Yes, elections do make a difference.
At last, Wicomico County's resident delegate in the General Assembly is actively pushing legislation to include the County among those that must provide a property tax "differential" – a lower rate, resulting in a reduced tax bill – for property in municipalities that provide services such as police/law enforcement and road construction and maintenance/snow removal in the town limits, thereby relieving the County from doing so. It's fundamental fairness because the county tax applies to property in the towns, but the owners don't receive the same County benefits as taxpayers who live elsewhere.
To quote Mr. Anderton, "It's something that's very simple [and] we just have to make it happen." But that’s not how his predecessor and the former County Executive saw it.
During his first term as Wicomico County Executive, Rick Pollitt initially seemed to support the tax differential, as he did when he was Fruitland's town manager. The County together with Delmar, Fruitland and Salisbury commissioned a study by an independent consultant to determine an appropriate amount. But before it was completed, Pollitt flip-flopped. Although the consultant reported that property owners in each town should get relief from the County's property taxes, Pollitt objected to that. His notion that they deserve no tax relief because only the County funds the school system is just plain nonsense – the taxpayers in those towns provide part of those funds just like the others do.
In fact, most of the Maryland counties that have incorporated towns – 18 of 21, including many that are not required to do so – provide tax relief for property located in at least some of the towns. Besides Wicomico County, only Worcester and Queen Anne’s don't. Talbot County, which has the same tax revenue cap as Wicomico County provides a substantial reduction in the property tax on property in Easton – equal to $161 per capita in fiscal year 2014 according to a recent study by the State of Maryland.
It seems that Norm Conway opposed legislation that would require the county to provide appropriate tax relief to property owners in Delmar, Fruitland and Salisbury. For whatever reason he did nothing. Now, as his successor, Mr. Anderton wants to make that happen. The proposed legislation would apply to all towns if they show that they are entitled to tax relief, which is certainly the case in Delmar, Fruitland and Salisbury and may also be the case in some others.
Salisbury News is proud to have endorsed such a candidate.
34 comments:
This is part of the reason that Norm's Goneway!
No wonder my Fruitland taxes are so exorbitant, double taxation?
Part I
What an idiot!! Carl Anderton is not going to get my vote again.
Does Carl Anderton realize the burden and the hardship that this will put on the rest of us tax payers in the county! It is not our fault that the municipalities, especially Salisbury wants to duplicate services that Wicomico County provides and yes the city residents also use our services.
Does Carl Anderton realize the major problems with criminal activity come from the municipalities, especially Salisbury and Delmar! This is why the County has to beef up the Sheriff's office causing major problems. Doesn't the Sheriff's Office dispatch calls for Delmar? I know it does Fruitland.
Does Carl Anderton know that the biggest problems in our schools comes from inner city thugs in Salisbury and Delmar! That is why we have to pay for deputies in the schools? That is why we have to pay for the Alternative Schools. That is why we have to pay for Choices. That is why we have to pay for special ed teachers. That is why we have to pay for 3 meals a day for those same students. That is why we have to pay for teachers aids for those students. That is why we have to pay for FARM(Free and Reduced Meals) for those kids. That is why we have to pay for basketball programs to keep them in school. That is why we have to deal with Dr. Freddy abusing the credit cards that buys dinners for the inner city thugs and their thug parent or grandparent just to get them back to schools on PTA nights.
Does Carl Anderton know that we have to pay for the STARS program for his little inner city thugs? Why doesn't Carl Anderton support a program for white kids in the school system!
Does Carl Anderton know that the biggest cost of the Detention Center comes from his inner city thugs, especially from Salisbury and Delmar!
Does Carl Anderton know that the biggest abusers of the 911 system come from the inner city residents, especially from Salisbury and Delmar!
Does Carl Anderton know that the biggest abusers of our Fire/EMS/Emergency Services comes from the inner city residents, especially from Salisbury and Delmar!
Does Carl Anderton know that the biggest burden from all of these municipalities is due to the Slum Lords in Salisbury and Delmar?
