Letter to the editor: How to pay for services in Hempfield

The election is over, and the duly elected people in Hempfield have made it clear they want to grow the township. More parks and more people equal more traffic on roads, and more houses and buildings means the need for better public safety. So I do agree that at some point more money will be needed to fund these services.

But is a property tax a fair way to pay for these services? I don’t think so. A lot of entities — schools, churches, hospitals, government buildings, some businesses — don’t pay property taxes. Even some new developments get tax deferment for a set amount of time as an incentive to attract business to the county.

People who work at these buildings use all of the above services, as do people who own property or rent and don’t live in Hempfield. They still benefit from property taxes.

It is time to find a fairer tax that is shared by all who use government services. Everyone says government should run like a business. What business only charges some people? One that is not in business for long.

Todd Neptune

Hempfield