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Pocono News Section
Voters Say "No" to Tax Increase
Voters Say "No" to Tax Increase - Wednesday, November 4, 2009 at 1:51PM EST
Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Wednesday, Nov 4, 2009 @ 01:51pm EST
TANNERSVILLE, MONROE COUNTY - A referendum to pay for a college expansion with a tax increase failed in Monroe County. Voters said no to a $31 million plan to expand Northampton Community College's Monroe Campus.
Student Richard Salden said, "I was really disappointed the voters voted no for it for the small amount of money and the great rewards we would get."
Campus Dean Matt Connell added, "I just think it's the national sentiment - and also the local sentiment of the economy is in bad shape so this is not a wise decision right now."
Many people said they like the idea of expanding the campus. Student Rob Tudor said, "We've only got three science labs here and it's not enough when you have seven or eight classes having to share it." But he understands why the public might not want to pay for it. He said, "With the way that property and school taxes are going up left and right - I can understand many people turning that down."
School officials say the vote is not the end of the expansion. They told Eyewitness now state gambling money could possibly pay for it. Connell said, "Right now we're anxiously awaiting word from Harrisburg and the State Legislature."
The State Senate has already voted to give some table game revenues to the project. It would be $2.4 million a year for the next 20 years. The House of Representatives has not yet voted on the proposal.
Tudor hopes the money comes through because he said a good community college is key to a community's economic success. He said, "The economy is so bad and in order to make money to support my family I'm basically just doing what I gotta do and getting a better education and coming back to school."
The school expects lawmakers to vote on the gaming bill within the next three weeks. If it pases officials hope to break ground on the expansion within a year. | | |
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