Many see Rick Pollitt as the main protagonist in the political charade that has put the County's property tax revenue cap in real jeopardy with the willing assistance of Norm Conway, Rudy Cane and the Daily Times. But the real culprit may be R. Wayne Strausburg, who is Pollitt's new head honcho at the Government Office Building.
Do you recall that big debate at S. U. with Joe Ollinger, the clear loser, last year, when Strausburg promoted higher tax rates in Wicomico County? And is Mr. S. the architect of the ploy that may result in a higher "piggyback" income tax on Wicomico County residents next year? He also promoted that at the big event.
Back then this blog sent a storm warning, but now it may be too late to ride out the tempest if you haven't headed for safer water in Sussex County. Although Strausburg is no longer on the County's charter review committee, which he headed until he was hired by Pollitt last year, his influence with that body continues, so sometime soon the County Council may not need to override the tax cap to extract more revenue from Wicomico County's residents.
To be sure, the County needs the money -- Strausburg's salary and the special pension payout that goes to his predecessor, Ted Shea, must be at least $200,000 if not $250,000 annually. But, then, someone has to do the job that Pollitt was elected and is paid to do.
anonymous
Wicomico County: you have been warned, again!
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
21 comments:
The problem is not with the leaving, the problem is with trying to sell a house in this city/county. How does one do that?
I guess the question is what kind of county do you want to live in? One without quality of life benefits? One with roads falling apart, crime out-of-control and long response from fire departments. Is this going to end up being a "country in distress?"
That's where we are headed folks. It's not "only" about the revenue cap, which I support until we all decide to change it.
So what are our options when these traitors make laws to override the will of the people? Taxation without representation? Petition to throw them out immediately? Thousands more abandon their homes and flee from the tyranny? Violence and bloodshed? A public hanging?
The county is killing itself. Many law abiding, good hard working citizens have moved away from Wicomico county and have been replaced by low income house holds and criminals released from ECI.
The higher piggy back tax will just cause more wage earners to leave the area. Wicomico is already has the highest piggy back tax in the state.
It's like the symbol of the devil, the snake eating itself.
This is a sad situation when someone like Strausburg takes the helm of a sinking ship and then gets attacked by the blogging world. I feel sure that this reporting wasn't a Joe Albero one but instead the lawyer whose office is across from the Wicomico Court House. Maybe he should practice law and leave the finance of the county to someone who is experienced and qualified.
931am.....The Co's budget wouldnt be in nearly as bad a shape had Pollitt been doing the job he was hired to do. And now whe've got you to help double down on that nothingness....short of spending! There will always be a need or want to cry for more, but you taxaholics wouldnt know the first thing about balancing a budget. You keep taxing and running families and businesses away and you cant figure it out!!! I know!!!! Lets buy some over priced parking lots instead of paving the roads....in the worst ever economy even.....your a bunch of outa control thieves.....you better think twice about treading on the people by overriding the revenue cap!!!
I recently filed my taxes on line. The Federal part is first. As I entered all of my information, it shows your return in the corner. It showed me that I would get a little over $900.00 in State refund. When I finished the Federal return, it was time to do the State return. Still showed a little over $900.00. Then I clicked the drop down menu for Md. It dropped a bit. THEN I clicked Wicomico for my county and it dropped down to $151.00! I was ready to cry! I ended up getting less back than what I make in an 80 hour paycheck! Oh well, at least I will get something back,which I am grateful for. I am ready to move out of Wicomico because of the taxes!
The piggyback tax increase adds a relatively small amount per year. Comments about Wicomico County currently having the highest rate are wrong.. if this passes, we will be among several counties with the maximum allowed 3.2 percent. If you make $50,000 a year, this is a $50 increase.
Commentators attitudes on here seem to be:"Who cares if I actually know what I'm talking about? I'm mad and I'm just going to reinforce the opinions of people who already agree with me!"
It's like a table of old ladies talking politics.
12:36
I think the problem is that people feel the money is being wasted. We see our taxes being wasted on things every day. They waste it then come back to use for us to give them even more to waste. No one else is getting pay raises and are having to cut their budgets. The same should go for the people we give out money to.
