Politics & Government
Updated: Live Tweets From MontCo Budget Hearing
Defenders of threatened programs -- including Pottstown's Legal Aid office and MCCC -- are at the courthouse for a public hearing on the proposed 2012 budget.
Momentarily overshadowed Tuesday by the arrest of Montgomery County Commissioner James Matthews, the county's proposed 2012 budget retakes the spotlight today as defenders of threatened programs and services turn out in force for a public hearing.
The budget hearing is the key item on the Board of Commissioners agenda for its meeting this morning, the second-to-last meeting scheduled for the current board and the last before a final budget must be approved on Dec. 21.
Find out what's happening in Pottstownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Patch's David Powell is on the scene, filing live Tweets @MontcoPatch. Here's a sampling:
• It took three hours, but we have our first Hitler reference regarding the potential elimination of libraries: http://pic.twitter.com/dSh0BBxF
Find out what's happening in Pottstownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
• Castor explains that state money in county budget must be used on the programs the state specifies: http://pic.twitter.com/V2DBp55k
• Self-identified member of #OWS #Occupy movement calls proposed budget "cynical slap" at citizens, intended to "dumb down" & "control" them.
• Executive director of Legal Aid in southeast PA, Harvey Strauss, says Pottstown office would close if cuts proceed:http://pic.twitter.com/qcvyzaRx
• Hoeffel asks for show of hands supporting "modest" tax increase. Majority of hands in courtroom go up.
• Library director Kathleen Arnold-Yerger is emotional as she pleas to keep $2.4M funding ($3 per county resident).http://pic.twitter.com/SRw8rU9T
• Castor swipes at @ShapiroRichards:"When those who are running for office pledge that they won't raise taxes, this is 1 of the consequences."
• Pottstown's William Reynolds, criminal justice major at @MCCC, calls cuts to school "shortsighted." http://pic.twitter.com/b5gqPRsl
• Alana Mauger, @mccc Communications Director, tells the commissioners her personal story as an alum of school.http://pic.twitter.com/tpLs0Yc2
• Many @mccc students are here with signs touting college's benefits to the county.
• Castor: Spoke more w/Hoeffel yesterday than last 4 yrs combined. "Without violating the Sunshine Law," quips Hoeffel.
