A Republican View: Shared Responsibility for Columbia’s Budget Woes
Columbia Borough faces a projected $1.1 million shortfall heading into 2026. Joe Lintner’s recent article frames this as a Republican-driven spending problem, but the facts tell a broader story: both Republicans and Democrats have overseen years of fiscal mismanagement that brought us here.
Overspending Is Bipartisan
- Heather Zink, the current council president, admitted that service costs have “gone up exponentially” while revenue options remain limited. That’s true—but it’s also incomplete.
- Former managers like Norm Meiskey and Rebecca Denlinger repeatedly warned council about overspending on staff and capital projects. These warnings were ignored by councils composed of both parties, not just Republicans.
- Sharon Litner, a Democrat, sat on council during years when reserves were drained and taxes raised. To suggest Republicans alone drove this erosion of fiscal stability is misleading.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
- In 2017 and 2018, Columbia overspent by nearly $2.5 million combined, forcing tax hikes that hit seniors and working families hardest.
- By 2022, the borough had to borrow $1.358 million from reserves to balance the budget, leaving cash assets down by $1.8 million in just one year.
- Costly projects like the Market House ($150,000 annually) and Columbia Crossing ($75,000 annually, plus $400,000 in repairs) continue to drain taxpayer dollars without generating sustainable revenue.
The Real Issue: Fiscal Discipline, Not Party Labels
Republicans have long argued that Columbia doesn’t have a revenue problem—it has a spending problem. That point remains valid. But it’s equally true that Democrats on council supported the same budgets, the same hires, and the same capital projects.
This is not a partisan failure—it’s a cultural one. Borough leadership has consistently blurred the line between “must-have” and “nice-to-have,” funding projects without clear long-term plans.
Moving Forward
- Restructuring staff costs and limiting new hires must be prioritized.
- Selling unused properties like the wastewater plant and firehouse should be expedited to reduce debt.
- Transparency in livestreams and audits must be restored so taxpayers can hold all council members accountable.
Conclusion
Joe Lintner is right to highlight overspending, but wrong to pin it solely on Republicans. The record shows Democrats shared responsibility for draining reserves, raising taxes, and ignoring repeated warnings. Columbia’s fiscal crisis is bipartisan—and fixing it will require both parties to finally embrace restraint, accountability, and respect for taxpayers.
