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Monday, February 6, 2012

Harrisburg receiver: Sell city assets, cut budget, pay bonds

David Unkovic, the bond lawyer appointed by Gov. Tom Corbett's administration to reorganize Harrisburg's finances after the state capital city tried to file for bankruptcy protection, has issued this report on steps needed to keep the cash flowing from city coffers to bondholders.

The problem is worse than debt, Unkovic writes. So much Harrisburg property is controlled by the state or nonprofits that what's left does not produce enough taxes to fund city government and schools. Dauphin County should consider other taxes besides property taxes to fund Harrisburg government functions, he urges. He also calls for less-restrictive labor union contracts and privatizing services. 

Unkovic also notes the recent Harrisburg Authority forensic audit raises the possibility money could be recovered from some of the people who left Harrisburg broke. But it's too early to predict how much that could be, he notes.

Other highlights:

- the Harrisburg Authority and Harrisburg Parking Authority should look into selling or leasing city parking garages and the trash incinerator that got the city into this $300 million mess

- the Harrisburg Authority should also try to hire an outside firm to run the water, sewage and drainage systems

- Harrisburg should hire a fulltime Chief Operating Officer (apparently the Mayor, Manager, Treasurer, Receiver aren't enough)

- Balance the budget

- Sell assets, cut personnel and expenses, as the state has already recommended

Commonwealth Court "must conduct a hearing on the recovery plan within 30 days of receipt of the receiver’s plan and confirm a plan within 60 days of receipt." The mayor, city council president, governor, and Dauphin County commissioners will appoint an advisory committee to confirm the plan.

"For more information on Act 47, or to download a copy of the Receiver’s financial recovery plan, visit pa.gov/harrisburgreceiver or call 717-231-5558."

 
Posted by Joseph N. DiStefano @ 3:13 PM  Permalink | 3 comments
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:11 PM, 02/06/2012
    That's why landbanking in Philly doesn't work and the new uber-landbank will fail in a similar fashion -- it just holds property out of the paying property tax base indefinitely.

    It's time to sheriff sale some of this stuff for the unpaid liens, instead of raising water bills by one third, increasing property taxes, etc., here in Philly.
    — CleanupPhilly
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:12 PM, 02/06/2012
    People should just leave Harrisburg en masse, close down the municipal government as well as schools, courts, fire and PD. Let the politicians operate trash removal, security, snow plowing, on their own dime. Most people should leave as well, come to Philadelphia, run your businesses here.
    — Fernando08
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:23 AM, 02/07/2012
    Sounds like Philadelphia. Billions in unfunded pensions, eroding tax base, governments and not-for-profits taking properties off the tax rolls and enough deputy mayors to fret about it all.
    — Wilhelm Von Humboldt


3 comments
About Joseph N. DiStefano
Joseph N. DiStefano writes this blog to feed his PhillyDeals column in the Philadelphia Inquirer. Joe has been a member of Bloomberg LP’s New York Finance Team, wrote the book “Comcasted,” taught writing at St. Joseph’s University, and studied economics and history at Penn. Reach Joe at 215-854-5194 and JoeD@phillynews.com
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