THE SCOOP: At the time of this year’s Oscars, we had some
questions about whether a former Bradford resident had received an
award that night. Eventually, we sorted out some of the information
about winner Burt Dalton and former Bradford resident Peter Daulton
– both in the film business.
Today, we hear from Peter Daulton himself: “RTS reaches
California. My parents sent me a copy of your March 3 column and I
wanted to thank Ray and Ruth Feura as well as Jackie Norton for
setting the record straight. I have been a member of Academy of
Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (the Oscars) since 2000 and I do
attend the awards ceremony most years.”
“I was in attendance last year when Burt Dalton won an Oscar for
best visual effects for Benjamin Button. While we are both in the
same branch of the Academy, we have never met but I must say the
work in that film was amazing.
“I’ve also directed two documentary short films that were shown
on PBS. Some of my best friends in the world are the people I grew
up with in Bradford. They know who they are – please tell them I
said ‘Hi.” And no – I have never seen Hollywood Helen on the Red
Carpet.”
IT’S TODAY: Tomorrow might be the deadline for filing income tax
forms, but today is the day Pennsylvanians can start working for
themselves rather than for the government.
This so-called Tax Freedom Day marks the point in the year at
which Pennsylvanians have worked enough to pay their federal, state
and local taxes. This year, like the last several, Pennsylvanians
will spend more of their income on taxes than on food, clothing,
and housing – combined.
In 2009, Pennsylvanians worked 104 days just to earn enough
money to pay off their total tax bill. Indeed, Pennsylvania’s
state and local taxes alone consume 10.2 percent of personal
income, or ,4,463 per individual.
This year, Tax Freedom Day falls earlier than it did in 2008 and
a full two weeks earlier than in 2007; however, the reasons for
this change are not positive. The recession has reduced tax
collections faster than income. Individuals have seen their incomes
decline, and have thus dropped into lower tax brackets; families
are spending and traveling less, thus paying less in sales, gas,
and tourism-related taxes.
