Sharee Sample Houghes agrees with bringing it back up.
Joe Holloway disagrees. There's nothing new. Is there any justification that the economy improved? Everybody voted against it before because of the economy.
John Hall says a number of people contacted him. He expressed they should get an increase.
Culver said these people are elected because they WANT to do this job. Not for personal gain.
Prettyman said the County Executive already sent a letter of support and she feels they should support it as well.
9,800 more jobs lost in Maryland. The recession is not over, said Joe Holloway.
Stevie said she had people call her telling her they made a mistake. Joe has received calls supporting the Council's decision. Joe was trying to point out that ANY other time in the past that ANYTHING was brought back up for a re-vote there was reasons for it. In this case there is NO new information.
They have voted to SUPPORT the Orphan Court raise. Including Matt Holloway. Joe Holloway and Bob Culver voted NAY.
Sheriff's Raise
Stevie said "Serve and Protect is not just words". A raise was turned down in 2010 to raise his salary. Not having a raise in 12 years is "unthinkable".
Culver said Lewis has done a great job. However, our County Executive doesn't get anywhere near the salary other Executives get throughout the state. We don't need to have any more $3.5 million shortfall any more. We're not in the position to give this raise at this time.
Matt Holloway supports the raise as does John Hall. Hall admitted Sheriff Lewis is traveling the country doing seminars. John doesn't realize Lewis makes a small fortune OUTSIDE his salary doing seminars.
They just approved Mike Lewis' salary. Culver and Joe Holloway were NAYS. The rest of the council votes in support of the raise.
Publishers Notes:
One thing I can ASSURE you of, MORE people voiced their opinions on this very Blog than those who called Council Members stating they support raises for the Sheriff and Judges. I know the County Council follows Salisbury News. I guess the many thousands of people who come here and comment DON'T COUNT.
They can sit there and make stupid excuses like I GOT CALLS but clearly Joe Holloway spelled it out best, WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY. He added NOTHING has changed in the economy, so why would we even reconsider when we have a $3.5 million shortfall right now.
NO ONE will deny these ELECTED officials don't deserve more money, NO ONE. However, ALL of us are experiencing hard times. I can tell you, 6 years ago I could LIVE off the interest of my money, no problem. TODAY, PLEASE! I'm losing money every day in the past 5 years and SO ARE YOU.
These are NOT representatives. They are BS artists who CLAIM people called them to change their mind. It's a load of crap and Joe Holloway said it best, the economy has NOT improved to warrant such increases.
66 comments:
I feel that Mike Lewis deserves a raise. For the amount of time and effort he puts forth to go above and beyond his ELECTED position, a raise is certainly justified. I feel that it is too easy for elected officials to sit back and coast through their term because of their job security in being elected for a specific time period. He serves as if his position in up to lose at any point in time; not just once every four years. He's a personable individual, but feared among many (mostly criminals obviously). He is active in this community and treats his deputies with then utmost respect while still leading with a strict disciplinary manner. This County is better because of him and for that, he certainly does deserve a raise. My tax dollars have been well spent and well represented today.
Orphan's Court, I'm not so sure about as I do not know what all that entails.
how did freddy do.
10:32, I said it over and over again. NO ONE feels Mike doesn't deserve a raise, "NO ONE". However, NOW is not the time. You might want to wipe off that brown on your nose. Perhaps you didn't hear, right now we have a $3.5 million SHORTFALL and by budget time it could be as much as $10 MILLION DOLLARS.
NOW, if YOU owned a business that had just LOST $3.5 million dollars, would YOU be giving out a raise, when you don't have it?????
THAT is how STUPID this whole thing is. IF you KNEW that $3.5 million could go up to $10 million by the end of the fiscal year, again, would you be giving out raises???
ALL Council Members who voted in support of this should be thrown OFF the ouncil immediately.
Now let's give the taxpayers and WELL DESERVED raise.....LOWER TAXES and no more increases.
James K.
