At its most recent meeting the Council, by unanimous vote, adopted Resolution 1977, which the Daily Times has failed to report, asking the Maryland General Assembly to allow the City to impose a bevy of new taxes. The vote as 3-0; Gary Comegys and Debbie Campbell were both absent. But Comegys can be counted as a "yea" vote.
In his role as president of the Maryland Municipal League, Comegys recently wrote to each town and city in Maryland, urging them to pass this resolution. With his letter is a discussion of "Municipal Funding Facts" that proposes that Salisbury and others could have the following:
Local option ("piggyback") tax, recordation & transfer taxes on deeds, building excise tax, hotel/motel tax, energy consumption tax and local restaurant ("food") tax
.
However, Ms. Campbell may be the Council’s sole dissenter – at the last work session she said "Our citizens are not in a position for us to hike taxes." Apparently Louise ("no new taxes") Smith feels otherwise, along with Ms. Shields, who in the past has opposed various fees and charges because of their effect on residents.
If you are a Salisbury resident or property owner, speak now or forever hold your peace -- at the Council’s next meeting (Oct. 12). Or as Paul Ellicott recently said, sell your property, if you can, and get out of Dodge ASAP.
And if you think that the Council can’t agree, here are the details.
30 comments:
These decisions are made at the PNC building downtown behind closed doors.
Pitchforks....torches....rope....maybe a vat of tar and a bag of feathers...some "old school" rejection of the constant raping and pillaging of the citizens.
I think I've heard enough, I'll be running for City Council in 2011...
Besides lower taxes (or at best in with the condition Salisbury is in no new taxes), a leveling/freezing of water sewer and trash fees, and someone willing to work toward a solution for the area's crime rate what else are city tax payers looking for? I know what I would like but its not about what I want. What do other Citizens and Business Owners want to see from their elected officals?
wi co it's time to take your city back.obsorb the city and be done with it.embaressment to county...
Salisbury is just like the state of Maryland,anti business I am looking to move my business from Salisbury to Delaware
This is insane. Rumor has it Gary Comegys has suffered not only from his cancer during the last many months but that he has suffered a minor strokes during the last few days and he's still on the Salisbury City Council and President of the Maryland Municipal League.
Just for the record, what was Cohen's vote?
Whats the hold up on the new cheif's??
When you have a Mayor who works full time teaching 3rd graders, how can he have time to make big decisions for Salisbury, appoint a Police or Fire Chief, and find time to be out and about among his constitutants.
Just look at the people running Salisbury - Jim, teaching - Gary, ill - Debbie attending classes out of town - Terry present but her vote doesn't count because - Shanie, voting in opposition and Louise, wonder where everyone is -
Salisbury wake up, get rid of the Mayor and Council for they only want to play at politics and scabble amongst themselves. Vote in folks that have a real interest in your city and the people who live here. I swear the whole bunch reminds me of Obama and his Czars, except the Czars are fueding with each other.
12:49 The answer is money. And Ireton will pay his chief whatever he wants.
I wonder if the Council will say as O'Malley's campaign says in its ads against Ehrlich: "They are fees, not taxes. They're not the same thing."
To the Mayor and City Council: No Mas! Thank-you for your service, although you are total failures.
Please allow someone with just a little bit of urgency and business sense take the helm before its too late.
Wow , maybe the revolt should start here in berryland.
Most of these guys are woodsman anyway.
Listen my children and you will hear of the midnight ride of Paul Revere
Who makes the decision for a councilman not suited for the job. Illness etc.
You can't blame Ireton work working his day job. The mayor's position only pays $25k per year thats embarrassing. As for the rest I could see this coming, for years people want more services, more police, more protection, better schools, more programs for kids to get 'em off the street, etc. But at the mere mention of raising taxes there is talk of storming city hall with a lynch mob.
I was thinking the other day about what I would want written in my obituary when I die.
I then thought about the city council people. What will be said about them in their obituary did they do what they could to promote Salisbury. Did they get along with other members. Did they accept payoffs for their vote? Did they do what is FAIR for the people. OR Did they lie cheat steal to get ahead for themselves.
Remember you cant take it with you.
It does make a difference How we are remembered!
