On May 30th in the Independent, it was reported that Wicomico County home/landowners would be given a reduction in their property taxes, prosed by Council President at Large John Cannon. The article indicates the reduction is one that hasn't occurred in a long time and gives owners a much-needed tax break in this economic climate.
The Independent states the plan to be, "...mean county property owners will receive their first tax cut in memory, lowering the property tax rate by slightly more than a penny, down from the current 0.9516 cents per $100 to 0.9398 cents."
Creative ways to work around the system...
Interesting that Cannon would forward this proposition at this time when you consider Salisbury Mayor Jake Day's just approved budget, where he is looking to the landlord class to foot the deficits created by property tax reduction he's giving own-occupied dwellings in the city. It is all about timing and when you look closely, it was no altruistic gesture on Cannon's part to propose such a cut to county residents.
Owning Cannon Management & Rentals LLC, which owns and manages approximately 229 properties throughout Wicomico/Salisbury, this reduction gives him plenty of reasons to off-set his own property tax burden. By reducing the county taxes, it essentially washes any tax increase leveled by the city.
Pretty Clever but not entirely Flawless
Two unfortunately things about this tax reduction proposal are glaring obvious for quick dot connectors. First, while this will save Cannon literally hundreds of thousands of tax dollars, for the average one-home resident in the county, it means roughly $6.00 to $7.00 per year in savings. Yep, that's it. Not even a cool Hamilton. So much for altruistic gestures and all other such rubbish.
Second, when this vote occurred, Cannon failed to recuse himself from said vote. Can you say, "Conflict of Interest?" Much like a doctor voting on increased medical payments on a hospital board, this is nothing short than a massive ethics violation on his lot. It is such a blatant ethics snafu, it cannot be ignored even by the most causal observer.
Why do we continuously allow this kind of 'insider trading' in our county's governance? Isn't this like leaving a fox in charge of the hen house?
What say you?
43 comments:
Wow. Thornton busting on Republicans? Guess it's just not a Day thang!
I agree he should have recused himself from the vote and stated clearly that he would benefit financially from the positive vote.
Why is that any different than when Jim Mathis is on Royal Plus Payroll and proposed and then he voted for sprinkler systems in new construction. Can you say frozen pipes!$!$. That has always been a problem with wet sprinkler systems in new houses. I don't think people realize how screwed up this is. California is the only other state with this law and look at the mess they are in.
I totally agree with everything you wrote and appreciate the view point. Some one should file an ethics violation against him for voting.
But, help me understand your math.
"Cannon Management & Rentals LLC, owns and manages approximately 229 properties."
"This will save Cannon literally hundreds of thousands of tax dollars, for the average one-home resident in the county, it means roughly $6.00 to $7.00 per year in savings."
Ok so the Cannon rental properties are likely low priced homes on average, so each of the 229 properties would save "roughly $ 6 -7 annually. So 229 X 7 = $ 1603 savings annually. Where do you get that Cannon will save "hundreds of thousands of tax dollars?"
Regardless of the math, he shouldn't have voted, and I agree with your views.
Anonymous said...
Wow. Thornton busting on Republicans? Guess it's just not a Day thang!
June 2, 2017 at 3:02 PM
They are taking up for their boy Culver.
There are several situations where some members should recuse themselves. Not to sure about this one, but it's obvious that Cannon is in bed with Jake Day. Proof of that is how Jake Day was at the Cannon Wedding and Cannon took sides with Jake Day on the Salisbury Fire Service Agreement and his obvious stance against the Station 1 volunteers.
the mayors plan rewards only home owners in the city that can vote for him. With 80% being rentals the landlord and commercial crowd will be hit with higher bills. Funny part is most landlords and commercial owners do not live in the city and can not vote. We have no real way to oppose this. All the voters love it because it reduces their bill. Crappy situation. Taxation without a seat at the table.
