This week’s “community forum” on the future of the tax revenue cap was very revealing. With the smoothness of a snake oil salesmen, Wayne Strausburg presented a barrage of data to support the notion that the tax burden on Wicomico County residents is low when compared to the other Eastern Shore counties, including those with much greater wealth (per capita), such as Talbot and Worcester.
Although he slickly sidestepped saying whether he would change or terminate the County’s tax revenue cap, it was obvious that he wants to substantially change or even eliminate the cap. Strausburg proposed major restructuring of the County’s tax revenue sources by reducing the “piggy-back” income tax significantly. That sounds great and will certainly be supported by some yokels, but it’s really snake oil made to look like champagne.
Because (as Strausburg also said) Wicomico County needs more total revenue, if its income tax rate – and, therefore, receipts from that tax – are reduced, how would the additional revenue be raised. That’s right, mostly from higher property taxes, by raising the tax rate. Ergo, Strausburg’s scheme would require killing or mortally wounding the tax revenue cap.
The property tax is much more regressive than the income tax, so the restructuring that Mr. Strausburg wants would hit most of us much harder than the more affluent (including him -?). And it would impact homeowners much more than renters. Plus, because of the lower assessed value of homes, the impact of his scheme on many residents, both owners and renters, could be catastrophic.
Hopefully, it won’t see the light of day – but don’t count on that because the Daily Times will be trumpeting it as the thing to do.
PS – wanna buy some champagne that smells sorta funny?
32 comments:
Well, get ready for more people losing their homes. We are struggling just to pay our current tax. Eliminate dead weight! Increasing taxes to pad the pockets of unnecessary jobs is a joke. The people proposing tax increases must have the money to pay it. They are not taking into account that most people are in a day to day struggle.
He is a RINO!
He should be removed from that Charter Review Commission.
BTW, who appointed him??
If Fineran ever retires, Pollitt's next "public information officer" will probably be Pretl.
EVERYONE; keep you eye on this. DON'T let this happen.....
It sounds like the nut under the shell trick-shuffle them around so it seems like their coming up with new sources of money but NOT-its just another tax increase!
Here's what the state does with tax money-Ocean City has the teachers conference all weekend and I wonder how many people are actually paying for anything!
I attended that meeting. What I took away from it was there needs to be a restructing of the county's revenue streams or an unprecedented cut in county services, including education.
The piece that's missing is a look at the ability of the citizens(taypayers)in the county to pay for services.
I saw where cuts were already made to all department and learned the state is shifting some expenses to the county.
So, what's the answer to this. I don't like living in a community without quality services. Do we just limit when the Sheriff's Office works, our firemen, and so, on?
I think the citizens need to look at reality, and soon. And, no I'm not a liberal. I'm just being realistic about a lurking problem.
The voters of Wicomico County voted this tax cap into law and only the voters can repeal the tax cap, not Strausburg!
Strausburg is the guy that owns Bay Country on north Salisbury Blvd. Not a very good place to eat other than the chicken and the service is terrible.
Anonymous said...
Here's what the state does with tax money-Ocean City has the teachers conference all weekend and I wonder how many people are actually paying for anything!
October 22, 2011 1:49 PM
That is a poorly constructed sentence. WTH are you trying to say?
As a single parent I can honestly say I am living from pay check to pay check and I bet I am not the only one that is in this same struggle.
First of all Strausburg is a democrat and a very conservative one at that. He is a man of honor and while I attended the meeting also Thursday night, I didn't hear either one of the gentlemen lobby to get rid of the revenue cap. Both spoke truths of the financial condition of the county which is bleak at best. Stop denying the truth.
Stand up people. Put an end to revenue cap. It is killing our area!!!
Many did not understand it years ago. I say we put it on a referendum and lets see what the majority says this time. I bet it would be a different result this time.
Tax and spend.......
To 2:15
I agree it is a lurking problem - problem is - very little can be done about it as it is going on nationwide.
