Ex-Supervisor: Why is Forks Debt So High?

In the beginning of every Forks Township Board of Supervisors meeting, township officials note the township's financial figures.

Supervisor Bob Egolf usually details those figures during his treasurer's report.

For the most part, the township's total oustanding debt has been reported in the $9 million range, with Egolf stating at the Dec. 20 supervisors meeting that the figure was $9,155,054.

For former supervisor Bonnie Nicholas, that figure is alarming.

Nicholas wonders why officials aren't taking the township's debt a little more seriously.

"How are we as a township $9 million in debt and not really worried?" Nicholas asked at the last supervisors meeting.

"The [Lehigh Northampton] Airport Authority is $6 million in debt and they're very worried," she said, referring to the authority's decision to investigate selling its properties to reduce its massive debt.

The Braden Airpark on Sullivan Trail is on that list.

Supervisors Chairman Erik Chuss and Finance Director Jim Farley both told Nicholas that the airport authority's debt is much higher and that it had to come up with $16 million in two years.

Forks Township officials passed a 2013 municipal budget that did not include a tax increase.

Nicholas said that was a bad move.

"If we did a quarter-mill every two years, we wouldn't be in this situation now," she said. "Why not increase taxes now and get it over and done with? We will get further in debt."