Tax hikes have crossed the line
It seems that Montgomery County and Upper Providence Township have now crossed the line with a new low in sneakiness when it comes to collecting revenue.
Back in November 2016 it was “sort of” announced that Montgomery County Board of Commissioners approved a surcharge for property owners in their county for Montgomery County Community College (MCCC). Residents were notified by a letter that was included in their January 2017 billing. It doesn’t really explain what it exactly goes for; you are just being told you are paying for it.
When I concluded a search to find out what it was for, the two news stories that I could find said property owners would be charged an average of $66. My mother was charged $98. As my niece says, “close enough.”
There was no notice received, nothing on the November election ballot and no approval given.
In 2016, my mom took a Microsoft Excel course at MCCC. She is 72-years-old, and continues to look for part-time work. A lot of the employment today requires knowledge of Excel She paid $317 for a two-day course. She was NOT afforded a credit for living in the county or for being a senior citizen. I’m not exactly sure what the surcharge benefits.
Also, is the burden of this surcharge on property owners only? It should be a surcharge for all residents, whether they are renting or owning, if they want to make it fair. Are companies being surcharged? There is literally no explanation as to where this money goes to.
Then again, this is the same and only county in Pennsylvania that is collecting a $5 fee on every vehicle registered in the county.
The explanation for this is to fix and improve roadways in the county. We already pay for this, every time we put fuel in our vehicles. It’s called the gas tax.
Then, there is Upper Providence Township. The bill is no longer named “Real Estate Tax;” it is now known as “Real Estate Taxes and Other Fees.”
Upper Providence, knowing that Montgomery County was going to surcharge for MCCC, decided, without any notice whatsoever, they were going to slap three new surcharges on the same tax bill.
Emergency Services? Since the township has not provided any explanation for this surcharge, I will assume that this is for ambulance services, but I thought insurance companies paid for that.
Fire Protection? Black Rock Fire Company is a volunteer fire company. Every year, for the past 22 years, we have donated at least $100 a year to the fire company because they are a volunteer fire company. Why are we being charged for this now?
General/Police Services? No idea, no explanation, no reason. Are we paying police salaries now?
All of these charges made my mother’s taxes go from $849 to $1,239.
And, if anyone is playing the “at home” game of living in Upper Providence Township, Montgomery County, you will be ecstatic, like I was, to know that they are paying a firm $42,000 (yes, $42,000) over a threeyear period for their web design. A website nobody uses for information, and probably 98 percent of the residents didn’t know it existed.
If two boards of commissioners are permitted to get away with this “smoke and mirror” way of collecting taxes on this billing, I believe every resident of Montgomery County, especially ones that live in Upper Providence, should be bracing and saving for the school/ property taxes that are billed in the summer. Some residents may have to declare bankruptcy.