"Cannon is in bed with Jake Day"
Thanks 3:30 for ruining my weekend with THAT image
Ok so everyone complains when taxes are increased and complain when they're decreased...C'Mon man!
342 didn't read the article.
Drain the swamp!!!
Once the government increases your taxes or charges a fee, don't count on them ever taking any of it back. All this government knows how to do is tax and spend, and spend some more and create an even larger deficit to justify increasing the tax rate more. The fact is, there are few good jobs in this county and the eastern shore in general. People are tapped out. Seven dollars less is kind of an insult. How about a few dollars or one hundred per thousand dollars charged from the previous year. I pay over 2500 dollars per year in property taxes. When I moved here in 1990 it was only 550 per year and I had a good job and made double what I make now. Something has to give. Incomes are not going up, and I don't see much happening here in the foreseeable future. So you can take your seven dollars and shove it!!!!!!!!!!!!!
cronyisum and the good old boy network
Am I alone here or does anyone else see what Cannon did broke the law? Insider trading is illegal. Doing these horse-trading deals is illegal, so why do people not see the lawlessness in this? Talk about Banana Republic? You scream when Congress votes for their own raises but this is just as bad. What gives with you people?
What SOB , crooked Cannon , join the Hillary ranks you SOB.
John, did your lapse in government when you were voted out teach you anything at all about the dangers of doing this kind of underhanded crap? What's happened to you? When you worked in TV you were a decent fellow. Shame on you for using your position for person gain. Any help you give residents is consequential.
This is not a hit piece, it's about someone who broke the law while trying to line his own pocket and using his base in the process. Pretty crappy behavior for a man who should know better after all the years he's been in elected positions in Wicomico.
321 it's not any different but we let people get away with this crap all the time. When is enough, enough? When will we get sick of being hoodwinked like this? Just really pathetic.
329 the mathematician, you don't know how much his properties are assessed at or what other kickbacks he's voted for himself to enjoy. If what your math is saying is true, is your integrity being trashed worth the low number? If you read further down the article, it was a wash for his tax increases in Salisbury because God forbid, he pay anything more in order to help the community. Due to his lack of any ethical compass, how many other sweetheart situations has he voted in for himself to profit that we don't know about?
5:30, Might I add, how many times have ALL of your local main stream media sources IGNORED all of these topics, yet they sit there in these council meetings. Oh sure, the newbies who know NOTHING about the City or County may write it up but I can assure you when it hits their editors desk they remove it immediately and let the Cannon's of the area know they did them a favor. One hand washes the other, if you get my drift.
You people are being steam rolled right in your face and I have to wonder, do any of you actually care any more? With more then 50,000,000 hits here I'd have to say you do but now it's time to call these people out and demand immediate accountability.
With all his crooked deals His Father would be rolling in his grave. He is not the man his Father was. No disrespect to the senior.
This is why John slumlord Cannon should never had been allowed a govt job he is FULL of CONFLICTS OF INTERESTS.
CANNON should have NO VOTE.
And a slumlord.
Is there a ETHICS commission in this Damn state oooooops its the good ole boy network.
100% Correct.
With all them rental properties why would you even want to be associated with politics unless your own special interests need to be satisfied.
John cannon = Fraud.
CON flicts.
Dear Unpublished Slick:
To answer your sarcastic question, I'm prepared to take task with, the answer is this: If Mr. Albero had won his election and done the things I have reported on to you all, you can bet your last cookies and all your milk that I'd slam him to the proverbial wall worse then most of others I've bashed in the past (or will bash in the future).
In fact, ironically, we had this discussion today and he is well aware of my proclivities towards politicians whom abuse their positions for self-enrichment at the expense of the citizens who've entrusted them with a very important job in their community. It is a violation of trust and disingenuous in every way.
See, one thing you seem to not grasp in your little duck mind is I'm an equal opportunity basher. I bash elected officials whom I see are taking advantage of all the citizens, that includes you, duckie.