Does Carl Anderton know that this bill supports Jim Ireton and not the voters and tax payers of Salisbury. If this bill were to pass it would not go back to the property owners it would go back to the city of Salisbury as a "rebate" which would go back into the general fund Jim Ireton and Jake day to spend as they please. You are a FOOL!!
We could go on and on with this, but you get the point.
To be continued:
Part II
Does SbyNews no that Carl Anderton is related to that fat blogger who terrorizes people like Joe, his family and his friends. Come on now, wake up!!
No wonder Carl Anderton is Facebook Friends with Jim Ireton and many of Jim Iretons gay and Democrat Friends in Salisbury. He fooled you voters didn't he! Those same friends hate Republicans. Those same friends hate anyone conservative. Those same friends Hate Andy Harris! Those same friends stormed a Andy Harris event wearing chicken costumes and disrupted it with threats and violence. If conservatives did that to Frank Kratovil today it would have made national news and the conservatives would have been put in jail as domestic terrorists. This is what Carl Anderton is supporting? There are more against this bill that Carl Anderton co-sponsors than live in Delmar and Salisbury! Carl Anderton is obviously not using his brain with this bill because he thinks it's a feel good measure because he was a small town mayor. I will surmise that you sir are making a fatal political mistake. This bill will not pass the Senate, House or the Governor and your next opponent will use this against you in the next election. This Sir, is pretty stupid. We now know why you are Jimbeau's friend and spend a lot of time downtown with you bunky Bunky Luffman during all the Third Friday events.
Does Carl Anderton realize there were more Republicans on the County Council that supported his election than Democrat on the City Council? You can bet the Democrats voted for Norm Conway and not Carl Anderton! You can bet that Jim Ireton and Jake Day voted for Norm Conway and not Carl Anderton!
This Sir is a big mistake and I hope that Joe doesn't try to protect you by not posting this true and honest comment on your "press release."
The best thing that could happen is the municipalities dissolve their charters and let there be only one government under Wicomico County.
I truly believe that Carl Anderton is a one term Delegate now and this is the beginning of why we start to realize why! Thank you Joe and stay safe in this snow.
Anonymous said...
This is part of the reason that Norm's Goneway!
March 6, 2015 at 8:40 AM
Wrong Answer!!
Anonymous said...
No wonder my Fruitland taxes are so exorbitant, double taxation?
March 6, 2015 at 9:39 AM
Anonymous said...
No wonder my Fruitland taxes are so exorbitant, double taxation?
March 6, 2015 at 9:39 AM
Wrong answer!!
Carl is friends with Jim Ireton and they worked together diligently on this one. Is this who you voted for? A friend of the enemy to the tax payers.
This really makes me wonder if Carl Anderton is truly a Republican. This tax relief will not go back to the property owners in Salisbury who are overtaxed as it is. We will continue to pay double taxes, but Jim Ireton and the city of Salisbury will get it.
Did you understand what I said! WE WILL ALL CONTINUE TO BE DOUBLE TAXED AND YOU DIDN'T EVEN SEE IT COMING!! That is how Democrats roll.
10:03, I am very well aware of Carl's relationship with the blogger. His Wife is a Cousin of his, so what. That does not make Carl a bad guy OR guilty by association. You know what they say. You can pick your neighbors and friends but no family.
As for the rest of your comments, this is exactly what Salisbury News is here for. I may not agree with you but you have every right to your opinion.
We'll agree to disagree.
The tax differential is not a Democrat idea or policy. All but 3 counties voted for Hogan. A majority of counties in Maryland have a Republican majority on the county level. Yet those REPUBLICAN counties all give some sort of tax relief to municipal taxpayers.
Why does every county in Western Maryland and Southern Maryland (Republican Areas) give municipal tax relief for duplicated services, but if we bring it to Wicomico it's a "liberal idea".
Are you serious?
Just because Ireton agrees with one conservative idea for tax fairness doesn't make him a Republican or Republicans in agreement a liberal.
Come on now...
I still think the county could run things better than the city of Salisbury.
10:03am you call users of fire/ EMR "abusers"? I don't think anyone wants to have a fire or medical emergency.