Nobody wants to admit it - but our nation went from a thriving free enterprise economy and evolved into a complete Socialistic culture. There are virtually no industries left to help spread out the economic base. What we have left is governmental machinery that adds nothing but keeps taking from the eonomic base. It is a no-win situation and it is going on virtually everywhere across the nation.
This all started in about 1983 and what you are presently witnessing is pure Socialism. I hate to say this - but I believe it is going to get worse. Soon - riots like in Greece and Italy will be right among us.
7:13
That is exactly why Obama's latest job plan is a disaster. What Obama wants to do is allocate even more deficit money to fund - guess who - MORE GOVERNMENT WORKERS. He has already stated that he wants the proceeds to go to schoolteachers and firefighters.
Problem is - he has abandoned the Free Enterprise base. I believe you are right - it is going to get much worse. Soon Wicomico's budget is going to drop below 100 million as the recession deepens. Remember it wasn't all that long ago that Wicomico's budget was at 130 million.
there are communites across the nation who are doing well; even during this recession/depression. i think it takes inginuity; vision and creativity. problem is we have people in leadership that don't seem to have these qualities. they need to research this type of info for themselves. it takes hard work to search out success and get results.
most of america and the world for that matter is suffering under these socialistic governments. i never thought we would go so far down this road; but we have. prayerfully the next election will help get us turned around. i don't believe "our help and answers" come from the government; only from G_d, but because we live in a republic we need to do what we can; and trust G_d to do the rest.
As I am sitting here reading all of the posts, I have to just wonder....a lot of people are against paying taxes, funding essential services, in favor of cutting education spending, and on and on. My rhetorical question is this: just how is this all going to realistically happen. Let me share a thought from my crystal ball...against paying more taxes: can you envision a scenario where we do just that. VOICE returns to center stage, the tax cap remains, and as a result, the second largest police agency (behind the MD state police), the WIcomico County Sheriff's Department, is strained beyond it's already dwindling resources, as we see a resurgence of crime locally never seen before...cutting spending ("cutting the fat" seems to be the quote de jour) in the WCBOE...imagine class sizes in the lower to mid 30s for elementary classes (this is starting to occur now - ask around regarding the number of K classes at 27 and 28 students) and quality teachers leaving because for this reason, salary concerns and the like...imagine cuts to EMS...ask any local firefighter or EMS personnel about their already overworked hours.....now, I'm not a police officer, a teacher, or linked to EMS....I am a retired software analyst, and in my former profession, I was charged with the responsibility to essentially make more work with less...I'm afraid that I don't have any answers to the above questions, but I do have a suggestion....maybe instead of so many folks advocating cuts coming from anyplace other than their particular endeavor of interest (please, no more "cut the fat" posts - you sound moronic when you say that), can we instead ban together to look to the future of our children, and their children. All I am seeing and hearing seem to be quite shortsighted posts from many of the readership, and quite a bit of blame. Maybe, just maybe, there is a blended answer that challenges conventional wisdom, bends in a lot of areas (that means you too Dr. F, along with the BOE, and likewise VOICE), and meets the needs of the 21st century in Wicomico county.......hmmm....maybe I'm just too old to understand the real issues here...Joe, thanks for the space and time to post a feeble old man's ramblings.
Joe, here is a great post for you to do. Now that everyone has stated their position on the PTRC, and most (on here) want to keep it, how about a post where they can give their ideas on how to improve our roads, schools, etc. while keeping the restrictive cap. This will give them a chance to be part of the solution, and not just complainers. Lets not use phrases like "cut the fat", "cut the pio", because realistically, there aint much if any fat in the county. There cant be after losing 14 million dollars in 3 years. And the PIO position, although I agree it should go, probably wont and doesn't account for much in the broad scheme of things. Just a little fun fact for some of you, did you know that the PIO position has been in place WAY before Pollitt came in office? Why was nobody screaming about it 10 or 15 years ago? So let's hear some ideas and try to be part of the solution rather than the problem. I will bet you get none Joe. People only want to complain.
