Wally Nunn: Delco council can’t fool all of the people all of the time
The Delaware County Council has concluded that its citizens just fell off a turnip truck. They think that they can tell us magical fairy tales and, like a bunch of five-year-olds, we will just believe.
On November 1, the executive director delivered to Council a proposed budget — more about that later — which had, at the least, a structural $76 million dollar deficit. The reason it was only $76 million was that they increased taxes twelve months ago by $8 million. Without that, the deficit would have been $84 million. Let that sink in: the Democrats have increased spending by at least $80 million since they took over the county government in 2020.
The Executive Director’s Budget recommended that the $76 million deficit be eliminated by raising taxes by 28 percent, which would raise $52 million. They would cover the rest of the deficit by tapping $24 million from the County’s rainy day fund (which virtually wipes it out) and left over federal Covid money. Since both are one-time infusions, a reasonable person would conclude that taxes will need to be raised again next year by at least another 14 percent.
Council in its wisdom (or panic), knowing it was facing an election in 2025, demanded that the tax be reduced and so it was. From 28 percent to 23 percent is significant, but the hike is still egregious. You might ask: how in such a short time did they make $8 million in cuts? This is where the magic happened. They merely told their employees to make $8 in revenue to appear.
Below you can see the original revenue budget from the Executive Director and the proposed budget revenue after Council ordered the change. Look at the line item “transfers” $510 thousand to $8.2 million overnight, I don’t know about you but that is magical to me.
Unfortunately, magic is not real. What is real is that they have disguised not just the $24 million deficit that was in the original budget, but hidden $8 million more for a grand total of $32 million. Put another way: next year’s tax increase will have to be more like a 20 percent tax.
Here is the “we fell off the turnip truck” part, they will not have to raise the additional taxes until after the next election. The Democrats imagine that they can keep this under wraps until they’re safely reelected, and then they can announce the additional taxes. What we are seeing from this council is a blatant attempt to cover up five years of mal-, mis- and non-feasance. They really have no shame.
Lastly, to make my point about cover up, in Tuesday’s meeting Council Chair Monica Taylor waxed eloquently about how the executive director’s budget is not a public document. This is an important point if you’re trying to hide things from the public. Especially important since it is due November 1, just days before the next election.
I can’t say she is lying but she is certainly wrong.
According to the Home Rule Charter 6-34B(a), the “proposed annual operating budget and capital spending program shall be public record, available for public inspection during regular business hours after submission to County Council.”
You would think someone on Council would be aware of the Home Rule Charter but when you look at the mess they made of County Government, maybe not.
Wally Nunn is the former Chairman of Delaware County Council.
Once again, wise and witty words from Wally on the wanton wastefulness and wiles of Delco Council.
Broad and Liberty has written lots of articles recently about Delco. These articles are invaluable.
Thank you, editors.
DelcoPops
Wally Nunn – Great article.
Have you seen that Luigi Mangione’s manifesto has been “leaked” in full? Geez. Some manifestos are more important than others.
Thomas Crooks, the man who on July 13, 2024 attempted to assassinate former U.S. President Donald Trump, who won the 2024 presidential election… what do we know about that specific situation?
Why is that? Seems carefully chosen and thoughtfully organized or presented.
Unlike this budget revenue.
I recommend listening to “Not Mad Enough” by Smith & Myers while watching “The Fall of Minneapolis” (Smith & Myers wrote their song as a homage – which is ironic.)
Great job calling out these liars in Delco.
Wally Nunn- I see taxes going up about 18% this year! Next year taxes will be about 5 to 7% which will come out not until after all elections, no more than what you did when you were in county council?
When I was in County council we did not raise taxes once. We did, however, reduce them once by 5%. Do your research and you will see I’m correct. Also, the council budget calls for a 23.8% tax in crease this year. Also as I point out in my article the have another 30+ million deficit they are covering up with nonrecurring funds. So next year another 15% or more. I do my homework you should try that yourself.
Wally as usual is correct but how many voters are getting this information.
How does the average voter get this critical information.
This information needs to be shared with all the voters of Delco along with what can be done by a new administration.to solve this problem. The Rs need to find good replacements for current Council members that are up for election and advertise they’re proposed actions to solve the spending problems.
Here’s what the author and the rest of the media (especially biased outlets like B&L) don’t want you to know: The average $185/year tax increase in delco is coming after the county board resisted ANY tax increases for 12 years! That’s despite inflation caused in large part by the failed trade wars and reckless spending under Trump which, according to the US Treasury, added a record shattering $7.8 TRILLION dollars to the national debt in only 4 years and committed to borrowing $8.4 Trillion over 10 years! (That’s about TWICE what Biden is borrowing over 10 years. Yikes!) No wonder we saw so much inflation in the years immediately following Trump’s term. And of course B&L will never share a perspective that goes against their political agenda so they “forgot” to include this quote but here’s how one of the council members put it: “There’s not a business in the entire world whether it’s profit, nonprofit or government that can operate for over a decade with no increase in revenue commensurate with inflation.” But don’t worry, going into Trump’s next term we already see **unelected corporate ruling class tech elite** Elon Musk calling the shots on spending just like he does over at X. And Twitter/X has *checks notes* plummeted 80% in value since he took it over!!! What could go wrong having someone like that and a guy who can’t even keep a casino from going bankrupt running our economy the way they run their businesses lol! Don’t be surprised if we see more tax hikes in the near future.
You may actually be more challenged intellectually than Will Bunch, though your writing styles are very similar. Would love to have a public debate with you.
You, apparently, are suffering from the same mental deficiencies as joey bidet. As well his profligate propensity for “fabrication”, i.e. lying. All while ignoring the economic catastrophe propagated by democrat governance over the past 4 years at least. Perhaps you have just awakened from a 4 year nap as has the media. But, you be you I suppose.