Tomorrow morning the County Council, (under severe pressure) will gather to discuss and perhaps vote to possibly commit, (in writing) to a 7 cent, (per hundred dollars) tax increase to fund Bennett Middle School.
The way I see it is as follows. The citizens of Wicomico County VOTED in SIX republicans to lead their County. Rick Pollitt and John Fredericksen are strong arming the Council to commit to something no other County has experienced and quite frankly could perhaps be violating the charter in doing so.
Now let me educate each and every one of you before they vote tomorrow on this matter. This is not just a 7 cent per hundred dollars increase. Here's what the Daily Times and the rest of your MSM have conveniently ignored as well. There will be a 7 cent increase on personal property as well as inventory for ALL businesses in Wicomico County.
Now if you think this is a simple matter, you better think again! Every computer, every copier machine, every washer and dryer, dishwasher, drywall, lumber, the list goes on and on, will be subjected to this very same tax increase. Again, 5 months BEFORE they even see the new budget!
Now I want ALL Sheriff's Deputies and ALL States Attorneys to think about something here. While Sheriff Mike Lewis and States Attorney Matt Maciarello sit quiet on this matter, you people better damn site understand that you will see NOTHING next year. These are the only two elected officials who should be screaming at this proposal, but they can't because it's a school. How would they look screaming about NOT wanting a new Bennett Middle School. Gotta love politics!
You see, to me, I'd be looking out for those people who work for me no matter what the circumstances are. Mind you, I am not Mike or Matt but I was raised somewhat different, so it obviously seems. I would not sit idle.
Now, another thing many of you might not know is that Rick Pollitt and John Fredericksen are now claiming they want to use the additional $14,000,000.00 left over, (not yet used) from Bennett High School. Smoke and mirrors Folks, this cannot be done. That contract specifically states that money MUST be used for that High School and that's a fact! While these men are trying to lighten the load in supporters minds, this cannot happen.
So which Council Members will bend over for Rick Pollitt and John Fredericksen?
Folks, I can't encourage you enough to get your business associates, friends and family to come to Salisbury News and read the TRUTH. MANY lies have been told by the Daily Times on this project. Your local MSM do NOT want to rock the boat and instead go with the flow. If you want to witness a 7 cent increase in support of this project when times are as difficult as they are, know the next time you go out to eat you'll be paying an additional 7 cents EVERY time you do so on inventory tax, same goes for furniture, appliances and the whole nine yards. I really do not believe you understand what the County is getting you into.
Finally, keep this in mind every time you pay the new rates going over the Bay Bridge and when your sales tax increases to 7%. Even those people who have had enough and dream of relocating to Delaware can't fulfill their dream because their property values have dramatically dropped, they can't get out. It has to stop somewhere.
O'Malley, O'Pollitt, O'Fredericksen, O'Sample/Hughes, we'll finish that list tomorrow...... The rest, (republicans) may soon have new names.
37 comments:
You forgot O'bama!!
I will do everything in my power to work my butt off to make sure those individuals that do vote for a tax increase are not re-elected.
Finally...the council may just support our kids....thank you!
Joe, from what is being shared by the council is that the 14 million left over can be used for the bms project since the two were bundled together since the hs depended on taking the bms site down.
anonymous 10:15, absolutely 100% NOT TRUE. You have been LIED to. I have 100% confirmed they cannot do so.
10:15, I will add, Pollitt and Fredericksen are trying right now to have that language changed as we speak. They know for a fact as the contract sits they cannot use that money for the Middle School.
Maybe someone can clear this up for me. I've read several times, including in today's DT editorial, that the state says it will ante up 96%of the cost of the new BMS. On the other hand, I've read that this school will cost the county millions of dollars. So which is it? I should think that it would be easy to find an answer; I haven't seen one yet.
anonymous 10:21, THE DAILY TIMES LIED!
That school will cost the taxpayers at least $42,000,000.00.
Again, they failed to immediately come back the next day and correct their mistake and that's just one of the reasons you people should stop buying that newspaper.