10:03 --
The tax differential is plain old fairness -- property owners in Delmar, Fruitland and Salisbury pay County tax at the same rate as the others but don't receive the same services because the towns provide them (saving the County money). What don't you like about being fair?
There are black sheep in eveyone's family, so what. Carl Anderton is doing the right thing.
Those that try to trash him because he is related to someone else are total jerks.
10:03 --
Hey idiot, Wicomico County would decide if the tax relief would be by means of a "differential" (lower tax rate so the owners pay less) or the "rebate" you mention. In Talbot County, owners in Easton pay a lower amount because the differential method is used by the County.
10:03 -- I'll bet all your relatives are saints. right?
The county provides all the necessary services. If the individual municipalities decide to duplicate those services, it's on their dime. If the cities want a differential, then be prepared to offer more services that would normally be a county service. And, I still have not heard a response about Hebron, Mardela, Sharptown, Pittsville, Willards.....these are incorporated towns in the county. I greatly disagree with a tax differential. As I said, this is the decision of the cities to provide duplicating services, so man up and accept the cost of your decisions.
The Maryland House of Delegates has 91 Democrats and 50 Republicans. Anderton had better be talking to Democrats if he wants anything to pass!
I have no idea why some Republicans believe that you have to be jerks to people across the aisle. President Reagan eat dinner weekly with Tip O'Neil. You can be friendly without compromising your principals. I certainly get along with many people whom I disagree with on a wide variety of issues. I can't imagine only being friends with people that believe 100% the same way I do.
1:02 have you read the bill?
The bill simply says that counties should hold an annual meeting with municipalities to discuss a formula that they both can live with. This means ALL of those incorporated municipalities. The reason I think Salisbury, Fruitland, and Delmar are always mentioned is because they are the only 3 who have actually had studies completed by a third party. None of the other towns you listed have, but they could benefit from the law.
By the way- I'd like for those who are against this to realize how much their taxes would go up as county residents if the municipalities all did go back to being controlled by the county. YOUR rates would likely double. Instead the city residents are asking for a little offset. That offset totaled about 1% of the county budget when the last study came out.
1:02 -
You said: "If the cities want a differential, then be prepared to offer more services that would normally be a county service."
WTF do you mean?
It is astounding that some of the above comments make this sound like a liberal scheme. Some of the most conservative counties -- such as Talbot and Caroline -- provide a tax differential to owners in the municipalities.
Kudos to Carl for doing what's right even though it results in mudslinging like 10:03 does.
Pollitt scammed us about the tax differential. Lets hope Bob Culver and the County Council won't go there again.
Wow...what a rant that was. The municipalities are requesting a differential because they pay Wicomico County for services they don't receive from them. I live in Delmar and there are a few things that confuse me. The problems in county schools come from Delmar and that's why there are SROs? Most of our high school students within the municipality attend Delmar High where the SRO is provided by the Delmar Police Department. The elementary school doesn't have a full time SRO. Delmar's Fire Department serves our municipality. They are volunteer and the town of Delmar does make a monetary contribution. If you'd read the report which is available online, you could sound more intelligent while ranting. The municipalities could either give relief to their taxpayers, or use it to provide services that we need but don't receive from the county despite the fact that we pay for it. Because Anderton was the major of a small town and because he was a former MML president, he knows the struggles that cities and towns have in providing a balanced budget that is able to give the residents what they pay for. Like it or not, Ireton is only representing his constituents and trying to do what they pay him to do.
Anonymous said...
10:03 --
The tax differential is plain old fairness -- property owners in Delmar, Fruitland and Salisbury pay County tax at the same rate as the others but don't receive the same services because the towns provide them (saving the County money). What don't you like about being fair?
March 6, 2015 at 12:46 PM
What part of dissolve the town charters and we will all save a lot of tax dollars don't you get? Retard!!
Anonymous said...
10:03am you call users of fire/ EMR "abusers"? I don't think anyone wants to have a fire or medical emergency.
March 6, 2015 at 12:23 PM
Yes. 90% of all EMS calls do not require and emergency 911 ambulance.
