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Thursday, March 10, 2011

PUTTING WICOMICO COUNTY’S “17% GROWTH” IN PERSPECTIVE

Certain Wicomico County officials, such as the “public information officer,” are hyping the County’s population growth rate between the latest census and the prior one – 17% in toto, or an average rate of about 1.6% per year -- which is generally considered moderate. It puts the County in middle of the top half – 7th -- of the 24 jurisdictions in a state that did not have much growth during the 10 year period. By way of comparison, two counties in Delaware, Sussex and Kent, had more than 25% population increase during that same period, which is an average in excess of 2% each year. Thus, Wicomico is no longer the dynamo of the Eastern Shore, nor has it been for at least 25 years, which the Greater Salisbury Committee and Daily Times can’t or won’t accept as obvious reality.

A disturbing aspect of the increased population in Wicomico County is its less than desirable nature, which they also refuse to accept. Consider some of the prime components – the increased student enrollment at Salisbury University, increase in rent subsidy/section 8 apartments, relatives who want to be near a family member serving time at ECI – much of which has occurred in the City of Salisbury. No doubt some of these aspects also occurred in the two Delaware Counties mentioned above, but they also have greater job creation in the private sector and are much more attractive for retirees and others who want to relocate, which accounts for their higher growth rates.

Folks, despite the 17% increase in population, it ain’t a pretty picture when you look around the neighborhood to get a glimpse of what it consists of.

12 comments:

  1. unfortunatly the "leaders" in wicomico county don't understand basic economics 101. we have always been lukewarm to hostile to the business community. this is not the way to bring in new businesses and expand existing businesses. all the leaders need to take a look at other cities, counties and regions that are growing and expanding in a positive way and learn from this.
    one of the examples is the city of pocomoke. mr. mcdermott did a great job there as mayor and that city did a complete turn around in a very negative economy.

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  2. 17% population growth, must be the bloods and other gangs coming in from baltimore and the illegals from PG county! yeah now there's progress for ya!

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  3. Can you imagine a CEO's reaction upon meeting Mayor Barrie or Jim-Beau -- "I'm outta here".

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  4. OMGosh 12:45 you hit the nail on the head.

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  5. Economics 101: Increase your population by 17% but decrease your budget.

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  6. I've talked with some people who were in charge of some of the census operations. It's a joke and not even close to being acurate , another government screw up.

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  7. 3:20

    You are wrong - Wicomico's budget has never diminished. When the Revenue Cap was implemented our budget was almost 98 million. The last budget I saw in Wicomico was about 120 million. It might be even higher than that.

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  8. 3:20 stands corrected.

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  9. "...increase in rent subsidy/section 8 apartments, relatives who want to be near a family member serving time at ECI – much of which has occurred in the City of Salisbury."
    I am afraid Joe you are right. We have a lot of houses and we pay taxes to landlords this way. I have met a family from Cambridge who is renting a house from Cannon for $900 a month which we pay (section 8). This is where SAPOA is going and landlords do not need or want to move to the city.
    I am just curious how many illegally converted single family houses are used for section 8. I bet nobody cares.
    SAPOA have been systematically destroying the city.
    As for SU students, if they do not live here they should have been listed where their permanent address was at the time of census.

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  10. The growth is .3 percent less then the pervious two decades. Far less then the anit-development in rural area people such as the so called Young Farmers, Wicomico County Enviromental Trust and DPI projected. Those guy were predicting 5 to 8 % growth per year.

    We need some growth especially in the rural area's such as Nantiocke and Bivalve. Can't even keep a store open there. Large landowerns such as the Richardson's, Layfields, on the East side, Moore's and Coopers near Allen and Guy's, Phillips, Calloway, and Wrights on the West side don't sell lots so there is not much growth in the rural area's. People like myself can't afford to buy lots in the County.
    My children moved out of the area to Southern Maryland where they could afford to buy rural area lots. Want a little quality growth got to have something to keep them here.

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  11. Yes, Grey Hound bus New York - Salisbury to Miami and back is the best way to transport drugs. No problems with I-95 police patrols. Works great for gangs etc.

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  12. The county doesn't need growth because it can't generate the revenue to support more growth. The revenue can increase by 2%, and your population is increasing at nearly that rate. It doesn't account for natural increases that we all face. The county won't be able to sustain new growth without being able to collect the revenue that the new growth should provide. If you look at Wicomico Counties population, it costs less to live here per person than anywhere around. You all complain about taxes, when you have nothing to complain about. Atleast in Wicomico. If you move to Delaware or other Maryland Counties you may have something to complain about. Also, if it is that bad, why don't you move. There are many roads that go in all directions.

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