Cash-Strapped Reading Asks Judge For Help

Reading wants to be listed as a pauper to avoid filing court fees.

The cash-poor city of Reading has asked a Pennsylvania county judge to grant it status as a pauper to allow it to get out of filing court fees as it seeks to collect overdue taxes.
   
The Reading Eagle reports Solicitor Charles Younger filed the petition last week in Berks County Court.

The request covers all action in county court and before district judges.
   
Younger's petition says the city could file hundreds of actions to collect fees including back taxes and sewer and trash bills.

Such civil actions would cost $170 each to file.
   
The request proposes allowing the city to skip paying fees to file court actions as long as it is enrolled in the Act 47 program for struggle municipalities.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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