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Sunday, March 02, 2014

Special Tax District Legislation Equates To An Entire New Tax Category For Wicomico/Maryland Residents

A few weeks ago, SBYnews published an article about a newly proposed Special tax when it showed up on our radar HB-1279.
This legislation was sponsored by lead Delegate Shiela Hixson and Senator Richard Madaleno - both, Montgomery County Democrats.

Special Taxing Districts - Transportation Improvements and Exemption From County Tax Limitations

Yesterday, the Fiscal Note - (click onto link) - was released and this explains the magnitude as to how this new tax will effect Maryland residents - particularly Charter counties like Wicomico and Talbot that have Revenue Caps.

For our readers who may be so consumed with trying to make 'ends meet' - this equates to an entire new category of taxes that will most likely be included on your annual State/County property tax bill.

If this tax passes - (and that possibility is very real as we are outnumbered in representation 188-9) - then you can expect your annual property tax bill to look like the following:

Typical Example Wicomico Tax Bill
Charges                         Assessment    Rate      Amount

State Real Estate                   100,000     .112       $112.00
County Real Estate                100,000     .9086       908.60
Bay Restore Fee (flush tax)                                       60.00
Aydelotte (tax ditch)                                                   15.00
Urban Services Fund (water & sewer)                       82.50
Special Tax-(Montg. Cty. Rt.)100,000     .2672       267.20
 
                                                        TOTAL TAX  1,445.30

Now can you see why the argument can be made for an eastern shore secession - Taxation Without Representation

Ordinarily - I would say to contact your State & Local representatives, but now, I'm not sure it does any good anymore.

Article published by Beezer, SBYnews Contributor  

From The Desk Of Publisher Joe Albero:

Ladies & Gentlemen, I cannot stress enough how IMPORTANT this information is. Look, I don't mean to belittle the rest of your local Main Stream Media but not one of them have picked up on this, yet this is our third article on this matter and we're trying to express just how important and huge an impact this will create on Wicomico County Residents. 

Your local MSM is supposed to be here to HELP you, they are failing. Instead of keeping you informed and up to speed on extremely important issues like this one they are covering the MAJORITY of their stories on news from other states.

ARE YOU READY TO PAY MORE TAXES ABOVE AND BEYOND THE REVENUE CAP? That is exactly what this Bill is all about. We only have until March 6th to spread the word in Annapolis that we will not stand for this proposal. 

Salisbury News demands that County Executive and County Council send a letter IMMEDIATELY to Annapolis telling them they do NOT support this Bill. 

UPDATE: To contact RICK Pollitts OFFICE 410-548-4801 ask for Tamara Brooks media officer.

106 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ummm...it's not taxation without representation. We do indeed have representation in the MD legislature. You can argue that they aren't doing a good job - that's probably true.

But this secession nonsense keeps people from taking important issues seriously - like this tax proposal.

Anonymous said...

O M G!!!!!!!! Joe thank you for keeping all of us out here informed and yes all other media SUCKS. They should be on this like no tomorrow. Rick Pollitt and all of county council, sharpen your pencils and get a letter out of here TODAY, please. Thank You.

JoeAlbero said...

10:21, OK, then don't take it seriously and let it fly through.

It's one thing to have an opinion about how we write an article or how we feel about certain matters but it's another to suggest people won't take us seriously about the BILL just because of how we feel about secession.

The BIG question is, will you sit back and do nothing or will you start sending letters and making calls to our representatives, starting with the Council and Executive?

JoeAlbero said...

I should ADD.

Ireton is already offering $24,000,000.00 to O'Malley, (not required) for a Rain Tax.

KEEP IN MIND, Salisbury IS in Wicomico County and your tax bill will actually look even WORSE than what we provided in the article. You'll have an ADDITIONAL Special Tax for the City, above and beyond the County.

Anonymous said...

I swear, every time I turn around either the State and/or county are trying to swindle us out of more money. Don't they understand, we are already below poverty level. How much more can we take of this madness.

Anonymous said...

Where in the hell is all of the other media. Joe, thank you very much for this public message, I can see now why this is so important.

Anonymous said...

SUCCEED NOW! I physically cannot work enough hours for this kind of crap. There simply is not enough hours in the day.

Anonymous said...

Joe - you are absolutely right, a City resident will get hit much harder.

Anonymous said...