3:43
If all the City of Salisbury and Wicomico County would do is "CUT THE FAT" from the budget then there would be enough for more services, more police, more protection, better schools, more programs for kids to get 'em off the street, etc. Tax increases are not needed.
no word on new cheif?
3:46 its the only thing that matters.
Anonymous said...
Whats the hold up on the new cheif's??
12:49 PM
He is trying to appoint a cute guy from with tats and earrings from Baltimore City who likes to expose himself in Ocean City. Birds of a Feather...
My question to them is have they lost their minds!!!! This is not a time for be asking for more, when so many are either unemployed or under employed! Wages are going down, I think they should also be willing to tow the line and take wage and benefit cuts as well until things improve.
Gary Comegys is just doing wrong and he needs to resign NOW. He would have a fit if anyone else did what he's doing and he would not hesitate to bring it up at each and every meeting either. Gary for once just do the right thing and resign. You stick to getting better, and let someone else tend to the city's business.
I have tried to warn people to flee and get out of the City of Salisbury.
I've tried and tried until my face is blue. The City of Salisbury is setout on a self destructive course to destroy the traditional way of life. The only thing they know to do is to increase taxes - and with that they will increase spending. They will continue to tax and spend until there is no one left to 'help life the pale'.
Between the WWT Plant liability and attorney's fees - it is a perfect storm for a municipal bankruptcy.
I encourage everyone to get out!
7:35 you wet pant liberal! Comegys going to save Salisbury from anarchy.
Ireton is a tea party favorite here in my neighborhood.
I'll tell you Terry Cohen's vote and what she said -- she voted yes and said the request was for flexibility and specifically noted how the ridiculous food tax was not going to fly in this town.
Anyone who would turn on Terry Cohen over this vote after all she has done to hold your taxes down can go to the Devil. That woman has fought her you know what off for you people.
No taxes, no fees -- nobody wants to pay for anything. I'm as conservative as they come, but anyone with a brain knows someone has to pay for cops.
I meet Cohen when she campaigned. She has kept her promise to be OUR voice and she has fought at great cost to herself and her family.
I'm ashamed to say I have not been out front to support her and Debbie Campbell. I will help however I can if she runs again.
Not that you backstabbers (which is not everyone here) deserve her. If I was her, I'd take her brains somewhere that every time one vote ticks someone off, they don't turn on you.
Gary Comegys would have tried to change to charter to get Cohen of Campbell thrown off the City Council if they faced a hardship like he is going through. Comegys, do the right thing and step down now.
8:11---
Are you serious or nuts?
Cohen voted yes, we want to have the power to do more taxes. Why would they want the power if not to use it, you can call that flexibility, but we the people call it tax & spend.
And for months she has been pushing for more and higher fees on residents, business firms and development.
"And for months she has been pushing for more and higher fees on residents, business firms and development."
8:50, are you a developer or a slumlord?
Cohen has not advocated for increased fees on residents.
People wanted growth to pay for growth. That is done through business fees.
She indicated on TV that she wouldn't support all those taxes. She has supported the business fees so our taxes wouldn't go up!
You're a liar and a mudslinger.
Hey, Joe, you've got an error in this report:
"However, Ms. Campbell may be the Council’s sole dissenter – at the last work session she said "Our citizens are not in a position for us to hike taxes." Apparently Louise ("no new taxes") Smith feels otherwise, along with Ms. Shields, who in the past has opposed various fees and charges because of their effect on residents."
Shanie Shields has never opposed various fees and charges because of their effect on residents. They are all business fees. She has opposed them because she is the landlords' and developers' buddy.
She had no problem supporting the huge tax hike we had which socked it to the residents.
Campbell and Cohen opposed that hike. Both have worked hard at trimming the fat. It looks like they are both opposing that fireboat boy-toy.
From reading the comments here, your post sounds like you are targeting Terry Cohen for booting out of office. Over this one vote? Why?
Again I explain:
These decisions are made in secrecy at the PNC building downtown.
Until you get that through your head (and understand the implications) you will not understand how our city's government works. You won't understand the fire department, the police department, the county dump, none of it.
PNC building - downtown.
Look into it - or rather into a backroom. Or just look at the face of the building. There are secrets hidden there
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