Property Taxes Skyrocket as Spring-Ford School Board Passes Controversial $190.6M Budget Amid Heated Debates!

On Tuesday, the Spring-Ford School Board narrowly passed a $190.6 million budget with a 5-4 vote. The approved budget will trigger a property tax rise of 4.06 percent.

The increased tax translates to a 1.2054 mill rate hike, bringing the millage rate to 30.8766. For homeowners, this means a tax increment of $120.54 per $100,000 of home assessment.

Board members Colleen Zasowski, Dave Shafer, Margaret Wright, and Wendy Earle cast their votes against the decision.

This newly approved budget remains largely the same as the one the board postponed at its May 22 gathering, in hopes of identifying additional savings to cap the tax increase at 4 percent or lower. These savings efforts materialized during the June 13 finance committee meeting, but resulted in minimal budget cuts or savings.

The budget reductions from this meeting totalled approximately $1,500, according to Erin Crew, the District's Director of Communications, Marketing, and Media. Consequently, the tax increase slightly decreased from 4.0627 percent to 4.0623 percent.

Even after a month's delay and an extra meeting aimed at adjusting the figures, the board spent another 50 minutes in Tuesday’s meeting deliberating without making significant progress, as Board President Erica Hermans phrased it.

This back-and-forth included some tense exchanges among board members, especially between Zasowski and White, and Clinton Jackson, who chairs the finance committee. Jackson voiced his frustration with board members who remained passive for most of the year, only to voice their concerns when the tax increase exceeded 4 percent.

Jackson also argued that it was not the finance committee's duty to tutor a board member on budget matters, emphasizing that this was a responsibility that came with their appointment. He noted that the budget had been discussed in seven finance committee meetings and 14 full board meetings between November and June.

Zasowski countered that she had been active on the finance committee and rejected the notion that her concerns were last-minute. Wright mentioned her efforts to propose specific budget cutbacks, such as reducing grass cutting and snow removal expenses, but felt the committee dismissed her other suggestions, like using the district’s $300,000 reserve fund. She also criticized Clinton's approach, stating that his language was not constructive for the discussion.

Earle described the criticism towards the board for not suggesting budget cuts as "absolutely preposterous," arguing that it was not the board's duty.

Theresa Westwood, a resident and candidate for an open board seat from Region 2, encouraged the board to approve the budget before the vote. She commended the administration for decreasing the tax hike from an initial 6.42 percent to 4.06 percent.

Westwood asserted the need to invest in schools and suggested the board lobby for state-level school funding, given that local taxes fund 78 percent of Spring-Ford's budget.

Homeowners can check their home's assessed value on their tax bill or the Montgomery County, PA property record website.

Let us know what it is you want from Pottstown Local Scoop (Business, Crime, Deals, Events, Local News, Sports, Weather?)

CLICK HERE TO LET US KNOW!

Our Business Partners

Today’s Issue Sponsored By: Lead Bubble

In a world of artificiality and emerging technology, there’s something to be said about authenticity. Today, nearly everyone and every business has a website.

We’ve all heard that people do business with who they Know, Like and Trust. If we hold this to be true, today, more than ever before, it’s vital to grab the attention, establish trust and lead our website visitors to take an action, and there’s no better way to do that than with video!

Lead Bubble helps you do that. Lead Bubble is a website video widget that warmly welcomes website visitors and leads them to take an action that is important to you!

Whether you want your website visitor to call you directly, text you, answer FAQ’s, opt-in to get a free report or a coupon, Lead Bubble helps you do what you want, elegantly, all while building trust.

Head over to LeadBubble.io to experience it for yourself and get started today!

And if you run a Marketing Company, Website Design / Development Agency or you’re an entrepreneur interested in starting your own SaaS (Software as a Service) business with a goal to generate monthly recurring revenue, we offer a white label agency solution. Check it out, here!

Exposed! Ex-Teacher's Dark Secret Unveiled: Years of Grooming and Abuse Swept Under the Rug by School District!

An appellate court rejected an appeal from Stephen Eric Raught, a former teacher at Owen J. Roberts High School, against his conviction and prison sentence for inappropriate behavior with a student. Raught was convicted in 2021 for endangering the welfare of children and sentenced in 2022 to six to 23 months in prison, plus probation. He maintained his innocence throughout the case, claiming that the student, Maxwell "Max" Sinclair Louis, had lied about the incident.

Louis testified that Raught had groomed her over the years, gradually becoming a mentor and drawing her closer to him. Raught had been the subject of previous complaints about inappropriate behavior but no disciplinary action was taken against him. Several former students complained that the school district had done little to discourage his actions, leaving them at risk. Despite these prior complaints, the district's policies to respond to accusations of inappropriate behavior by teachers were not followed. The district later settled claims that they failed to protect Louis from Raught, though the terms of the settlement were not disclosed.

Amazon Trapped in Legal Firestorm! FTC Sues Over Alleged Deceptive Prime Subscriptions - Customers Misled?

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has filed a lawsuit against Amazon, accusing the company of enrolling consumers into its Prime program without their consent and making it difficult for them to cancel their subscriptions. The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, alleges that Amazon used deceptive designs, or "dark patterns," to trick consumers into joining the program. The FTC also claimed Amazon's leadership resisted changes that would simplify the cancellation process.

