It certainly appears that Mr. Pollitt pushed for funding approval by the Wicomico County Council in advance of O'Malley's budget proposal that includes shifting 50% of the cost of retirement pay for public school teachers to the Counties. That scheme would increase the County's expenses by at least $5-10 Million per year. O'Malley also proposes special funding that would increase County revenue to mitigate the impact, but that could be cut by the General Assembly, which last year approved O'Malley's request to require the Counties to pay for State services in property tax assessment without providing any mitigation money for that purpose.
And Pollitt did not send to the Council even a pro forma budget for next year, but wanted them to commit to funding the school without appropriate budget information. However, the new assessment data indicates that the County's revenue will drop by several million dollars unless the tax rate is increased once again, and that will also occur in the following fiscal year. In any event, the County's expenses will continue to escalate, generally, so that some cost categories must be reduced or entirely cut (the "public information officer" position being appropriate for the axe).
The decision by the Council majority not to approve Pollitt's request was the only reasonable response. Those who are unhappy about that outcome should direct their anger at Mr. Pollitt for not leveling with the Council -- and the public.
Incidentally, it looks like O'Malley's pension shift scheme will succeed -- even Republican Senator E. J. Pipken supports it.
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
5 comments:
Certainly Pollitt knew this. This proposal came up a good number of years ago and has been under discussion since. I'm sure that every county executive/top official has known about this and has breathed a sigh of relief every year that it did not pass. If Pollitt didn't know it, he is grossly slow on the uptake. As a retired teacher, I've been following this each year that the Legislature is in session.
if he didn't he doesn't need to be in this position any longer. he's scary.
Where is all this money supposed to come from Pollitt is proposing for a new civic center,new middle school,retirement plans,upgrades to schools,west side parks? I think there trying to bankrupt the county.
It was almost another "slick trick by Rick" but the fab four on the Council stopped it from happening.
Why do you guys keep voting for a idiot who can't manage money or do anything right but raise taxes it is point less.
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