Salisbury News demands that County Executive and County Council send a letter IMMEDIATELY to Annapolis telling them they do NOT support this Bill.
The County Exes and council are eating cheese and kissing azzez too. You all can write letters and shout out all you want. These people are all ready in office. There's NOTHING, I mean NOTHING any citizen can do in Wicomico Ccunty. These people greed is all about the dollar bill. Joe, say this coming. The citizens were warned on numerous occasion. You all did absolutely NOTHING. The only thing you all did over and over again is, kept re-electing these doubt azzez. Now you will suffer for the choices you all have made. I am so glad I do not live in the State of Maryland. And, I mean Maryland with a small case "m". The state of maryland has never cared for the people.

Home owner said...

HOW CAN RICK POLLITT NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS?????????????

rick. said...

I have two homes if this happens I am out of this county how can pollitt and the council not know about this. Bye bye Rick.

Anonymous said...

where is our local media Joe please post there # people need to be contacting these fools.

Anonymous said...

1039 Maybe he does.

Anonymous said...

10:40 - It's called politics. Ever see the movie Braveheart with Mel Gibson. We have a lot of Longshanks in the neighborhood.

Anonymous said...

Rick knows it. He has been trying to worm around the revenue cap for years. This is a way around that.

Anonymous said...

Where are all of the other medias? In my opinion, they don't have any competent personnel that know how to digest this information. And by the time they do, it's to late.

Anonymous said...

The first special tax will be a transportation tax, wait and see, then they'll start adding all the others, year by year. Within 5 years, we'll have to abandon our homes like what has happened in Baltimore.

Anonymous said...

Every time another tax is added, our property values go down. Pretty soon, we'll all be upside down on our mortgages.

Anonymous said...

This WILL KILL pollitt chances for re election keep up the Sh/t work rick.

Anonymous said...

To 10:21 Poster - It's taxation without representation

My response, I believe the article means that it won't do any good for our representatives to even vote on the bill because we simply don't have enough numerical numbers to prevail. That is the point that is being made(118 western reps. to 9 eastern shore reps)

Anonymous said...

To contact RICKS Pollitts OFFICE 410 548 4801 ask for Tamara Brooks media officer.

Anonymous said...

This will be the nail in the coffin for Salisbury/Wicomico county........Welcome to DetRIOT.

Anonymous said...

Mr pollitt you better be sending a letter to Annoapolis ASAP against it or you sir are done but then again I am SURE you knew about this and if you didn't then you DONT need to be in that Position Fool.

Anonymous said...

this isn't the only tax. Just wait for your 2014 tax refunds. Obamacare kicks in and all you working people get the pay for it .

Anonymous said...

They are doing ricks dirty work and he will hide behind them. He hates the revenue cap. I say its a good thing it is there. We must make sure the next election rick looses and knows how we feel. You can make a difference if you vote.

Anonymous said...

Salisbury News "Demands" Really? Who died and left you in charge of anything other that yourself? You can ask, you can plead, you can scream until the cows come home, but demand? Good luck with that. Even if I thought the Revenue Cap was a good thing, I wouldn't respond to that.

Frank. said...

Pollitt tick tock tick tock.

Anonymous said...

Looks as though Rick & Norm got caught with their hands in the cookie jar. I hope all of you who are viewing and reading this commentary will pass on this information to all of your co-workers, family, and friends. These type of actions show me that some of our elected officials have real integrity issues. It's the publics time to step up to the plate and hold them accountable.

Anonymous said...

I agree with 10:48, I believe there is more to this than meets the eye.

Anonymous said...

I clicked onto the fiscal note link and it says the bill will go into effect on June 1, 2014, and that it will apply to budgets after June 30, 2014. Does anyone know when Wicomico's fiscal budget ends and begins?

Anonymous said...

To 12:00 Posting - I believe that Wicomico's budget runs from July 1, 2014 - to June 30, 2015. If that is the case, then it appears that this bill is almost tailor made for Wicomico county.

Now, I to am very suspicious as to the true nature and intention of this new tax bill. One gets the impression that they are trying to ramrod it through without any public input.

Anonymous said...

If this is a way around the bloody revenue cap, then why would we want it removed? How about we have the sense to actually get rid of it ourselves without any outside help. It's time to bring it back for referendum ( in my humble opinion.) We don't need other governing bodies to do our work.

Anonymous said...

Wow, this is really alarming news. This is a very big deal for Wicomico citizens. If you happen to live in the City, you are doomed.

Anonymous said...

10:36, you should definitely SUCCEED! You are just the one 12:21 is talking about.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
"Every time another tax is added, our property values go down. Pretty soon, we'll all be upside down on our mortgages."

