Butler Township and the City can expect to receive a financial “windfall” in the next few weeks. It’s a big deal! In the case of the township, the amount could be 12 times the taxes received in a single year. Twelve years of taxes all at once.

It’s like winning the lottery. What do you do with the money? Pay your bills! How long should it last? Who should benefit? If you die, how should the money be managed? All those new friends! The elected members of their respective municipalities have these and more options to consider.

The money comes with downsides, too. The Pennsylvania American Water Company has a $231 million investment to cover. The water company will charge their new customers for the investment. Sewer bills will go up. They will have no problem justifying a rate increase with the debt incurred.

Another issue is that the sewer authority served six municipalities, whereas only two will benefit from the sale. As with family inheritance, long-lasting hard feelings can occur. At one time, Cindy Davis of the township nurtured cooperation among the municipalities of the greater Butler community. Cindy left town, and that mission may have disappeared. Should the city fail, the surrounding townships will falter. Intergovernmental cooperation for fire protection, police protection and governmental administration should be a goal for this community.

Chas Tanner,

Butler