(almost taxed out of the county/state)
County Employee here. I think he (Lewis) deserves a raise. I think the Deputies deserve this mammoth raise they are getting ready to get (most- not the lazy ones). What I don't agree with is the timing. I expect another round of layoffs, and think furloughs will make a return.
Finally, some parity.
We all know why Stevie wanted Lewis to have the raise.
I don't know who the people are because I'm from another county but the older woman is a BS artist. I saw the 'she got calls' comment by her. She may get over on the Wicomico people but she doesn't get over on me. I'm too smart. She offered no reason why to increase the salaries other than 'she got calls.' This is why Wicomico is on a downward spiral. The voters have low standards and except asinine statements like "I got calls' instead of a real reason why.
They are BS con artists. Lewis don't deserve a raise if the county do not have he money. Hell. Why not just give everyone a raise. Lewis just speak, speak, and speak all over the countries. When was the last time he actually worked in Wicomico county. How much of that money he receive for his seminars is going into the county kitty box. You people (counsel)are nothing but greedy thieves. I feel so sorry for the people of wicomico county. This county needs to be on the show, "American Greed"
If the county is going to transfer revenue from public works to the general fund, that in theory means that the public works department needs to trim that $3.5 million from their budget. So does that mean we layoff public work employees because plans have changed? If they aren't working on roads do we taxpayers just keep paying them to come to work?
It has to balance out somewhere! That is a huge mistake we've let go on the federal level. This country is in deep and it reflects in what is going on in the world today, our weakness. The electorate has failed ourselves. Time to go back to the drawing board.
Matt Creamer wants to come back after he and others huddle? That is scary.
The office of Sheriff probably should have an increase but if Mike is making extra $$$$$ with his speaker fees and his MSP retirement, he is doing very well financially. Would be great if Mike vetoed the raise this year.
Stevie Prettyman- 1st BMS and now this. Stevie...go straight to h$ll!
10:32 don't chock on Mike Lewis's manhood in your mouth!
As Hillary said "what difference does it make"? The county doesn't have the money for raises right now, even for ones who deserve them! I'd like to know how those who voted for it manage their personal funds; I know when we don't have the money at our house, we don't spend it!
im glad to see everyone else that gets my tax money can get a raise whilst I can't... I can't even afford to live on what I make and can't find a second job to help...
Yet these nuts get raises after raises for the cost of living... Yet they make 50k a year... If you can't live off of 50k a year then you should shoot yourself and help us out...
So I guess my taxes will go up to cover this right? because it isn't about helping people live its about how to steal as much of my money as you can to pay for lazy people to sit on their ass to do nothing but make babies the govt will just steal from me to help support...
And those who are complicit in this is just as much to blame as these dumb ass politicians who lie to your face and yet you still vote for them...
God can we get this revolution started so we can take some of you out... because thats what its going to take, your life being threatened before you wake the up and care to do anything about anything...
Some small businesses in the area wont be around much longer and lawmakers keep voting pay raises,talk about out of touch with the folks!
these people are out of touch, this person is facing a late mortgage payment and car payment for the first time in twenty years. go cry me a river
It's about his retirement. He has his eye on retirement and knows what a positive this will mean for his lifetime annuity from the county.
11:55,are you saying let them vote pay raises,raise taxes because it's no big deal?
As a lifelong resident of the eastern shore (62 Years) and a 44 year resident of Wicomico County it was with much regret that last week I signed a contract on a piece of property in Delmar, De. It has become abundantly clear that I can no longer afford to live in the State of Md. and so Delaware here I come
It's a welfare mentality. I want more so I should have more. Too bad if there's no money for it. Someone else will have to pay for me to have what I want.
12:23 - if more of us could get rid of our downwardly spiraling assets here, we would pack up and leave also.
Boycott taxes for Wicomico county they can't lock us all up.
The right job and I would be out of here and abandon the house screw it!
Done deal, move on.
I only support this if all deputies get a raise. Especially Cpl. Lee Stevens. He is the hardest worker, the best worker, the most committed worker and who has the highest ethics I have ever seen. Keep up the good work. We love you Lee Stevens.