I'm already there and live in the city. I can't escape without just walking away. The problem is that my parents raised me better than that. This sucks.

Anonymous said...

All savings that I achieved in my budget when I refinanced the balance on my home at a much lower rate (no cash out or anything like that) has been more than eaten up by tax increases. I pay more and get less from my city and county. Streets didn't even get plowed. I will move as soon as I can. As they drive people who can afford to leave away they will further weaken the local economy and workforce. Fools!

Anonymous said...

What we need is elected representatives who are willing to cut the fat, outsource when practical, and focus on providing the core services that government exists fro in theory.

Anonymous said...

To 12:44 Posting - I agree. The county used to send a street sweeper out 2 or 3 times a year and then the next thing I heard is that they both burned-up in a fire. I haven't seen them come around in over 5 years - then all of a sudden on the same day that Pollitt announces he's going to run again, along comes a brand new street sweeper. Why did he wait so long is my question. I hope he doesn't think that this is going to change my mind as I will definitely not be voting for him this time around.

Anonymous said...

I agree with 12:10 that if you are a city residence - you are in for a double and triple penalty. With the new storm water fees that Ireton proposes and factor in the city taxes, you won't be able to give a property away if it is in the city limits.

Anonymous said...

I don't know how the rest of you feel but I am maxed out, period. I can't even afford my electric bill much less having to worry about a special tax. This is criminally insane, especially with the way the economy is.

Anonymous said...

Thank you Joe for keeping us informed on these important issues. How foolish is the first poster on this blog article. He is an example of what is wrong with a lot of people in this area. Both of his points suck:
Point 1 - We have representation – at 188 to 9? Our vote on the shore counts for nothing.
Point 2 – Because of the secession issue no other issue can be taken seriously – We are upset enough to contemplate secession which means we take these issues very seriously since the money will be coming out of our pockets.
My guess is the clown doesn’t even pay taxes so he can make such disparaging remarks with little regard to the people that will be paying the consequences of this new tax.

Anonymous said...

Delmar Delaware is looking better all the time.

Anonymous said...

I called and Tamara stated "Wicomico County" is NOT in the "special taxing district" you speak of. What is the issue here? What am I missing? Are they not telling the truth? Please advise...

Anonymous said...

Where do these idiots think the money will be coming from? Should we take it from our food budget, utilities, house mortgage, gas and auto to get to work. Less money in our pockets will eliminate our spending within our local stores, which will eventually mean many business will have to fold. Our elected idiots have no common sense.

Anonymous said...

People dont you gat OBAMAS PLAN??? Its to get people OUT of there homes and be Taken over by the WELFARE crowd You Know REPARARTIONS AKA LOW INCOME HOUSING...

Anonymous said...

"Tricky Ricky Pollitt " MUST have known this was going on i want Fn Answers.

Anonymous said...

my mortgage is going to be late this month as it is, the first time in 22 years. that's ok i'm eligible for EBT, i was trying not to go that root, for sure local businesses will suffer because there are only so many slices of the pie, you can slice smaller pieces, that only means each business will get just a little less.

Anonymous said...

I just want to be left alone. I want the government out of my pockets. Every time I turn around they are proposing another tax or fee.

If I'm not mistaken, isn't Madelino the same senator who proposed the Chicken Tax?

Anonymous said...

If they keep increasing and imposing taxes like this I am going to try and sell my home and buy a camper and just live out of the back of it - or a tent. Just can't win for losing in this state. Maybe I'll just throw-up everything and apply for section 8 assistance and EBT card. What the heck, looks like I am being forced into it.

Beezer said...

To 3:53 Posting - Isn't Madaleno the same Senator who proposed the Chicken Tax

Answer: Yes - Senator Madaleno - D, Montgomery County was the lead sponsor in SB - 725 commonly referred to as the Fair Share Poultry Act - a 5-cent tax per chicken. On the House side it was Delegate Shane Robinson - D of Montgomery County.

Anonymous said...

3:13 appears she is lying

This bill authorizes Baltimore City and county governments to set special property tax
rates in special taxing districts for any class of property that is subject to the county
property tax. In setting these tax rates, charter counties that have either a property tax
rate limitation or revenue limitation are authorized to set tax rates higher than the county
tax limitation.

Anonymous said...

Thank you Joe and Beezer for putting out this information. I haven't seen or read a word about this on any of the local news agencies. Thank God I have a news source that I can depend on and I'll be sure and try and call our local Delegate, McDermott.

Anonymous said...

