Salisbury and Wicomico County, On Its Way To Socialism?

Nobody wants to talk about it--it's a taboo subject--but you can see the

Earliest stages of Socialism right here in Wicomico County. There are examples all around us. Vacant "free enterprise" buildings taken over by various local government entities. It's been done slowly over time, in order not to alarm the average taxpayer. Unchecked, this governmental intervention will cause departmental budgets to increase at an exponential rate whereby the only way to keep the "machine" going is to assess average taxpayers to make up the difference using every method imaginable. Usually they target the small guy who has little or no voice and fewer financial resources to defend him/her. They're trying to find any way to fee us, license us, and tax us to make up the difference of their ever-increasing budgets. It's an equation that cannot be solved without higher taxation.

Look at the Facts:

FACT

Buildings that have been occupied by government entities in recent years: Service Merchandise Building (Mount Hermon Rd.), Lowes Building (Old Ocean City Rd.), JC Penny's Building (Main St.), Thrift Drug Store (Waverly Shopping Ctr.), Trailways Building (East Main Street), E.S. Adkins Building (North Salisbury Blvd.), Smullen Pool & Spa Building (East Main St.), Ace Hardware (Mt. Hermon Rd.), Purity Bacon Building (South Division Street), Allenwood Shopping Center (Rt. 13), Shoreline Office Supply (Bateman Street), and several other residential properties recently condemned on Fooks Road near the airport. These buildings have not only been taken over by government, but they have been removed from our assessable tax base, and are not generating any real property tax revenues.

FACT

While the average taxpayer is off working in order to make ends meet, SPECIAL INTEREST, is working hard to circumvent the process by excluding themselves from the contributing to the public coffers. Some of these special interest groups actually sponsored legislation to exclude themselves - School Teachers - from paying any real estate taxes on their own homes while increasing the tax burden on ordinary taxpaying folks. – (HB 965 – EXEMPTION FOR SCHOOL TEACHERS) But that wasn’t enough, the very next legislative session they tried again and this time they included OTHER ELITE GROUPS - School Teachers, Law Enforcement, and Fire Fighters in the proposed bill – (HB 197 – PROPERTY TAX CREDIT SCHOOL TEACHERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, FIREFIGHTERS).

FACT

Wicomico County experienced the largest tax increase--24%--in the history of our County government. This was just the beginning before the 2% revenue cap was passed by referendum by a majority vote.

FACT

Wicomico County imposes $5,250.00 impact fee on all newly constructed single family dwellings. Most municipalities have followed suit – (Fruitland - $5000.00, Pittsville - $10,000, and other locals are following the trend).

FACT

Initially the majority of former Wicomico County council members voted to expand and build a "Prison for Profit" to incarcerate immigrants to the tune of approximately 22 million dollars. Fortunately, for taxpayers, the council reconsidered their action and decided to scrap the proposal. However, taxpayers were burdened and saddled with the cost of the frivolous conceptual Architectural & Engineering process.

FACT

Each year since 1977 in Wicomico County and other Maryland Counties hundreds of acres of farmland have been taken over by the government as the State purchases the land development rights – (Agriculture Preservation Act) - in order to preserve the land in perpetuity for agriculture use. This forces homebuyers into densely populated city limits, and thus limiting their homebuilding options. Never again, can each succeeding generation purchase a piece of this land for purpose of building his or her dream home. Clearly this is a form of US COMMUNISM.

FACT

While our local government budgets are increasing, we are losing some our largest tax base contributors such as Dresser, Campbell Soup, Crown Cork & Seal, Duo Sofa, Field Container, Shawnee Homes, among many others. This is partially due to higher local taxes, NAFTA, and GATT.

So when your local and regional commerce officials tout that they are doing wonders in promoting the business climate for our area, think again, and be mindful of what has actually transpired? The FACTS speak for themselves.

Johnnie Miller