"Anonymous said...
Done deal, move on.
March 18, 2014 at 1:09 PM"
May be but moving on is not an option. It's time to hold these spendthrifts to task. Humiliate them until they can't stand to leave their homes. Call them what they are-nothing but slaves to special interest. Follower not leaders. No principles whatsoever.
If you see them in public don't so much as acknowledge them because if truth be told they aren't fit to breath the same air as the decent people of the county.
Im with Joe on this one. I like Sherriff Mike Lewis, but when there is a SHORTFALL OF 3.5 MILLION TAXPAYERS DOLLARS, there is no room for ANY RAISE. Folks, if some of us worked for the Business or Company which had lost 3.5 millons in a year, Would they be giving a raise to you or me? No, Not a Chance. If Stevie.Prettymam likes Mike so mich, she should donate some of her money to him, instead of putting it on the TAXPAYERS.
Stevie is an embarrassment to her party and to herself. She has no core values. She likes to brag about how expensive everything she owns is - why doesn't she get her husband to cover the increase in Lewis' salary. He's paid for everything else for her. She has no respect for the taxpayers or their hard-earned money.
When you consider the population here, citizens here actually pay our Sheriff much more per capita than the other counties. There are counties with 4 and 5 times the population and their sheriffs aren't paid 4 and 5 times more than Mike. Nobody is questioning Mikes service, or anyone's for that matter, it's simply not a good time! I bet if he had to furlough deputies, that will go over like a fart in church.
When you don't get the vote you were expecting the first time, bring it up again and again until you do. These people may deserve a raise but now is not the time. In the private sector and your business is in the hole and not bringing in revenue, money does not get spent. This is nothing but typical liberial BS....spend,spend,spend. The well will dry up and we need to remember things like this to remind these people why our society failed.
Mike has been a fantastic Sherriff, and if were feasible I would approve in a heart beat. But this just isn't the fiscally prudent thing to do. Mike gets a MSP pension, salary for sheriff + benefits and he does seminars on the side. Surely he could wait for a better time, his raise has to be funded from somewhere. Hope it's not more furlough days for other county employees that won't be getting a raise at all.
The raise is NOT ABOUT Mike Lewis. It's about the sheriff position. Why does everyone keep making this about whether Mike deserves a raise or not. He won't always be sheriff you know.
Done deal loooooooooosers !!!!!!!!!
Lol you get what you pay for. Stop
They're making it about Mike Lewis because that's what all the hype is designed to do. What a bunch of sheep!
They are making it about Mike Lewis because he went in there almost demanding a raise!
I listened to PAC14 and one of them said that the Orphans court should get more money since they are doing more work because crime was UP! So we are rewarding Lewis with a raise because crime is up? I didn't understand that comment at all.
3:58 If it's not about Mike Lewis, why did he walk out after the NO vote, last time? He made it about him...the council made it about HIM. Not us. So save your "sheep" crap, and fold your clothes, like your mom said.
"10:32, I said it over and over again. NO ONE feels Mike doesn't deserve a raise, "NO ONE". However, NOW is not the time. You might want to wipe off that brown on your nose. Perhaps you didn't hear, right now we have a $3.5 million SHORTFALL and by budget time it could be as much as $10 MILLION DOLLARS."
I am 10:32am, I'm certainly not brown nosing and I do not even know him personally. I firmly believe that the man deserves a raise and I believe that now is as good of a time as any. A raise for Mike Lewis, to me, is GOOD spending. The County can reward people and invest in the right projects if they weren't poorly spending in other aspects. I'm not praising council's overall performance here, I'm just simply praising this decision. They certainly do need to trim the fat elsewhere.
