"As the state budget debate continues in Harrisburg, local communities, especially our urban areas, are already thinking about and working toward a new budget year in 2010. Close monitoring of our local year-to-date expenditures and budgeted revenues paints a bleak picture for next year. For the second year in a row, the City of York is expected to end the year with a million-dollar deficit and begin the new year holding our breath.

It doesn't have to be this way. The General Assembly could act favorably on a commonsense approach to local fiscal stability by giving us a tool to cut property taxes and help support critical funding for police and fire services.

House Bill 1858 gives counties the option to increase the sales tax by 1 percent. Philadelphia and Allegheny Counties have had this option for years. In fact, 40 states have enacted a local sales tax to support local communities. It is a fair way to help pay for services used by visitors and other "out of towners." For the complete opinion piece in the York Dispatch, please click here.