week, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation announced its investment of $468 million to help municipalities across the Commonwealth maintain their roads and bridges. These investments, which come from state gas tax revenues, help municipalities pay for things like snow removal and road repaving. “Our roads and bridges are vital to connecting Pennsylvanians with services and opportunity,” said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. “Investments in municipal roads ...

Our opinion: Property reassessment hits home stretch

What seems like years of debate and discussion over a countywide property reassessment is finally entering its final days with the announcement of public meetings throughout the county starting today. Following today’s meeting in Columbus, there will be meetings next week at 6 p.m. Monday in Sheffield, 6 p.m. Wednesday in Youngsville and 6 p.m. Thursday in Warren. Each will last about two hours and include presentations from county officials and Vision Government Solutions to explain how the reassessment was conducted and what the potential result of the reassessment could be on ...

Our opinion: Another development effort

City officials are ready to take another swing at redeveloping 231-237 Pennsylvania Ave. We hope the process is smoother this time around, because no one needs the acrimony that ended up derailing the development formerly known as the Hudson Project. After early approval by the City Council opposition grew over time to the point that the developers finally chose to end the project rather than fight a growing movement against their project. One thing should be obvious. Low-income senior housing on the site is probably not going to be the future of this downtown parcel. Knowing that ...

Our opinion: Some help for school transport

Warren County School District officials are on the hot seat when it comes to the amount of time children will spend on school buses next year. Transportation is one of the most persistent questions about the closure of the Youngsville and Sheffield high school buildings that has been raised in school board meetings for nearly a year. Parents aren’t wrong to have questions. Busing children to and from school, particularly young children, affects the entire family in one way or another. As we’ve said in the past, concerns about transportation are a hurdle, not an insurmountable ...