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Tuesday, November 22, 2011

HEY SALISBURY: WANNA LOWER YOUR TAXES?

The City officials to call are Jim Ireton and Laura Mitchell. Here’s why.

They think that charter amendments should be made only after extensive public notice, discussion and referendum vote, And, if the referendum petition is not supported by the required 20 percent of the registered voters, they want the amendment put to referendum anyway. You probably have heard their incessant whining about the recent charter amendment in regard to the City attorney, for which they are still agitating for a referendum vote even though it fell short.

If that amendment goes to referendum, then so should the 2007 charter amendment, made at the request of Barrie Tilghman, that raised the City’s property tax rate to allow for the double-digit tax increase that she wanted and is still in effect. That amendment was adopted by the Council without much advanced public notice or discussion at its first regular meeting after the 2007 election by a vote of 3 (Smith, Comegys and Shields) to 2 (Campbell and Cohen). In fact, Barrie Tilghman waited until after the election to request the charter change or the tax rate increase.

And, just like the latest amendment that Ireton and Mitchell are trying to stop, the 2007 amendment became the subject of a referendum petition drive that fell short of the required support. But, if memory serves, that effort, organized by the late Bob Caldwell, came even closer to the mark (and without the active support of the mayor or the Daily Times).

So, if Ms. Mitchell and Jim Ireton continue to agitate about the latest amendment of Salisbury’s charter, they should expand their whining to include both the 2007 amendment mentioned above – as well as dozens of other charter amendments that have been made by prior city councils with little public notice or opportunity for public comment.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good post! At least Bob Caldwell got more than enough signatures to qualify for a verification process.

Anonymous said...

It didn't take long for this petition fiasco to give Jim-beau another temper tantrum in public.

He and Mitchell are agitators and whiners that should be recalled immmediately.

Anonymous said...

you are a pathetic little man Albero.

Anonymous said...

Joe isn't pathetic, he just tells it like it is, and the truth sure does hurt alot of people in this town. Jim Boy is the one that is pathetic with all his temper tantrums he throws.

Anonymous said...

1:49 -

Joe pays city taxes and has every right to get involved in City matters -- and it's a benefit to the public to have news that the MSM won't cover. If you want to see a pathetic person, get a mirror.

Anonymous said...

The pathetic whinner loser are the DT, MAyor and all who stand behind the him pulling his stings. We are tired of the previous administrations that had no sunshine, discussion but went ahead with the sour tainted deals

Anonymous said...

betcha she and Jim are quiet when they have to rebuild the wastewater plant without full reimbursement from MDE or the design lawsuit. Of course Shanie was there and part of how this one was built.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...

you are a pathetic little man Albero.

November 22, 2011 1:49 PM

you are a pathetic little girl Jim-beau now get back to work.

Anonymous said...

I would like to see a referendum on doing away with the property taxes all together. they make plenty with the water, sewage, fees, permits and fines.