According to the FTC, these actions violate the FTC Act and the Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act. Amazon's Prime program, launched in 2005, boasts over 200 million members who pay for perks such as faster shipping and free returns.

The regulatory body, led by Big Tech critic Lina Khan, also accused Amazon of trying to obstruct the FTC's investigation into Prime, which began in 2021. The FTC's news release about the lawsuit mentions that it includes numerous allegations against Amazon, even though significant parts of it are redacted.

Amazon has been under intensified regulatory scrutiny as it continues to dominate e-commerce and ventures into other markets such as groceries and health care. Recently, the company agreed to pay a $25 million penalty to settle allegations of violating child privacy laws related to its Alexa voice assistant, along with $5.8 million in customer refunds for alleged privacy violations involving its Ring doorbell camera.

As of the lawsuit announcement, Amazon has not issued a response.

TooManyGames - 2023

TooManyGames: The ultimate gathering for enthusiasts of video games, board games, collectible card games, and tabletop gaming.

Mark your calendars for the much-anticipated TooManyGames event, scheduled for June 23rd to 25th, 2023. The event is a haven for gaming enthusiasts, renowned for its enormous marketplace, celebrated voice actors from top-notch gaming franchises, popular YouTube personalities, and a vast free play arcade.

TooManyGames isn't just about video games. It also hosts exciting board game and esports tournaments, and offers the chance to interact with notable guests from the gaming industry. You can also partake in informative panels, or join the lively LAN party.

The TooManyGames marketplace is a treasure trove for gaming aficionados and hobbyists alike. With over 100 vendors, it offers a wide range of products - from retro and new video games to board games, arts, crafts, and much more. Are you curious to discover all that TooManyGames has in store? Head out to TooManyGames this weekend and explore the multitude of gaming delights at The Philadelphia EXPO Center in Oaks PA

Upcoming Local Events

• TooManyGames - 2023 - June 23-25

• Midget Mayhem Wrestling Goes Wild! June 25th, 5-7PM EDT

• Electronics Recycling Collection @ Warwick Park, Chester County June 27, 9AM-1PM EDT

Got an upcoming event you want us to share?

Click Here to Let us Know About Your Upcoming Event

PHILLIES

Phils were rained out last evening and the game is postponed until September 11, 2023.

Philadelphia Union

Shock and Awe in Orlando: Union's José Martinez Scores Unbelievable Goal in Nail-Biting Match!

In an intense match against Orlando City SC, the Philadelphia Union managed a 2-2 stalemate. Despite returning to Philadelphia with a single point, the game was a spectacle, particularly notable for the spirited late-game performance from the Union's depleted team.

Post-match, Union's Head Coach Jim Curtin gave a media briefing about the encounter.

The standout moment of the match - and possibly the most unforgettable - was the spectacular last-minute goal by Union's midfielder José Martinez, affectionately known as 'El Brujo' among Union supporters. The 28-year-old Venezuelan scored his first MLS goal, leveling the score in the crucial final moments of the game.

In his four years with the Union, which began in 2020, 'El Brujo' had 86 attempts before successfully hitting the net. His persistent efforts and transformation into a game-changer on the field have made him a consistent starter for the team. The difference this time was the crucial point he finally added to the scoreboard.

Coach Curtin was all praises for Martinez, even going as far as to call him an all-star and the best 'six' in the league. He hailed Martinez's goal as a significant contribution, especially as it came at the end of the game against a formidable Orlando team.

Despite being down by two goals in the second half, the Union displayed commendable resilience. They powered through the deficit to secure the draw and gain a point. Coach Curtin lauded the team's unyielding spirit and believed that they were rightly rewarded for their persistence.

Both Orlando City SC and the Philadelphia Union had to modify their usual starting lineups due to the FIFA International Window, which led to several players from both sides missing the match. In a post-match discussion about this issue, Curtin was straightforward about his thoughts on how scheduling impacts games.

Curtin emphasized the fact that fans invest a lot of money in tickets to see the best players perform. He acknowledged the unique challenges of the season, which includes various tournaments such as the Champions League, regular season, Open Cup, and the upcoming Leagues Cup. He suggested that perhaps a different schedule could have been arranged for this match.

The Union anticipates the return of starting midfielder Daniel Gazdag from his international duties with the Hungarian National Team by the time they play their home game against Inter Miami on Saturday. However, defender Damion Lowe and keeper Andre Blake, both representing Jamaica, are expected to be abroad for a longer duration.

In conclusion, Curtin stressed the importance of showcasing the best players on the field, both for young fans and for those who have been supporting the club for a long time. He also highlighted the added advantage of playing in front of their home fans.

The Philadelphia Union is slated to play against Inter Miami CF at Subaru Park for the last time in June, on Saturday, June 24th. The match, part of Unity Night presented by WSFS Bank, is set to kick off at 7:30 PM ET. Tickets are extremely limited, but fans unable to secure a seat can watch the match with MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

We could use your help

We’ve got big plans as we get up to speed! But we need your help!

One huge way that you can help us is to spread the word for us.

Know somebody that lives in the the Pottstown Region and would benefit from keeping in the know?

Please share Pottstown Local Scoop with them! It’s simple! 👇👇👇