By now, everyone should know that the failure of the Harrisburg Incinerator put the City of Harrisburg in a crisis. A crisis is an emotionally stressful event or traumatic change in a person’s life. I guarantee, people living here will have just that. It is also a point in a story when a conflict reaches its highest tension and must be resolved. The last time Harrisburg had a crisis of this magnitude was during the Civil War when Lee’s troops threatened Harrisburg. At that time, the citizen of Harrisburg had to stop what they were doing and construct fortifications around Harrisburg.Once again the citizens are threatened. The treat is in the form of taxes and fees not from another state. This all started with the Richard House City Council of 2004 – 2005 when the EPA came in and shut down the incinerator. The Authority brought in a company that was suppose to be the best in the business, Barlow Projects, Inc. The Authority needed the city to cosign along with the County. At this point, the crisis started.
The Richard House City Council did not know or understand the ramifications of what they were signing. They believed the Mayor and the authority experts. Subcontractors were not reliable, Barlow could not be bonded, and the Authority mismanaged the project. The county protected themselves by being the last in line to pay the bond debt incase the Authority can’t pay or the City can’t pay. Plus, the county can sue the City if the City decides not to pay, meaning that the court would make the city pay. That means that the court would raise your taxes and fees. Not the Vera White City Council if this happens this year.
The storm is already here. Starting on Sept. 1, 2007, the Refuse Disposal part of my water bill will go up from $4.83 to $22, meaning that instead of paying $69.78 per month, I will pay $91 per month. This cost will go directly for Incinerator Cost. Houses in Harrisburg have a 3/8 inch water line or a 5/8 water line. My house has a 1 inch water line meaning that I pay a high $22.69 that is higher than the other 2 lines. All new homes built in Harrisburg will have the 1 inch line. Expect all fees in your water bill to go up at least 500% in the future. So I pay $69.78 now, I can expect to pay $349 per month for water and sewage in the future. You can look forward to this increase.My City Property Tax is $939.59. If the courts get this crisis, I can expect to pay 500% more or $4,793.75. So you live in a $450/month apartment. One hundred dollars of that money is City Property tax. A 500% increase will be passed on to you by way of the landlord, making your rent $950/month. We haven’t talked about school tax increases. We can thank Mayor Reed for this crisis as well as his friends.
