People across the US are flabbergasted their local governments are raising property taxes and making other decisions behind closed doors

Wed, 12/20/2023 - 12:25

a hand holds a phone recording a meeting in a small room with 4 people sitting at tables — Cheryl Geidner records the Volant Borough Council meeting on her phone at the borough building in Volant, Pennsylvania.
Tiffany Wolfe/New Castle News via AP

Some observers say there's a striking trend toward secrecy among local governments across the US.
From schools to county boards, public access to records and meetings in many states is going away.
One small town north of Pittsburgh raised property taxes by 57% without public discussion.

Cheryl Geidner figured council members in Volant, a tiny borough north of Pittsburgh, would adopt a preliminary year-end budget despite no discussions at public meetings on the proposed financials.

She never figured they'd raise property taxes by 57%.