UCF moves forward with 2.88% budget plan
No residents attend two-hour hearing; pensions biggest growth area
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
EAST MARLBOROUGH — It appears that Dancing With The Stars is a lot more popular than Budgets with The Board.
No residents attended Monday night’s Unionville-Chadds Ford Board of Education budget hearing (technically, this reporter is a resident and did attend as the lone media representative on...
Will Corbett stand up to the legislature on pensions?
How the governor plays this issue could decide the Nov. elections
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
A wise attorney once told me, “never ask a question in court if you don’t know what the answer will be.”
It appears that Gov. Tom Corbett failed to adhere to that maxim when he hinted he would not sign the new $29.1 billion state budget passed by both houses of the legislature — unless the legislature...
Pennsylvania deserves better than Kick-The-Can
To The Editor,
We have a pension crisis in Pennsylvania. It was created by Governor Ridge and the legislature, when the passed Act 9 of 2001, then kicked down the road by Governor Rendell and the legislature for the 8 years that he was in office. In 2011 the pension crisis was addressed by Act 120, a balanced bipartisan solution to a long-term problem that moves the state toward paying off the bill.
...
Is there hope for a pension fix in the legislature?
New proposal could form framework for at least a partial fix
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Is it possible that a small glimmer of hope toward finding a real, workable solution to public pension mess is inching forward in the state legislature?
As you’re probably aware, spiking contributions to state worker and teachers’ pension funds have hamstrung the state and local school districts,...
As Philly goes, so goes Chester County?
In this week of HS graduations, why you need to be concerned about Philly’s schools
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Out here in Chester County, we’ve been relatively insulated — we think — from the collapse of the Philadelphia Public Schools. Maybe you’ve seen some of the recent discussion about all extracurricular activities, even sports, being cut from the public schools....
Kudos for teacher pact, budget, but pension bill is a lemon
Common sense prevails in UCF budget, teacher pact, not so much with pension scheme
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
With so much going on in Unionville this week, one almost doesn’t know where to start.
Okay, almost.
The tentative deal announced Monday by the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District and the Unionville-Chadds Ford Education Association happened with very little fuss, very little noise...
UCF board likely to approve tax hike slightly above Act 1
Some question remains as to whether board will cut spending to save for future pension costs
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
EAST MARLBOROUGH — When the Unionville-Chadds Ford Board of Education considers adopting a preliminary final budget Monday night, it appears only two scenarios, or a variation, will be on the table.
During last Monday night’s budget hearing, the schools administration offered...
Memorial Day: more than the start of summer
Also: teacher talks, pay day loans and kudos for the AfterProm
By Mike McGann, Editor, UnionvilleTimes.com
A mishmash of items for your consideration on this steamy Memorial Day weekend:
Starting, of course, with Memorial Day.
I know it’s trite to remind everyone that this holiday weekend is more than just the unofficial start of summer, but…
It is.
Sure, I’ll be spending time (a lot of time,...
It’s BAAACK! Pension bill finds new life
Under heavy fire, Democratic leaders schedule house votes for Monday
By Mike McGann, Editor, UnionvilleTimes.com
Democrats have reversed themselves and now will allow a vote on a state pension reform bill.
It appears that the reports — including here — of the death of the pension reform bill turned out to be premature — state House Speaker Keith McCall has relented and will allow the pension...
Is Wolf angling to make a deal with GOP legislators?