Bowling lovers not the one ones who ought to rejoice Hampton Lanes reopening _ Turkeys & Trophies
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TURKEYS
Pennsylvania Auditor Normal Timothy DeFoor appears to have a real and commendable curiosity in guaranteeing that faculty districts aren’t taking part in video games in terms of enacting tax hikes on property house owners, however his report this week criticizing the budgetary practices of 12 districts ignored essential details about the challenges districts face and unfairly implied wrongdoing on the a part of native faculty board members chargeable for passing budgets.
Among the many districts focused within the report had been Bethlehem Space and Northampton Space. DeFoor mentioned the findings from practically a yr of auditing work confirmed the districts used funds transfers for cash that had gone unspent to justify avoiding a possible taxpayer vote on elevating taxes.
He mentioned in addition they routinely requested and had been granted these referendum exceptions from the Pennsylvania Division of Training. That is authorized, by the way in which, however Defoor’s characterization of the practices suggests one thing unethical is amiss and that’s a stretch. Bethlehem Space Superintendent Joseph Roy accurately identified that making use of for a referendum exception is a accountable manner for a district to plan its funds early within the yr given the always-uncertain matter of state funding.
College districts and the state each have a authorized obligation to undertake a funds on the identical day, June 30. Which means districts haven’t any manner of discovering out what stage of state funding they’re going to obtain within the early phases of their funds planning. And receiving a referendum exception at that stage doesn’t imply the district will elevate taxes to the speed that the exception permits. In truth, within the case of Bethlehem Space, the district requested referendum exceptions in every of the 4 years audited however solely raised taxes in the course of the first two and never above the allowable fee, the audit discovered.
DeFoor’s efforts to advocate on behalf of taxpayers is admirable, particularly contemplating the regressive system of public faculty funding in Pennsylvania. Nonetheless, till the state Legislature enacts important reform, we’d desire that native faculty board members, not bureaucrats in Harrisburg, make the choices on spending of their communities. If taxpayers are displeased, there’s already a mechanism in place for motion to be taken. It’s known as an election.
TROPHIES
Jason Lauchnor, who owns Hampton Lanes together with his father, Karl, made a daring prediction after snow in February 2021 prompted the roof to break down on the standard bowling alley in Northampton. “Oh, we’re going to rebuild, and we’re going to have the largest and baddest bowling alley,” Jason mentioned.
However with a crippling pandemic properly underway and looming inflation that will drive up the prices of development, the plan to rebuild appeared overly formidable.
He mentioned final week that the work is lastly executed and deliberate to open for enterprise on Tuesday. New bowling facilities are uncommon today, and it’s a testomony to the Lauchnors’ dedication to the game that we now have one in our neighborhood. Longtime lehighvalleylive.com bowling columnist Dave Goodman described the brand new heart as “a murals and an immediate gem” for the trade.
Native bowling lovers are actually rejoicing, however we must always all be rejoicing. Healthful, partaking and inexpensive actions like bowling are generally arduous to seek out within the Lehigh Valley, significantly when the climate is dangerous. Hampton Lanes fills a void. We’d encourage those that haven’t picked up a bowling ball in years to pay the Lauchnors a go to and have some enjoyable.
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