Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Amtrak service between the eastern and western half of the state could disappear without funding from the Corbett administration. Corbett's game, but the state legislature still has to approve it.
These days, many of us can't imagine life without our cars, but this country was built on trains and rail service is still an integral travel tool for many Americans. A piece of that service may be in jeopardy in Pa. as Amtrak service on the Pennsylvania line is in dire need of funding. The line runs between New York City and Pittsburgh and provides the only rail service between Harrisburg and Pittsburgh, connecting the eastern and western halves of the state. According to the Pennsylvania Independent, Gov. Tom Corbett's administration has agreed to a $3.8 million annual funding package for the line, but the state Legislature will still have to approve the funds and that's not a lock. Audubon resident Jeff Mason is hoping to sway state …
Monday, April 22, 2013
County's budget in quarter one sounds safe.
Steady as she goes! After fighting rough fiscal seas for the past year featuring $10 million waves of deficit and deep troughs of deferred infrastructure maintenance, Montgomery County’s fiscal ship apparently has come through the worst of the storm and has entered calmer waters. That was the message the commissioners received when Chief Financial Officer Uri Monson delivered his first quarter report for 2013 at the bi-weekly commissioners’ meeting. Monson’s report had three significant highlights: • The county now projects an additional $2.6 million in surplus than was projected on top of the nearly $2.6 million in reserves set aside to grow the county’s fund balance. • This is the first year since 2007 that the fund balance would grow…
Thursday, February 28, 2013
As federal budget cuts loom, the school district has prepared ahead of time for worst-case scenario.
You can count the hours left on one hand. It is not likely Congress will suddenly stop sequestration cuts to the federal budget. One of the largest areas of concern for most Americans revolve around education and the public school systems. How could these changes really hit the local schools. According to a release from the White House, Pennsylvania will have to handle a lost of $26.4 million of funding for primary and secondary education. “[These cuts could be] putting around 360 teacher and aide jobs at risk,” said the release. “In addition, about 29,000 fewer students would be served and approximately 90 fewer schools would receive funding.” Will those same drastic cuts come to Methacton School District? The school’s officials say they …
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Shouldn't your bank encourage you to save, instead of costing you money every month?
A dollar here, $2.50 there. Some bank fees may not sound like much, but in the long term, they can seriously add up. Banks are in business to make money, and they do that by keeping some of yours. Some fees, like overdraft and return-check fees, are easy to spot and easy to avoid. Then there are others, like maintenance fees and debit card "swipe" fees. The American Bankers' Association estimates that the average "free" checking account costs customers about $300 a year in fees to maintain. Here are some tips on avoiding some of these fees, and for getting the most bang for your proverbial buck at the bank: Direct deposit - Some banks waive monthly fees for checking accounts when you sign up to have your employer automatically deposit your…
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Select the right health insurance coverage, and pay less.
Selecting a health care plan can be an overwhelming task, because the options and coverages can be seemingly endless. Which insurance company should you choose? How much of a deductible should you opt for? Is your current doctor "in network?" Which is better, a PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) or HMO (Health Maintenance Organization)? Consumer Reports has a guide to help you understand the different "managed care" options available, and to choose the best one for you. The features and differences are many. For example, if you don't want to have to worry about referrals and finding providers "in network," you may want to choose a PPO. With an HMO you might have to pay the full cost to see a provider out-of-network. Consider a plan's …
Saturday, January 12, 2013
The key to excellent car maintenance is to find a mechanic before your car has a problem.
The time to find a good mechanic is not when your car breaks down, or after an accident. In those cases, you'll be pressed for time and may be too stressed out to do the research and make a good decision. So the time is now, to think about searching for someone you can trust with your car. Start by asking friends and neighbors for their input. Where do they take their cars for service and repairs? How long have they gone there? What type of relationship do they have with the mechanics there? Would they recommend them? Why or why not? If the same business is mentioned more than once, give that one serious consideration. You can also check Mechanics Files on the Car Talk forums for mechanics recommendations. The database includes over 30,000…
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Take advantage of after-Christmas sales to save big for next year.
On Dec. 26, many retailers slashed the price of their Christmas goods, as well as many of the products they overstocked but didn't sell during the Christmas shopping rush. Their loss is your gain: You can save 50 to 75 percent, and in some cases even more, on gift wrap and decor for next Christmas, and consumer goods you can use now and all year long. Retailers slash prices on other goods this time of year, to encourage shoppers who received gift cards to get out and buy. So if you're not totally shopped out, here's a how-to guide on getting great post-Christmas deals: What to Buy Gift wrap - Wrapping paper, gift bags, tissue paper, gift tags, boxes, tape, ribbon, bows. Since it never goes bad, you can buy for next year and beyond. Also …
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Even if you haven't started your holiday shopping, there's still time to do it right.
When I first met my husband, he would spend Christmas Eve, along with throngs of other panicked shoppers, dashing through the mall and paying sticker price for whatever gifts were left on the racks. With some careful training, he now crosses off his list (me), much earlier in December, without a hint of the frazzled emergency of Christmases past. He has also learned how to spot a good deal - and avoid a bad one - and how to stick close to a budget. Now if only he would wrap his gifts instead of giving them in shopping bags... If you're like my husband in his earlier years, the thought of Christmas being just over a week away probably makes the breath catch in your throat and gives you a stomach ache. But you still have time to find great …
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Procrastinators rejoice: You can still find great deals buying gifts online, with free guaranteed Christmas Eve delivery.
Didn't get everything on your list on Black Friday or Cyber Monday? Not to worry, deals are still to be had. Free Shipping Day is coming, Dec. 17. On Free Shipping Day you'll find plenty pre-Christmas deals online, with free shipping with guaranteed delivery by Christmas Eve. Many stores who always offer free shipping will lower or eliminate the minimum purchase amounts required for free shipping. FreeShippingDay.com has a list of 1,173 merchants participating in Free Shipping Day this year, from Kohl's and Home Depot to Best Buy, Tiny Prints and Red Envelope. "Free Shipping Day makes procrastination possible," the website proclaims. You can try to plan ahead and put off making purchases from participating retailers until Free Shipping Day…
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Executives and clients of several social service organizations came before the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners at a public budget hearing on Thursday.
Faced with funding cuts that would result from the elimination of earmark grants in the county's proposed 2013 budget, representatives and clients of a number of Montgomery County social services organizations implored the county's board of commissioners Thursday morning to find a way to maintain the county's financial support for their operations. "You call this support an 'earmark.' We call it a lifeline," said Lilibet Coe, executive director of The Open Line, a Pennsburg-based agency that provides support services to low-income residents of the Upper Perkiomen area. Coe said the $27,800 that The Open Line stands to lose in 2013 was "a relatively small investment resulting in a very large impact." Harvey Strauss, co-executive director of…
jxjipper
10:03 pm on Tuesday, April 23, 2013
I don't think any Democrat Commissioner should even accept Marcellus Shale revenue because you all hate the idea of this exploration. You are accepting funds from the Evil Corbett to make you County solvent ?? Shame on all you anti-fracking hypocrites ie. anyone with a D after their multiple Voter Registration cards more ›