The Port Authority of Allegheny County has big financial problems and faces widespread service cuts and layoffs if it doesn't get its money situation under control. But Butler County shouldn't have to help PAT deal with its financial dilemma, and Gov. Ed Rendell deserves criticism for believing otherwise.

More troubling is the fact that even if this county were to give up highway money now to enable PAT to put off its day of reckoning, the Allegheny County transit agency probably would be facing a similar money crisis sometime next year.

Meanwhile, the highway money in question would be lost to this county forever.

Therefore, the 10-county regional planning agency Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission, which covers Butler County, should refuse to go along with Rendell's proposal.

The local money in question is about $20 million reserved for the stalled Route 228 improvement project. That money originally was allocated by the state in connection with a proposed Simon Property Group mall-construction project that didn't come about.

Although state officials stated in the past that the money could be allocated to other projects, bailing out the Port Authority doesn't really constitute a project. In reality, it would be only a band-aid to temporarily keep in check a spreading infection that requires major surgery — tough decisions and action by PAT to fix its problems for the long term.

By going along with Rendell, SPC would do this county a significant disservice. If the money can't be used on Route 228, then it should be redirected to another Butler County road project.

Rendell should look to other sources to help PAT, like saving money through cuts in the state bureaucracy and reining in state government waste.

When it meets Dec. 15, the commission should send a firm message to Rendell and the rest of Harrisburg that Butler County is not PAT's financial guardian angel.

The planning agency should resoundingly reject Rendell's shortsighted, thumb-in-the-dike bus service maneuver and then move on to other business.

Many people would consider impossible the prospect of a spaghetti dinner in a community of Zelienople's size raising nearly $50,000.They were proven wrong on Dec. 3 as such a dinner raised $48,796 for the proposed Zelienople Memorial Skate Park, which will be built at the borough's community park off Beaver Street.The skate facility will be built in honor of Trevor Barkley, an honorary Zelienople firefighter, and Sam Bucci and Elijah Lunsford, Zelienople junior firefighters. The three young men died Jan. 26 when the vehicle in which they were riding traveled into an icy lake just outside the borough and overturned.It had been Barkley's dream to have a skate park in the community.The skate facility also will honor Geoff Gutzwiller, a Seneca Valley School District graduate who was an avid skateboarder and who died at a young age.In an incredible show of support, 600 people turned out for the Dec. 3 dinner, which, including money raised through donation jars, realized $23,796.Meanwhile, in a display of great generosity, an anonymous donor more than matched the dinner money with a $25,000 gift toward the skate facility, which is estimated to cost $400,000.Judging from the Dec. 3 event, the remaining money needed is not beyond what can be expected to be collected. As part of the fundraising effort, engraved bricks that will be placed at the Zelienople Community Park are being sold, as well as T-shirts, engraved skate park mugs and a $10 discount card for local restaurants.Commendably, those leading the money-raising effort have the determination to make the effort a success.Information about the brick sale or other skate-park-related fundraising is available by calling Linda Gass at 724-368-9859 or by e-mailing her at zelie-memorialskatepark@yahoo.com.

Butler County's money managers have demonstrated solid investment judgment since May, helping the county's pension fund increase to $115 million from $105 million. In April and May, the fund lost $3 million, raising serious concern among county officials.According to information released earlier this month, for the quarter ending Sept. 30 the county's money managers exceeded industry benchmarks for investment returns.In December 2009, the fund totaled $104 million.The county retirement board pointed out that the current fund total continues an overall trend of continued growth since the 2007 low of $84 million. That is good news to retirees, current county employees, and also county taxpayers, who contributed $6.1 million to the fund this year and, according to the proposed 2011 county budget, will put in another $6.4 million.The county pension plan covers 403 retirees and beneficiaries. There are 771 current employees covered by the plan.The county pays out $415,000 a month in benefits.County money managers should work hard to keep the positive earnings trend on track in the months ahead.