12:36----Could be a Table of Old Men too.
No matter which way the wind blows---Wicomico County is overtaxed !
Wicomico County has the third lowest tax rate in the state and the lowest taxes per capita in the state. It has a budget much smaller than Worcester county, but a population larger than somerset, dorchester, and worcester combined. All of you crying about overtaxed.....you obviously should do your homework. All of you crying about waste, why don't you state specific waste that is the COUNTY, not many of the complaints that are really State issues. You people need to educate yourselves before you type, or atleast remain a quiet fool, instead of typing comments and removing all doubt. The reason that the state is going after wicomico county is because the current council wont allow the cap to function the way it was intended. That says that they are not doing all they can for education. The cap cannot only function in a downward direction, it has to be able to go up. The council dropped the ball on it. But then again, how many of them actually graduated highschool. That explains why education is not a priority to them.
I'm not fan of taxes and have fought to keep the rates low. But to be fair to Straugberg, at his debate with Ollinger he clearly said that he didn't like Wicomico County's high income tax rate. At his budget presentation, Strausberg also said he didn't like the county's high income tax. So "anonymous" who wrote this needs to get his facts straight.
From what I can tell, Strausberg would like to see higher property tax rates and lower income tax rates. At least, that's what I inferred from the two presentations of his that I saw.
And whoever said that Strausberg's influence lives on in the charter review committee clearly hasn't been to that committee. Strausberg's been in the audience most of the sessions with his new job representing Pollitt and the committee has pretty clearly gone against a lot of what he's suggested.
Whoever anonymously submitted this "report" should get a hearing check, since he doesn't seem to know what actually went on during Strausberg's presentation or at the charter review committee meetings.
When you see 4 gov employees planting one tree, you see nothing but waste of manpower. Wicomico County needs to make better use of employees time.
2:24pm Looks as though you should be one who needs to go back to school. Yes, there is one on the council who has not graduated but that doesn't equate to not holding education as a high priority, The majority rules in our society and it was decided by the majority not to tax the people more in times like these. Not only does the council need to look at education,
they also have to look at the big picture of roads, public safey, and general quality of life in our area. There is 1 pot of money and I, for one, feel they spend it wisely without due hardship on us, the citizens. Wor-Wic offers some classes you might benefit from, check into them.
Where were 4 WICOMICO county employees planting a tree. I am 99 percent sure that you are either talking about the city or state. Just because someone is in a yellow truck, doesn't mean that they are county workers. Learn the difference, stop generalizing.
I support Strausburg and hope that he can get this county on better standing. However, I have observed 5 and more employees holding fence poles at Winterplace. Those are the kinds of things that ticks the taxpayers off.
For starters, how are people being taxed more when the rate has been steadily declining....along with assesments. My tax bill is waaaayyyyy lower than it was 5 years ago or so. Secondly, the majority voted for a cap, which I doubt many understand, but the cap was passed to function a specific way, not only down. It is the job of the council to do what is best for the residents. This means that they may have to make unpopular decisions for the greater good. They failed miserably to do what was right and allow for a rate increase. The state may not be threatening to intercept income tax and now taking control of the county's budget if we had a council that would act responsibly rather than grandstand. The same reluctance to never raise taxes is what actually spurred the ptrc. The rate was never raised, and when it finally was, it was alot.
Why don't you call and report them? That would be parks and rec. All of you that say you see this and that and are ticked off about it so much that you can rant on a blog, however, can't manage to get involved enough to pick up the phone and call the county to complain. I wonder if the allegations are even true. All of the vehicles have numbers on them. You don't pay the employees salaries any more than you pay the salaries of any employee that works for a company that you buy products from. Why be so upset at county employees? For the most part they are very hardworking people. I am tired of hearing people talk about them like they own them.
8:12 are you stating that our tax dollars don't pay the county employees? I didn't realize that, just where does their pay come from?
Is he just a decoy???? He may be a diamond in the private world but does he really understand the policital world? Oh, I forgot, he is a true Ricky supporter. Screw the Republicans on the council and always make them the fall guys, just like Norm and Rudy do.
Gee. I thought the " political world " was the problem.
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