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Town Meeting Held To Discuss Possible Layoffs In Newtown Twp.

NEWTOWN Twp., Pa. (CBS) -- Just days before the Holiday weekend a town in Bucks County held a town meeting to discuss budget plans which could include major layoffs.

In a tale of one city with too many budget problems, Newtown Township board supervisors held a town meeting to discuss new revelations that the township wants the police, EMS and municipal workers union to either make concessions on wages and benefits or face layoffs.

Several concerned residence used the platform to voice their concerns.

"To always try to balance a budget on the backs of the employees here, doing their works, is wrong," said a Newtown Township resident.

While the board of supervisors has considered increasing taxes to avoid cuts, the township says the average household could face a $47 a year increase, some residents say they would gladly pay that amount to deal with the townships debt.

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"Taxpayers conversely would need to pony up thirteen cents a day, I pulled into the 7-Eleven to get a cup of coffee the other day and I found thirteen cents lying on the ground."

Still others expressed concern over boosting taxes to level the debt.

"If it's only $47 a year I'm okay with that, but 80 percent, that's really bad. Which means that everyone of you has to take a hard look in the mirror."

"The goal of this board is not to do layoffs, but also the goal of this board, at least the consensus, is not to raise taxes on our residents who have seen their bonuses disappear, and who've lost their jobs," said Rob Cievro, Supervisors Chairman.

No votes were taken during the meeting, instead the board was treating is as a forum for the public to express concerns. The board will make a final decision at a later date.

Reported by Valerie Levesque, CBS 3

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