ITS ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT HIM.HOPE HE PUTS THAT XTRA 10 K AWAY LIKE THE REST OF THE MONEY HE IS SCALPING OFF WICO. NOT TO MENTION A NEW TAHOE WITH EVERY BELL AND WHISTLE AND FREE GAS.THE FINEST HAND GUN WITH CUSTOM GRIPS MONEY CAN BUY AT TAXPAYERS EXPENSE.I BET ANDY MACKEL DOES NOT QUESTION ANY OF HIS PURCHASES EITHER.I SAW HUNTER NELMS THE OTHER DAY IN WALMART SAME OLD DOWN TO EARTH GUY. HE EVER WAS NOTHING LIKE THIS OVERPAID MEDIA HOUND WE HAVE NOW. KUDOS TO JOE AND BOB FOR HAVING AND GRABBING THERE STONES AND HOLDING THEM FIRMLY ON THIS. AS FAR AS THE REST WHEN YOU SPEND TAXPAYERS MONEY WE DO NOT HAVE YOUR JOB SHOULD BE OVER.AS ALWAYS WE THANK YOU MR ALBERO FOR KEEPING US UP TO DATE ON ISSUES LIKE THIS. YOU ARE THE BEST!
Guess what? And their isn't anything you can do about it!
It's called greed.
4:56 aint brownnosing, he or she is straight riding though. Fear mike lewis, yeah sure pal. Trim the fat around the pork first.
You can be sure of one thing,nobody is going to quit if they don't get a raise.I sure am glad we have Joe Holloway.
'Culver said these people are elected because they WANT to do this job. Not for personal gain.'
I've got an idea Bob. If you accidently get elected County Executive why don't you deny your County Executive salary since you are elected because you WANT to do this job. No personal gain for you.
7:49pm I would guess you have never run a business and tried to balance a budget and even make a profit?
I say give them the pay raises and raise taxes if they have to.
Chuck C.
Anonymous said...
We all know why Stevie wanted Lewis to have the raise.
March 18, 2014 at 10:45 AM
Um, no we don't. Please elaborate.
Anonymous said...
They are BS con artists. Lewis don't deserve a raise if the county do not have he money. Hell. Why not just give everyone a raise. Lewis just speak, speak, and speak all over the countries. When was the last time he actually worked in Wicomico county. How much of that money he receive for his seminars is going into the county kitty box. You people (counsel)are nothing but greedy thieves. I feel so sorry for the people of wicomico county. This county needs to be on the show, "American Greed"
March 18, 2014 at 10:49 AM
WTH did you just say??
10:52 AM that Beachamp boy they hired to direct public works says they have excess money they found in their budget so now they want to put GPS on all their trucks and tractors. Except supervisor vehicles of course. If they have excess money in their budget to spend then they lied about how much they needed in their budget the previous year. They know they all do it and try to spend it so they don't have to turn anything back in. Every department has a stacked budget with thousands of dollars they don't need.
11:30 am what do you mean by chock? What is chock?
Anonymous said...
I only support this if all deputies get a raise. Especially Cpl. Lee Stevens. He is the hardest worker, the best worker, the most committed worker and who has the highest ethics I have ever seen. Keep up the good work. We love you Lee Stevens.
March 18, 2014 at 1:18 PM
Thank you Lee!
Anonymous said...
Guess what? And their isn't anything you can do about it!
March 18, 2014 at 6:01 PM
Their, there, they're.
If Stevie was so concerned about increasing the pay she should have worked to get the council members an increase. They haven't received an increase in over 20 years. What is her agenda? If she was concerned about an increase she would have done something for the County Council. She even admits that the council does much more work than the public sees. Why the Orphans Court? They get a full time salary and the council gets a part time stipend. She is mad. She has lost her mind. She is getting off the council so it doesn't matter to her. This past year all she has done was made herself a full time resident in Florida and said screw the constituents. Stevie step down and let someone else fulfil your duties.
I agree with 9:05 PM. The timing isn't right, but the legislators haven't been compensated appropriately in over 20 years and she thinks the Orphans Court needs to be paid more money? What do they get now $40,000 a year or more just to work one or 2 days a month? Just because she married a millionaire doesn't mean that the other council members or the future council members can marry one and fly back and forth to Florida for meetings. No wonder we can't get good people to run for office. She is a joke and she needs to step down now. She is not your friend. I have been told by many people she will stab you in the back if she can. Don't make her mad because your "friendship" is over.