I find it hard to believe - especially in light of Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac financial disasters - that the County's rating agencies for municipal bonds - S&P, Moody's, and Fitch - would allow left over construction proceeds slated for a specified project - to simply be allowed to be rolled over into another major construction project.
Surely the bonding council - (representative for the municipal bond lender) - would have some stipulations on how these proceeds can be used.
And then there is the bonding underwriters council - (representative of the insurer in case of a default) - would also scrutinize this kind of financial activity.
I agree with Joe - I suspect that the County cannot use the left over construction proceeds to partially fund the BMS. Even Matt Creamer alluded to this obscurity in the very last County Council meeting. He suggested for the County Council to go back and revisit a section of the municipal bonding requirement code.
From what I can glean from the above comments and what I read in the DT commentary - the proposed financial transaction sounds like a convoluted mess.
Surely this council wouldn't raise taxes by 7 cents in this economy.
Rick always tries to save face and make the County Council members look bad. Even though he knows the County can't afford this expense he supports it to make him look good and if the Council (who represent the public) don't agree it make's them look bad (they have the public's interest to protect!!)I hope they will stand strong and know the County cannot afford this project at this time!! Rick is single minded and is not taking the right steps to save Wicomico County, he's let Road funding go by the way side for five years now and roads are falling to pieces, it does a lot of good to have good school buildings and terrible roads to get to them!! Businesses are having a tough time now and if this increases inventory tax we'll see more businesses go under. After this is over and if Rick doesn't get re-elected I'm sure Mr. Fredericksen will give him a high paying cushy job with the Board of Ed!!
The economy will improve sometime in the future and this project should wait until that time, there will be other grants at that time also!
Is the proposed 7 cent increase within the bounds of the revenue cap?
Today they WILL raise the tax. They have already made the decision. Some of the people on the County Council - you will know who they are - run as conservatives when they aren't conservatives at all. The only one who is really a conservative is Joe Holloway. The rest are rubbing elbows with people who have a self serving agenda and are large financial contributors. These council members are beholden to these contributors. You had all better pay close attention to what is being printed here because you won't see this anywhere else.
5:59am
Please explain. Breaking down the members of the council I can not think of one who has had large financial contributors.
Joe...how are you coming up with 42 million as our cost? You want us to believe you but you show no proof or breakdown of costs.
If the charter prohibits this, than why are they even discussing it?
The 14 million left over from the BHS, where does it go?
Is it earmarked for future BHS issues?
Is there a pdf or something that states what exactly the state is willing to pay in regards to this school? There seems to be a lot of misinformation and something has to be in writing. Seeing this document, maybe then the constituents would wake up.
Let the name calling begin. That's how it works, right? You don't get your way, so that is the appropriate response. If you don't like what the council does, vote them out. It's that simple. For those of us who support this increase as allowed by the sacred revenue cap, we will applaud the courage of the council members who make this difficult choice.
The people want it,so it will be done. Your blog's influence isn't so great now, is it?
The BOE members are meeting in closed session this morning possibly concerning renewing John Fredericksen's contract. If you people were smart you would contact your BOE members and county council members asap and tell them how you feel. John Fredericksen is not good for Wicomico County. Please send him back to Minnesota. There is a reason he is working in Maryland and not Minnesota. They don't want him in Minnesota and now we have their trash!
Salisbury is only seven minutes away from a tax-free business environment. Might be a move worth considering.
gotta love the Daily Times, they print a letter supporting the BMS project, but it's written by the guy who stands to make a bundle on it.
Crony much?
The confusing issue (shockingly) is that neither "side" has produced third-party verifiable (or publicly available) reports or statistics regarding the monies involved. The Daily Times reports one thing, the Council reports one thing, Joe calls them both liars, but no one tries to prove that they are correct. Unless "because I said so," counts as proof nowadays.
Someone, anyone, please, show us details.
@729 How about the letter giving financial advice to the county from the guy who had his bank shut down by the government, you can't make this stuff up!
