The Financial Expert Speaketh
POTTSTOWN, PA – On page A3 in today’s print edition of The Mercury, strategically placed between the start and conclusion of the article detailing the karmatic removal of Tom Hylton from the Pottstown Planning Commission, we find another “The Sky is Falling” paid advertisement from our favorite fringe political extremist sometimes known as the Pottstown Citizen for Responsible Government.
For those folks who smartly said no to more mercury poisoning (and have wisely canceled their subscriptions), here is today’s advertisement du jour:
Much as we try, we just can’t quit you Tom.
In today’s paid advertisement, Hylton, fresh off his character-defining non-appearance at Monday’s borough council meeting, tells us how he is leading the march to stop school district insolvency by just saying no.
Once again, we find it astonishing that Hylton, who has no degree or any kind of professional accreditation in finance or accounting, thinks he knows the financial cure-all for the district (even though he wanted to spend $15 million+ last year on windows and new heating systems for select elementary schools). Hylton has the chutzpa to rail on the “very expensive health plan” and “skyrocketing” pensions of the school district…but keep in mind that Hylton himself, through the pension of his retired Pottstown School District wife Frances, enjoys all the bells and whistles of that same “very expensive health plan” and “skyrocketing” pension he references in today’s advertisement. How about if the school district saves some big money by eliminating all those retirees who are sponging off the taxpayers? Now that would be a great way of saving some money!
While Hylton is neither a member of or an advisor to the President’s Task Force, we read that he still has his sights set on replacing our “worn out” elementary schools. Tell us Mr. Hylton…how much money would the taxpayers of Pottstown save with one consolidated elementary school…instead of five. You know…eliminating five times the teacher salaries/benefits…five times the heating and cooling costs…five times the maintenance costs…five times the amount of land.
Deep sixing the broken neighborhood schools system in Pottstown would do wonders to eliminate Hylton’s self-perceived hallucination of insolvency.
With all our problems, Tom Hylton’s asinine commentary is the last thing we need.
Could someone please tell us when he has ever been right before?
Could the warren buffet of ptown kindly explain what happened to the 121G that his almostnon profits received from the boro. Has there been any accounting of taxpayer monies? Since he is a genius on how to spend OPM tax monies. Five facilities costing vs. one or three it doesnt take a financial genius to figure out which is the true cost savings. Oh well we already do have that genius and hold on to your wallets.
Well done and thanks for this latest advertorial, SP!!
I find the crystal ball approach a bit unnerving. Everything we need for 15 million +/- dollars, really. Care to guarantee that, Mr. Hylton? How is it possible that he can make such a claim – things change a great deal in 20 years. It would seem to me that making other changes and reconfiguring have a better shot at standing up over 20 years (no crystal ball required).
Obviously, the taxpayers want no or little increase and more for their money. How does one go about fulfilling that wish while, potentially, making changes that are not just in the ‘underbellies’ of these buildings? While it is essential for future cost savings to change mechanicals it gives the average person little to smile about on a day-to-day basis…unlike something evident, shiny or new.
Wasn’t it also Mr. Hylton that wanted to apply for more money than he needed with his last proposal? In theory (knowing these numbers are radically different) isn;t that what the SB is suggesting. They aren’t saying they want to borrow that much – just have a safety net.
In looking at the agenda for the meeting tonight, the motion to the full SB comes from the Finance Comm. Chair, Dennis Wausnock. Does this say something? He also smartly suggests putting some money away for future payments to the PSERS fund. Is this reckless abandon?
We all know what we can’t afford BUT at times there are things worth sacrificing for. This could be one of those times. Just sayin’.
Ooops…meant agenda for the meeting tomorrow.
AND…I forgot to add that Mr. Hylton likes to point out the “reliabilty” of predictions Mrs. Adams makes with regard to the state money PSD will get this year but then drops the hammer on the fact that we won’t know until the budget actually passes. The point is uncertainty. This could be said about the way Mr. Hylton likes to use PDE enrollment numbers as “facts” but the reality is we don’t know if the predictions or trends put to paper are actually true until that school year arrives. We all, sometimes, have to make our best guess – why use these predictions as scare tactics? It’s just data.
The tone of his piece is “me against the school board”. I am the lone voice of reason. I alone want to protect the little people. The agenda item is to “approve the Resolution” and IF by vote this passes, then yes the SB will have the authority to borrow more than they currently do. Hello – the moey isn’t spend and no one is being duped, as Mr. Hylton seems to intimate. It is not astonishing that they do this it is merely planning ahead for a potential contingency.
Thank goodness these are just his thoughts and not that of the SB or the administration…
Oh, PUH-LEEEEZE!!!
Does anyone remember Hylton’s whining and foot stomping when he was about to be elected to the School Board in 2007? At that time, the much more progressive “former” school board had made arrangements to be able to borrow without going to referendum. When the voters ousted them from office, presumably because the voters didn’t want to move the town forward with a new elementary center, the outgoing board planned to let the ability to borrow that money expire. Afterall, it wasn’t needed. Right?
Hylton pitched fits and twisted nipples and foamed at the mouth until The Mercury editorialized about how wrong it would be to let that money go away. Now that the shoe is on the other foot, doesn’t Mr. Hylton sound pious and holier-than-thou? Give me a break. The articles are still on The Mercury’s website:
http://www.pottsmerc.com/articles/2007/09/19/past%20stories/19972024.txt
http://www.pottsmerc.com/articles/2007/08/11/past%20stories/19972701.txt?viewmode=fullstory
I’m sure there are more articles out there for anyone interested in getting up close and personal with Thomas Hylton’s hypocracy. To pull this crap proves once and for all that the man has no moral compass. He will say ANYTHING to get his way. His ethics are purely situational. If he is in total control, then it’s just and right that the ability to borrow be protected. If he is not getting his way, then he doesn’t want a nickle out there for those who dare to disagree with him.
The fact that there are still people in this world who listen to one word from that man’s mouth is a sad commentary on humanity.
It will be interesting to see if The Mercury editorializes on what a flaming A-hole Tom Hylton is for suggesting the School Board make its financial “balancing act even more difficult” or failing to maintain “integrity” to the “stated principles of fiscal prudence while leaving as an option an important tool for the future.”
That’s what The Mercury editors decreed when a prior board wanted to let a borrowing resolution expire:
http://www.pottsmerc.com/articles/2007/09/23/past%20stories/19971954.txt
Let’s see if they are any more morally consistent than their favorite son.
WAYFTP – You’re not serious? You expect The Mercury to take the higher ground and speak against their Favorite Son? C’mon.
As Hylton becomes systematically relegated to positions where he can “do no harm” it certainly seems that it would be in best interests of the Mercury to look for higher ground. Although, the very good, accurate and informative blogs tha thave sprung up in Pottstown are nicely filling the gap. in fact, they are doing an excellent job. The Mercury just may be sliding into 2nd or 4th place of their own volition.