Freshly sworn in for a second term, Wicomico County Executive Rick Pollitt now wants to get to work raising your taxes! Pollitt has asked the county’s legislative delegation to put forward enabling legislation for a fire district tax and excise taxes.
Excise taxes can come in MANY forms, and we’re not quite sure what Pollitt is looking for … other than more money to spend. One thing is for sure – Rick seems to have finally admitted to himself that the revenue cap is here to stay. Now he is looking for ways to get around it.
I have supported certain excise taxes on development. Pollitt could also ask for a sales tax on restaurant meals. As the saying goes – the devil is in the details. Unfortunately we don’t have those details yet. However, one thing is for sure … Rick Pollitt is looking for more ways to get more money to spend.
What makes this latest attempt particularly egregious is the fact that Pollitt refuses to restructure the county government. Wicomico County government must learn to function in a post revenue cap age. For four years Pollitt’s approach to governing has been to cut government expenditures (because he must operate under a balanced budget), but not re-structure so that he can grow government IF revenues rise. While Pollitt has appointed a “blue ribbon panel” to advise him on this, there has been not report to date. Perhaps an excise tax, or other form of tax, might be necessary. Sadly, by pushing for more taxes before he has put forward a plan to restructure the county government, Rick again shows himself to be someone who is more concerned with spending than in spending wisely.
17 comments:
Thats what you dumb people get!!!
A restaurant tax is one of the most regressive taxes that could be imposed. People have to eat.
Excise tax on alcohol...yes.
As a resident of Wicomico County I am appalled at any attempt to raise taxes. It is insulting that I am expected to pay more out of my ever shrinking paycheck to support unnecessary programs and employees of the County. For example, there is an employee at the County, Joe Arthur, who is overpaid and undereducated for the roll in which he serves. The County should tighten their belts even more to come in line with what the rest of us have been doing for years.
Grrrr. Ollinger was so close to beating him. I am so disappointed. 10:50 - I have been trying to shed a light on the Joe Arthur example for a while. Nobody wants to take responsibilty for his hire or salary designation. Its a total scam if you ask me.
Rick will not restructure County Government (get rid of his comrades) because without them Rick has an empty head and doesn't know which way to turn.
Gotta agree with 10:30...I didn't vote for him either. Hopefully, the republican-majority council (that we were able to elect/reelect) will keep him reigned in!
GA:
Tell Rick to consult Gary Comegys -- as the president of the Maryland Municipal League he's pushing for state legislation to allow the City of Salisbury to impose any tax that it wants.
And he can get Fineran to issue a press release about how much it's needed.
Charles Otto and Mike McDermott will stop this nonsense in the General Assembly even if Conway and Mathias won't.
And the new Council should get on record against Rick's foolishness and ask the county delegation to "just say no" to Pollitt.
I wonder what Mr. Pollitt will do if the state legislature passes the bill that will shift 50% of the cost of teacher pensions to the county. (That story is on Joe's blog). With the revenue cap in place, how in the world will our county be able to pay half of the teachers' pensions?
1:03....it won't. Watch this year's budget cycle closely. I think we are going to be very close to being unable to fund legally mandated government services. We got through last year by the skin of our teeth.
The revenue cap is but one issue. Incomes tax receipts are going to be down to last year and they are a very critical component of revenue for the county.
A third of the county's real property will be reassessed this year...you can expect property values to be down 25% to 30 % versus current assessed value....so the county's base will erode significantly.
The challenge to balance this budget is enormous.
What are you people in wicomico buying with your money? My taxes in Millersville Maryland are not much higher than yours yet our infrastructure is much larger than yours.
3:38, It hasn't been spent on infrastructure. Can't you tell? This county has relied totally on its share of Highway User Revenue from the state forever. Other counties supplemented this revenue with general fund dollars. The roads have clearly been put on the back burner, and play 2nd and 3rd fiddle to other departments. Maybe one day, the citizens will realize what it takes to build roads, and stop complaining all the time. If you don't want taxes, dont expect good infrastructure. You get what you pay for.
just like the city with lore chambers, rick needs to make cuts in administration staff. one or two of those 6 figure, heads of the school board could go also
it wasn't that long ago that it was discovered a ton of money walking out of county public works. think we forgot about that rick?
Did everyone just wake up? This clown has always governed this way. He's not smart enough to tackle the real problems with real solutions.
Why are we talking about this man? The citizens VOTED for this man. I don't want to hear anything he plans to do or want to do, good or bad. He's a politician. It's obvious, Pollitt is going to do what he wants to do regardless of what the citizens have to say. Stop giving him "attention" time on this blog. He's not worth it.
Just a good ole boy,
Never meanin' no harm...
I don't know about raising taxes but the Maryland state flag in the picture is upside down. Shame.
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