When a person in an elected position fails their constituency, it's a matter of grave concern to the citizens of the area whom vote for him or her. This is what real journalism is about and given you have been devoid of this type of reporting for a long time, you don't know it when you see it. You make asinine assumptions about intentions. My intentions with all my writings is to inform people of current affairs and sometimes, a bit of history.
Truth is: Facts do not have intentions or feelings. They are what they are and no amount of crying, whining and bombastic hyperbolic rhetoric will change them.
If you don't like my articles then the solution is really quite simple: Don't read them!
To write incendiary and personal insulting comments to me does nothing to boost yourself whilst you sit in there in front of your computer, trying to figure out whether to wind your testicles or scratch your watch. It demonstrates you have a low threshold for tolerance and trigger too easy to be any fun to anyone. Therefore, my little duck friend, you betray your own lack of character and are not an adult; mentally, psychologically, emotionally or otherwise.
Now then, I hope I have made myself perfectly (and crystal) clear. Thank you for taking the time to pose your insidiously ignorant rubbish.
Have a delightful weekend!
Yours truly,
Thornton Crowe
Conflict of interest for Cannon to Vote on a tax reduction?
Come-on folks, one could use that reason to restrict all of the County Council members to abstain on a tax decrease, after all don't they all own residential primary property in Wicomico County. In fact, the very county charter requires them to be residents of Wicomico County.
Sorry - $6/$7 dollar savings per year for the average Wicomico County property owner doesn't cut the muster in my book. However, it is better than a 23.6% increase that Wicomico's residents experienced a few years ago.
He needs to be removed and charged for his crimes, we're ALL sick of it. This tax cut, if you can call it that...isnt meant to help Wic co residents, its simple meant to off-set the cities increase...for HIM.
As for Cannon being a republican, HA! He's more democrat than Hillary herself and apparently just as criminal...or is it that " above the law" complex.... dirtball...
Get him the hell out COUNCIL MEMBERS!!!
There's a lot of distraction here. Start simple and target the removal of Mathias now that they other guy is gone. OUR swamp has plenty of draining to do. Maryland has these elected forever officials that have been in Annapolis too long. Ocean City has the same problem.
Thats why he is in politics to control the $$$$$.
Anyone who is profiting from something they vote on to get those profits it engaging in a conflict of interest.
Legal Definition:
Conflict of interest is a situation in which an internal auditor, who is in a position of trust, has a competing professional or personal interest. Such competing interests can make it difficult to fulfill his or her duties impartially.
Many Liberals bragged that Trump had a conflict of interest due to his companies and it caused him to transfer all ownership to his sons. You can't damn the President and threaten with impeachment for the same thing you turn a blind eye to with your local government. It is hypocritical to the nth degree.
Where is the ethics commission.?
Hi, SAPOA. You've sucked the life out of Salisbury neighborhoods for long enough.
No, silly goose. The rule is to benefit disproportionately, which he does in this case.
Crickets.
awww Mr. John-John.
How old is that picture of Cannon, doesn't look like him now? Not the man his father was or his sister I went to school with her very nice.
128 people can be very nice but engage in questionable activities. Yes, John Cannon is a friendly guy. He's always been nice to people. He's far from being a moron like Ireton. That being said, it doesn't excuse him for this sketchy deal on his part. He could have proposed it without voting on it. It would have been the honorable thing to do.
2:27 PM - Never could use honorable and John Cannon in the same sentence, just does not work.
A skechy nice guy POS.
Way to go John. As a fellow Republican it's crap like this that makes everyone serious wonder if there's really two different parties or if its just one big ball of corruption. You're family was a decent family in this community. Your sister was one of the best anchors WBOC ever had. Bobby a lawyer. And then there's you. Are you the black sheep of the family or are you just black sheep of the whole goddamn Salisbury? Looks like both. I hope someone does something to bring you legal to task for this. Such a disappointment.
Post a Comment