Also you may note that they may go over the 2% cap -

The counties may exceed the charter limitations on local property taxes for the purpose of
funding the approved budget of the local board of education. If a local property tax rate
is set above the charter limit, the county governing body may not reduce funding
provided to the local board of education from any other local source and must appropriate
to the local board of education all of the revenues generated from any increase beyond
the existing charter limit

Anonymous said...

Time to join western Maryland and leave this O Malley fantasy land

Anonymous said...

Correction 4:40 PM - Time to Secede! They can keep their money, traffic, pollution, taxes. We'll go our way and let them go theirs.

Anonymous said...

In fiscal 2013, Talbot County became the first jurisdiction to exercise this new authority by establishing a 2.6 cent supplemental property tax rate for the local board
of education.

This will be Pollitt's new ploy, he tried before to have the cap repealed.



There are 2 provisions of tax increases in this bill, one is for the board or education and another is for transportation.

Anonymous said...

DID anyone realize that this BD of ED special tax provision was PASSED in 2012 ??

Anonymous said...

Why would you use Montgomery County's tax rate in your example, when, if you read the bill, it lists all the counties' tax rates? We are not Montgomery County. Also, the way I read it, it does not mandate any raise in taxes. Much ado about nothing.

Anonymous said...

All local government fiscal years run July 1 thru June 30. That is the fiscal year cycle. No conspiracy here. Educate yourself.

Anonymous said...

You are an idiot. Yes, a sweeper did catch on fire, but was replaced immediately. That was many years ago. The reason that the roads division quit sweeping was because their department lost half their budget and 40 percent of their people.

Anonymous said...

But 4:57 - Look at Talbot's tax rate - it is .51 cents verses Wicomico's .91 cents, almost 1/2 ours. That is why they decided to do it that way. Talbot has a lot more wiggle room.

Anonymous said...

I believe the point is - that once a county starts down this slippery slope there is no turning back. This will destroy the eastern shore. Our incomes are no where near what they are on the western side of the bridge.

Anonymous said...

Talbot's tax rate is lower because the property base is worth more money than Wicomico's. They generate more tax dollars with the lower rate because they are taxing property that a more valuable. When you have more high value property than lower value property it doesn't take as high a tax rate to generate the same amount of money.

Anonymous said...

5:51 - If you click onto the Fiscal Note link you will see that all of the Counties that already have Special Tax Districts also have the highest Real Property Tax Rates in the entire state.

Man, can you imagine the hell that those residents pay for living in those jurisdictions. How to they manage to afford it.

Anonymous said...

FR: Delegate Mike McDermott

My reading and understanding is that this is the democrats response to the robbing of our Highway User Revenues (which has cost our local governments a billion dollars plus). They want to modify the existing statute and allow things like "Opeating Expenses" to be included in their tax recovery scheme. You will notice further that there is an overide of any Revenue Cap in place for these projects.

Consider any local taxing expansion a backdoor state tax.

Local government is trapped. Their taxing authority is intentionally restrictive and the state has become an unfaithful partner. After raising taxes and fees close to 80-times during the O'Malley administration-and facing a billion dollar deficit-this is their answer...more taxes without their fingerprints.

Here are the highlights on the changes to the law:


(5) “Special taxing district” means:
a defined geographic area 14 designated by a county within which ad valorem or special taxes are imposed to 15 finance the cost of infrastructure improvements.

The bill adds:
(x) OPERATING EXPENSES; AND
(XI) other expenses necessary or incident to acquiring, constructing, [and] financing, AND OPERATING infrastructure improvements; and

(B) NOTWITHSTANDING § 6–302 OF THIS SUBTITLE, THE MAYOR AND 3 CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE CITY OR THE GOVERNING BODY OF A COUNTY MAY SET SPECIAL RATES IN A SPECIAL TAXING DISTRICT FOR ANY CLASS OF PROPERTY THAT IS SUBJECT TO THE COUNTY PROPERTY TAX.

(C) IN EXERCISING THE AUTHORITY GRANTED UNDER SUBSECTION (B) 7 OF THIS SECTION AND NOTWITHSTANDING § 6–302 OF THIS SUBTITLE, § 5–104 8 OF THE EDUCATION ARTICLE, OR ANY PROVISION OF A COUNTY CHARTER THAT PLACES RESTRICTIONS ON THAT COUNTY’S PROPERTY TAX RATE, RATE SETTING, OR REVENUES, THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE CITY OR THE GOVERNING BODY OF A COUNTY MAY SET A PROPERTY TAX RATE THAT IS HIGHER THAN THE COUNTY TAX LIMITATION.