Anonymous said...
Kudos to Carl for doing what's right even though it results in mudslinging like 10:03 does.
Pollitt scammed us about the tax differential. Lets hope Bob Culver and the County Council won't go there again.
March 6, 2015 at 2:57 PM
Sorry they are all good Republicans and they are all against Carl's ignorant move. Now he wants the rest of the majority of the county to pay for Ireton's ignorant BS. Ireton has a broken down sewer plant to pay for.
Anonymous said...
It is astounding that some of the above comments make this sound like a liberal scheme. Some of the most conservative counties -- such as Talbot and Caroline -- provide a tax differential to owners in the municipalities.
March 6, 2015 at 2:22 PM
Do you think the dumb one's will believe your ignorant comment. The answer is yes, but I have done my homework and I can tell you Talbot and Caroline are not conservative Counties. LMAO. This is the first year the Talbot County Council has had all Republicans and that is because of the sweep. Thanks for chyming in but this isn't my first political rodeo.
I'm against this proposal. It was a bad idea each time it was put forth before, and it still is a bad idea.
Several points:
The cities have parallel overhead to the county where there are duplications, but on a smaller, generally less efficient scale.
Any 'rebates' will not go back to city residents directly, and will likely result in higher taxes or lower services to county residents to make up the difference.
Due to the percentage of rental property in the cities, any actual rebate to property owners will be cash-in-hand to landlords and not reflected in reduced rents. In other words, a landlord subsidy.
All county residents are entitled to use county services (schools, sheriff, jail, landfill, parks, etc. Not all county residents can use city provided services, and only if they are in the confines of the city working or traveling.
30 years ago I was a come here, from a rural area with a county seat similar to the 'bury. Each city, town, borough or township in the county had some overhead costs which were met by some taxes. That's it; none of this nonsense and there was no friction along these lines.
The most honest approach, which would be most efficient and provide highest service levels all-around would be to eliminate these little or large fiefdoms and have one county-wide set of services, managers, workers and equipment.
I don't recall Mr. Anderton advocating this proposal when he ran for office. He would probably not have been elected if he had! We have enough trouble defeating the OweMalley, OweIreton crowd as it is; taking 'friendly fire' from those we elected to make positive changes is disturbing and unacceptable.
Anderton has pushed for a tax offset since his first year as Mayor. This shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. The fact that people continue to comment that this is somehow a liberal idea because Ireton agrees with it shows how many people just don't have the facts. EVERY county in Western and Southern Maryland gives an offset. Those are Republican counties.
This isn't Ireton's idea. It's also not a liberal idea.
If the municipalities unincorporated the county would need to provide police, fire, public works, roads, stormwater, planning and zoning, etc... the county tax payer's rate would sky rocket as everyone in the county would have to share the burden. COUNTY RESIDENTS YOUR TAXES WOULD GO UP!
Actually, maybe we should have all of those municipalities unincorporate. Hire more sherrifs, more public works employees, the county can fund the municipalities water, sewer, maintain their roads, provide animal control, provide street cleaning, plowing, grass cutting. Perfect idea. Except my taxes will probably QUADRUPLE. Is that what you people want? You'd be cutting off your noses to spite your ugly faces.
I wouldn't oppose this if the county helped more with town services like keeping ditches cleared, plowing main roads in the towns, helping with routine road maintenance, etc. But I have seen them with snow plows up going through a town and lower it when they reach the edge of town.
With charter dissolution, all the debts of those towns would fall on all the county taxpayers. The smaller towns cannot afford employing those necessary to handle all the government red tape required to operate so they have to rely on the county for more services. For instance,they would have to hire more capable (and higher educated) planners and inspectors. Public hearings would be required so all could voice their opinions if it ever comes to that.
If Anderton is going to do the city's bidding. Get rid of the mayor and council ,save money reduce taxes!
Anderton was elected to represent the residents in the three municipalities as well as those in portion of Wicomico County. He would not hurt his county residents while trying to help the towns. He is trying to help them reach an amicable solution. A compromise, if you will, which I realize is foreign to most.
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