9:24, PLEASE at least get your facts straight. Orphans Court gets paid $6500 a YEAR for one day a week, every week, and more if the number of cases requires it.
Where are all the high and mighty (and privileged) people who decry the attempts to raise the minimum wage with the battle cry of "If you don't like your pay, get another job!"?
I suppose that mantra only applies to black people, poor people, & single moms. huh?
If you are white, have a government job, and get to travel at your leisure to make MORE money (above and beyond your salary), and already collect a pension from ANOTHER government job, you get to suck some more taxpayer money (with help from OTHER government employees) from the people. And it's "justifiable". What NERVE!
Its a hell of a lot tougher to live on $85,000 a year (PLUS the aforementioned double dipping pension) than it is to live on $8 an hour. That's the reasoning, right?
Raising the minimum wage will just KILL businesses (and by "kill" I mean they'll have to drive last year's Benz), but giving raises to people when the taxpayers are the ones paying (and there ain't no money in the budget) makes perfect sense --- to politicians who spend OUR money like it comes out of a faucet in the back of the treasurer's office.
Get the Sheriff to stand in front of the Council (and the public) and tell them the last time HE had to choose between the electric bill and groceries, or between paying the mortgage or his kid's activity fees. A raise?!
I know hardworking people in the private sector who haven't had a raise in 10-15 years! Of course, taxpayers aren't paying them....
Did I mention if you don't like your pay, get another job??
And yeah, I sign my name.
I have come to the conclusion that Joe Holloway is one of the few County Council representatives that has any common sense. Real estate property tax assessments are down, state income tax revenues are down, teachers pension liabilities now have become an additional expense for Wicomico residents -(increasing almost exponentially as I write this post) - and yet they vote for raises?
Come on folks, you are being set-up - Joe Holloway is about the only one that sees things for what it is - REALITY.
So I read that Mike Lewis TRAVELS quite a bit throughout the country doing speaking seminars. It makes you wonder if John Hall has any ties to handling any of Mike's travel arrangements (maybe not directly but indirectly) has Hall's Tidewater is still in existence. And I am sure Mike gets paid to do these seminars, along with his MSP retirement, along with his regular salary as sheriff, and having great medical/vacation benefits?
Since Mike Lewis is happy now that the sheriff's position got the raise he wanted.......let's vote him out this time. There is at least one other excellent person who is going to run and I will be happy happy happy to see him take over.
Sharee Sample Houghes agrees with bringing it back up.
Joe who in the world is that?
Anonymous said...
Since Mike Lewis is happy now that the sheriff's position got the raise he wanted.......let's vote him out this time. There is at least one other excellent person who is going to run and I will be happy happy happy to see him take over.
March 23, 2014 at 9:08 AM
Um.. The deadline to file has passed already. Please pay attention because at this point you are to stupid to vote.
Anonymous said...
7:49pm I would guess you have never run a business and tried to balance a budget and even make a profit?
March 18, 2014 at 8:02 PM
what in the world are you talking about?
Anonymous said...
9:24, PLEASE at least get your facts straight. Orphans Court gets paid $6500 a YEAR for one day a week, every week, and more if the number of cases requires it.
March 18, 2014 at 10:06 PM
Must be someone from the orphans court. If you don't like the "salary" of the position don't run. DUH!!
It is done. These people deserve a raise. Did anyone get your furlough money back. No as all of you continued to get paid county workers took a huge hit. I didnt hear any crying then lol. People it will not break the bank relax. If you want anu of these positions run for office. They are there for the taking. I can Asssure you none of you will take on that reponsibity. lol Congrats to those who got the raises. You are all doing a great job in horrible times.
More of politicians spending money the taxpayers don't have and more of government employees taking more and more.
Private employers actually have to make profits to spend money.
All politicians have to do is figure out ways to take more of it from "we, the people" and I'm totally amazed at how many of you are cheering their extreme competence. My God, you are stupid. SO stupid.
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