(D) SUBJECT TO THE ANNUAL BUDGET AND APPROPRIATION PROCESSES OF THE CITY OF BALTIMORE AND EACH COUNTY, ANY REVENUE ATTRIBUTABLE TO A SPECIAL RATE FOR ANY CLASS OF PROPERTY UNDER SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION SHALL BE DISTRIBUTED FOR THE PURPOSE OF FINANCING THE COST OF STATE TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS OR COUNTY TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS.

I urge you to contact the members of the Ways and Means Committee and express your opposition and any concerns that you have with the bill.

Beezer said...

Thanks Mike - I appreciate your helping to 'shine a light' on a backdoor method into our residents hip pockets. Our Chief Editor - Joe Albero actually picked this up early on - but I wasn't really aware of the broad implications until the fiscal note came online last night. You are right, they are trying to devise a backdoor scheme into our pocketbooks 'without having any fingerprints'

I also encourage everyone of our readers to contact the members of the Ways and Means Committee.

Beezer said...

To 5:25 - Answer to your question I used Montgomery County tax rates on all of the Special Taxes that are listed in the Fiscal Note. There are (5) counties listed that have special tax districts - Charles, Howard, Montgomery, Prince Georges. If you add all of the Special District taxes in Montgomery you will see that it amounts to .2672 times the assessable base.

I hope that helps in your understanding of the example.

Anonymous said...

It is getting to pricy for my pocketbook to live here any more. Between all of these taxes add to that my tags, license, toll increases and professional fees, I don't know if I can live here any longer. I simply cannot afford it. On top of that, I don't even have any health insurance because I can't afford it.

Anonymous said...

Just watched 16 news, nothing about this piece of legislation. Nothing on The Daily Times either. What lousy reporting.

Anonymous said...

Why is it that two western shore Delegates are sponsoring legislation for eastern shore counties. If I'm not mistaken, Montgomery County already has Special Taxing Districts. Then why are they trying to single out Wicomico County and Talbot County. Isn't that why we elect our own representatives, so that they can sponsor legislation for our own Districts.

Something doesn't smell right about this arrangement. Did one of our own local elected Delegates put Senator Madelena up to sponsoring this so as to remove the fingerprints. If so then we need to find out who it was and then recall his Ass.

Anonymous said...

You want my two cents worth on this subject. I think that Pollitt, Conway, among some others are all in cahoots on this piece of legislation.

I hope everyone goes back and reads on page 5 of the Fiscal Note link:

'Pursuant to the bill, Montgomery County will be able to
impose an additional special tax rate in which the resulting revenue could exceed the
county’s revenue cap, provided it is used for transportation improvements.'

Why do you think Pollitt is currently merging the transportation budget into the General Fund. He is setting us up for this new automated incremental Special Taxing District. That is the way it appears to me.

Anonymous said...

Good. I'm glad the county has a means of getting more money to fund growth that was number one in the state over the last 10 years according to the last census report. Non-working people keep moving here. They live in rental homes and cost the county plenty. Landlords pay low property taxes and the county gets no income tax revenue from these non-working residents. It's obvious the quality of life is going down in this area and working people are leaving because of it.

Anonymous said...

8:34 yea, not the brightest comment. Lets penalize everyone over a few. Great idea. Maybe if the non working are the issue focus on the non working and don't screw the rest of the population. We give them enough already.

Your logic is part of the problem

Anonymous said...

Unfortunately, if this additional taxation comes to fruition in Wicomico County, it will definitely cause our county's economy and work force to continue to decline at a faster rate.

It is sad indeed, to observe Pollitt, and his cohorts support an increased tax burden on taxpayers of this county, only to satisfy their lust for out of control spending!

Anonymous said...

Im moving im moving im moving...house going up for sale....with new school coming up in fruitland should sell quick moving to VA WHERE I WORK ...fed the f up with this insane state..

Anonymous said...

To 8:34 Non-working people are not a few, that's the problem. We are gaining more non-working people all the time. Our property values are not increasing like other counties around us. Cheap homes mean cheap rent with non-working people creating a higher tax burden for the county and a poorer quality of life for it's citizens, you and me. We can't stay on this path forever and expect it to get any better.

Anonymous said...

We have representation. It's just that our representatives are O'Malley pawns like Norm Conway and Jim Mathias. Look at all of the taxes those two have voted to raise! Yet come November some of you people will still vote them in based on their name recognition and not their terrible record.

Vote for Mike McDermott and Carl Anderton. Those two guys will fight for us.

