City Council Examines Cost Saving Measures

Washington taxpayers will be getting good news soon. Washington City Council is looking to approve two measures to help save money. First, Council is looking to approve a reduction in the earned income tax for workers that are not city residents. Council wants to reduce the rate from .4 to .2 in the collection of the Distressed Pension Finance tax. This is the second reduction in this tax in the last three years. Mayor Scott Putnam looks at the reduction as a benefit to employees and business owners. The second cost saving measure would be council’s approval to act as guarantor for the refinance of a City of Washington Parking Authority Bond. The current bond ends in 2030. The refinance would not extend the term of the loan but would significantly reduce the annual payment. Putnam indicates that the city has been called on to bail out the Parking Authority when revenues did not meet the needs of the current loan. It is hoped that this refinance will eliminate any need for the City to come to the aid of the Parking Authority. In other city business, council approved nearly $300,000 in road improvements for the remainder of this year. The most important project is improvements to Allison Ave. Councilman Ken Westcott highlighted the importance of repaving Allison Ave. now because it will be an important detour when a 2 ½ year PennDot project along Jefferson, Wylie and Allison begins in 2020.