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The Salisbury Kennel Club couldn't be happier Wednesday night when their financial representative started announcing numbers/results from their recent Show. To every one's surprise, the take at the gate was very similar, (shy by around $300.00) to the year before. Overall the numbers worked out and the Show was in fact a success.
However,
I think it's important for the Taxpayers of Wicomico County to know that each year, (at least under one contract reviewed) the County put in a clause stating there was an additional
10% Capitol Improvement Fee being added to the rent for improvements like a new roof, new floors, updating the Civic Center with improvements, yet none of that happened under previous years and they have been charging this increase anyway.
With the Sales Tax going up, room taxes increasing and simple rates in general going up, it's getting almost impossible for Shows like the Dog Show to continue. The idea is to make a profit and when you're a smaller non profit organization, this is difficult to achieve without increasing rates every year. Keep in mind, this is one of many small groups that rent the Civic Center.
That being said, this is exactly what the Salisbury Kennel Club has had to do and will in fact have to do again next year. They have been raising their entrance fees $1.00 per entry and it's only a matter of time before Dog Owners say enough is enough.
What's also important for everyone to understand locally is, this is the Eastern Shore. This is supposed to be the area in which Shows like this have a waiting list because it's so affordable. Our overhead is supposed to be much lower than Annapolis, Washington and so forth. I'm not saying the rates here aren't lower than other outside Cities, because they are lower. However, the increases, (especially like a 10% fee that wasn't used for what they claimed) are similar to those other major Cities and it's not making any sense.
If Salisbury & Wicomico County want to continue being the Gem of the Eastern Shore, they better start reconsidering their business plans for the future. I happen to know Rick Pollitt's Office is in fact interested in the outcome of these events but I have to seriously question that 10% Capitol Improvement fee? I also question their 18% fee for Hospitality/Food when this doesn't go back to the employees working at the Civic Center serving the food? The 10% and 18% fees are above and beyond the rent and food prices!
Before the County starts losing some serious revenue, someone better start looking into these figures and reconsider their promises. That New Roof has it's serious problems in the first place as they went to the State and collected some $2,000,000.00 to replace it and someone came in with a repair bill for $80,000.00 instead! The mere fact that over the years they thought it was going to be $2,000,000.00+, they were charging the people renting the Civic Center at a rate based on $2,000,000.00! Not only wasn't the roof replaced, neither was the floors and other major improvements the Civic Center told them they needed the additional 10% for. It's time to sharpen some pencil's in Wicomico County.
It's VERY important everyone know that this Post is about MY OPINION and NOT the opinion of the Salisbury Kennel Club. I speak ONLY for myself. I do know these people just love Salisbury and the support that was so obvious by the gate sales.
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