Joe, I'm (10:21) still confused, as I guess 6:43 is. We're still asking the fundamental question about funding. You answered me that the DT was lying in its editorial that the state was funding an unprecidented 96% of the new BMS. So where did the $42 million figure ever come from? If, indeed, the state was paying 96%, then it would be a no-brainer that the county should contribute the other measly 4%. I guess we're still as confused as ever. Thanks for any additional input regarding the two disparate figures
There is no proof 731, the numbers are all kept at the BOE and Rick P. office. They wont give out hard numbers!
Its bad enough possibly paying for a new school but then out of town contractors will do most of the work!
Oh, come on now, you seriously cannot be that confused, (and I'm being very nice here).
You can't believe the state is actually going to pay for 96% of this project and then watch someone like myself publish information for absolutely no reason, RIGHT?
The state will be paying around $52,000,000.00 and the county will have to come up with at least $42,000,000.00. The Daily Times admitedly made an error on their 96% numbers but they waited more than a week to retract and corret it and that's why so many of you haven't seen it.
Call the Daily Times yourself and ask them. As for the documents others are asking for, I'm working on that and will have something some time today, not that it matters. I know I'm right. Nevertheless, I'll deliver something to prove it.
Regardless, 72 million is too much money for the school, no matter who pays for it. State support?, I guess that's someone else's money???? Does 72 million include furnishings, supplies, instructional materials, etc. or just the building????? We have already been taxed to the limit, as someone said, where will it end, it will end with the collapse of our economy.
I thought the County Council members had recieved a letter from
the State last year that stated the county would not lose the future funding for the BMS project
and would not lose their place in
the funding line?
anonymous 8:18, that is true.
I just got off the phone with Matt Creamer, (410) 548-4696. He has absolutely CONFIRMED the $42,000,000.00 expense on behalf of the county taxpayers. The other $54,000,000.00 will come from the state. As I stated from the beginning, this project will cost close to $100,000,000.00!!!!!
Matt has assured me I'd have documents to prove these numbers being accurate shortly.
So you see Folks, SOMEONE within the BOE is once again LYING to you. Every one already knows the Daily Times lied too.
Nobody raises taxes like republicans, well maybe democrats, either way, they both love to get your money. As long as you keep sending it to them, they'll keep taking it.
I would love to see a new school, BUT, the county is already $100 million in debt. Can we really afford to add another $42 million to the tax payer.The average citizen is barely keeping their heads above water now! When is enough, enough? UNCLE!!!!
I guess if the economy gets worse,Wicomico could go bankrupt.
Those who have had dealings with the administration at the Board of Edu. are shocked that you find being lied to such a new thing. Ask a question they don't want to answer. First they stall then they stonewall then comes the lie. There's nothing new about doing the same with this issue.
As I sit here watching the council meeting I can not believe what I'm seeing. Caldwell claiming that none of the council members have ever stated the $14,000,000.00. Thank you councilwoman Stevie Prettyman for coming forward and saying how you did discuss it. I also like how you reminded him that he was sitting right next to you the whole time. I for one can not pay any additional amount. I feel for the students but it is not the worse school in the world. We could live in a country where there is no heating/ac, where there are no walls, windows or doors because they learn outside. There is no running water, etc. We have it good here. We are lucky. We can not afford this right now. Just because JMB got a new high school doesn't mean we need another one right now. Council members please do not be pressured into doing this right now. You all might be able to afford it, I can't!
OMG the middle school PTA president is comparing the school to the summer softball tournament. What? Woman, you need to learn that the school money and the Parks & Rec money is completely different. I pay more taxes for schools that I don't even have a child going to. I pay less in the amount of taxes that goes towards the county parks & rec. Read your tax paper lots closer.
It is really a shame the county puts us and keeps us in debt like they do. When it comes time to pay taxes do they give us a break? I don't think so and the more they keep putting us in debt, the more people are not going to have the money to pay taxes and it's a vicious circle all the time. Give the citizens of this county a break - we don't have any more money to come up with, you have a school, fix it up and shut up and live with it.
Folks, the $42 million comes from the fact that the state will only pay 96% of the ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION COSTS! That does not include land acquisition, roads & other infrastructure work, furnishings & supplies, etc. All of that comes 100% from the County's (correction - from OUR) pockets.
JUST AN ORDINARY GUY
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