Virtually all US State & local governments have exhausted their resources when they changed from a free enterprise base into a socialist base.
Just like the ghost towns of the west after all of the silver and gold were exhausted.
The federal, state, & local bureaucracies are now feeding on themselves - (self consuming). This is what you are now witnessing.
To 8:21 - It is a no-brainer from my vantage point. The career politicians can't see that they have killed the goose that laid the golden egg. Now there is no base left but they themselves -(governmental entities). Soon they will consume each other.
Joe Ollinger has been making his appearance at different locations quite frequently lately. You can bet he is planning on running for County Executive again. Ollinger is a RINO, he is a fake. He is only saying what he thinks the people want to hear. If he was a true Republican he wouldn't be associating with the likes of Pretyl.
What needs to be remembered here is that this meeting was arranged by the neighorhood congress a group that Pollitt initiated. he is now (as he planned) using this to support his tax and spend agenda. As was observed at the meeting many of Pollitt's staff was present no doupt they will get comp time another waste of taxpayer's money. Pollitt spent his first four years trying to rid the county of the evil cap and he failed as he failed in everything else. So it looks as if were are entering round two, what will be interesting is to see which county county members drink Pollitt's Strusberg's and Pretal's cool aid.
Pollitt's PIO has cost the taxpayers over FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS in salary and benefits since Pollitt's been in office. It has been said he his planning to retire in Dec. with full benifits. SUCKERS
Living large in Delaware
8:55-
BIMGO
That "neighborhood congress" run by his pal Pretl is just a committee to reelect Pollitt. It should be called "CREEP"
Anonymous said...
To 8:21 - It is a no-brainer from my vantage point. The career politicians can't see that they have killed the goose that laid the golden egg. Now there is no base left but they themselves -(governmental entities). Soon they will consume each other.
BRAVO! BRAVO! BRAVO!
We can sit here all week and play the blame game. Ya, it's the elected leaders fault--who are you talking about? Obama, Pollitt, O'Malley, etc? Let's try and fix our backyard--Wicomico County, and then worry about the other area's when it's election time.
I, too, would like to hear what suggestion some have other than "cut the fat". So go at it.
To 11:48
I agree with you to. Even the local Universities, Educational institutions and business entities should be able to see the handwriting on the wall. Just look at the governmental facility expansion spread across Wicomico. Government facility growth has continued to expand even during this deep recession - (i.e. Tri County Council facilities, Civic Center, SU - MAMMOTH EXPANSION) - while private enterprise has basically disappeared. Our government officials must realize that all of these new governmental buildings is going to require more electricity, water, sewer maintenance, building maintenance personel, insurance, staff, etc.
It is almost like our government has embarked on a suicide course to destruction.
The county council should remove Wayne Strausberg from the charter reveiw committee. His agenda is clear.
1:40 (Dino Dan), thanks for a great post. You're right. Everybody talks about "cutting the fat" (I'm with you. It has become a moronic phrase). It is most often applied to the BOE. Believe me, there is not much "fat" left there. Even if it's true (and it isn't) that there are too many chiefs in Central Office, taking out ten of them would not do much to fix the problem. No more taxes, so many cry. As 1:40 points out, those taxes pay for all the things that we want, such as decent, pothole-free roads, classrooms of manageable enrollment, and safe streets. We can't have these things without a revenue source. As far as schools are concerned, most of the whiners have no kids in the school system. They're largely retirees as I am, but I will gladly pay my share to have a good school system and all the amenities I have become accustomed to. The first thing that has to be done is to get rid of the revenue cap. It has caused damage almost beyond repair; even if it were repealed tomorrow, it would take years to get back to "normal." And, yes, I am a Republican and not a RINO. I also have common sense.
LONG LIVE THE REVENUE CAP!
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