Mistake Overpaid 17 School Systems
By Daniel de Vise
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, January 12, 2009;
Page B01
As fiscal flubs go, this was a doozy. An error of simple addition in late 2007 threw off a government estimate of Montgomery County property wealth by $16 billion -- an amount equivalent to the gross domestic product of Jordan -- and spread, viruslike, through the budgets of at least 18 counties before it was corrected.
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14 comments:
Our government at work , God
help us with this type of
leadership!!
Does Pam Oland's sister work there?
With the Democrats in control, it is just an honest error.
If Republicans were in control, there would be investigations and indictments.
GOSH! I'm sorry! I promise to fix it for next year! Meanwhile, pay your overpriced taxes.
Md.gov
I am shocked that Wicomico County didn't take advantage of this 'new math'.
This didn't cost Maryland a darn thing.
If you make a mistake on your checkbook, have you lost any money? No. You just thought you had more money, but you didn't actually lose anything...
Tax is the biggest waste of money ever. We, the People, should mandate that no more than 15% of our income in aggregate should be allotted to taxes. When I started working in 1970, tax was a mere pittance of my income, but it still sucked.
5;27, Figure that math into your next tax bill, and just pay what you think you owe. Then, bend over, put fingers in ear, and wait for the fines and interest until your lawyer fees exceed your tax savings.
I made a "math error" on my last Maryland taxes. It was really's H&R Block's software screw up. Seems I under paid my taxes by $4.00 in Feb 08. In July '08 I got a bill from the comptroller for $900 in back taxes and fines, hell they charged $200 for them to redo my taxes, BASTARDS
Yet another example of people making mistakes---huge mistakes----and who has to pay the price?
I get sicker by the day. It feels like it really doesn't pay to try and be responsible. Complacency, poor work habits and no checks and balances are the characteristics that are rampant throughout our society in all types and all levels of business and government. Why is this stuff allowed to happen without consequence? Because we can always suck some more money out of the powerless taxpaying citizens.
I am getting my fill of Maryland, too. High taxes, not business friendly, not retirement friendly, high fees for everything--licenses for driving and professions are ridiculous. 500 dollars for a license to practice massage therapy. A nursing license doesn't even cost anywhere near that much. A good portion of our taxes on the eastern shore subsidize the western shore's interests.
Stick a fork in me--I am just about done.
Nalagirl
6:08 says "A good portion of our taxes on the eastern shore subsidize the western shore's interests."
Sorry. That's just not right. The money flows the other way...
p.s. ...and Maryland is really great. But you've got to live elsewhere for a while to appreciate it.
6:08 not exactly accurate on that claim. Many small towns far exceed the benefits of tax money collected. The population ratio between western MD and the shore is great yet per person equations do not match up to the claim you are suggesting. Floating docks are a luxury not a need, yet a certain town over here was granted a hefty sum of money to have them put in. This same town has also been granted money for a water system that people cannot drink from because the chemicals are so harsh they ruin clothes. BUT no one makes a stink because they don't want to tick anyone off and then when someone does try to get an agency in to investigate nothing is ever done.
Get facts before you make assumptions, because you are way off base on that one. Children on the western shore are given "A" book for each class, not a book for school and one to take home like they are given in some areas over here. There are a lot of "extras" thrown this way so start checking into it. Just like the solar panel grants for farmers, it's there they just chose not to use it.
And people want the government to cover health care? Ridiculous.
8:45PM,
If you look at the per capita state revenue, and the per state expenditures by county, you will see that the counties on the Eastern Shore make out pretty well.
This is also the same as seen on the national level where the red states are net recipients of funds, while the blue states are paying the bills.
You may not like how the state money is being spent in Wicomico county, but rest assured, that much of it comes from taxes paid by the hard working people of Montgomery County.
And your "many small town far exceed..." comment forgets the fact that maintaining all of the roads to these very small towns adds up to a lot of money. Sure the money didn't go directly to the town, but the infrastructure expenditures do make these small towns more livable.
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