Anonymous said...

The power to tax is the power to destroy. The Democrats know that and it is not SBYNEWS fault that they are the only media to have picked up on these types of stories. Frankly, I am startled that none of the other medias aren't all over this.

Thank you Joe for covering this scandal.

Anonymous said...

The problem with the Pollitt Administration, is that they are perplexed on how to grow an economy. Their philosophy is to tax, tax, and just keep raising the tax bar. They simply are not trying to generate any job growth. If they were, they would have initiated an aggressive plan
similar to what Joe proposed when he ran for the Mayoral race.

Anonymous said...

This is really scary. It is scary because of the fact that your leaders are arbitrarily seizing your hard earned money without any public input. They are deploying ways to extract your hard earned tax dollars. In my honest opinion it is criminal.

Anonymous said...

ok, now what can we do to stop this nonsense? give us hope, direction...

Anonymous said...

All the above ==

Pollitt's new campaign slogan:

TAX TO THE MAX!

Anonymous said...

11:45 you need to define "non working".

If you are referring to the welfare crowd, they are a small percentage of the population. I highly doubt non working people suddenly say..... hey lets move to smallsbury.

Cheap homes mean cheap rent? Not necessarily. But the housing problem is much bigger and complex than your simplistic view.

Now that the college is building housing, you will have a flood of homes for sale/rent. You have a gut of foreclosures, no jobs, and crap pay.

To blame the problem on the "non working" is simply ignorant. Is it my fault that I can not find a job, or a job that brings a livable wage where I can afford to buy a home and become part of the community?

Yea it's my fault the politicians are adding yet another tax to the menu.......fool.

Anonymous said...

Responding to 7:10 Posting about Pollitt's new campaign motto.

TAX TO THE MAX!!!

I like it!!! Now let's spread the word. We need some fresh new leadership in this county. It is long overdue.

Anonymous said...

I just got back in town last night, and for the life of me, I can't even leave town for a few days without something catastrophic happening.

This is a really big deal for Salisbury, Wicomico residents. Thank you for giving me a heads-up.

Anonymous said...

There are way to many taxes for my blood. I'm looking to make a move north in the very near future.

May God help you people.

Anonymous said...

7:35, you are very correct. Thanks to past taxes sent down to us from Annapolis, over 100 businesses have left just the Salisbury area, leaving us residents (47% in Salisbury) without jobs that we and and need, This has resulted in foreclosures and homelessness. Yet, we tune into the news only to find talks of Rain tax, chicken tax and a second unlimited property tax that we as citizens will have no referendum on. It will just be thrust upon us as soon as the two councils can decide how much they want to charge us.

Where is the report from a council member returning from a field trip regarding how many manufacturing companies were solicited to bring one or three of our empty facilities back into production/ employment?

Crickets is all I hear from that front.

And they wonder why the existing tax base is so small. Sitting there scratching their heads and just driving that tax wagon right up our...

Anonymous said...

It wasn't all that long ago that Pollitt went on his Sino trade trip to Taiwan. Upon his return I remember distinctly his publishing that he went there to promote chicken. Not long after that - two Montgomery County democrats tried to sponsor a CHICKEN TAX to help run them out of here to.

What a calamity. Talk about sending mixed messages, I'll tell you what State our State is in. We are in a State of CONFUSION!!

Anonymous said...

People around here have been eating chicken so long that they have forgotten what Steak tastes like. We need something spectacular to happen in our local economy - and it has to be big things. We have already crossed the crisis stage - Pollitt should declare a state of economic emergency.

Anonymous said...

Can we please get back on the subject of taxes. Maybe if we were cut some taxes then some of those exodus businesses might return.

Anonymous said...

Is panhandling classified as a legitimate job. The reason I'm asking is that as far as I'm aware, it is the only trade I know of where you don't have to pay any taxes. And maybe there is one other - the oldest known trade in society.

Anonymous said...

I just read the headlines on Salisbury News about another announced business moving - Matech. And it won't be very long before Benelli Beretta moves their entire operation south.

They keep raising the tax bar and more and more businesses keep uprooting. Business has now become an endangered species in Wicomico & MD.

Anonymous said...

Sooner or later this taxing madness has got to stop. What are we to do!
There is only so much money that they can extract, and as far as I'm concerned I'm already operating on my last reserves.

Anonymous said...

You can forget trying to attract any new businesses to Salisbury. No CEO worth his salt would even consider moving an operation here. It has nothing to do with a highly trained or highly educated workforce.

I've been in business over 30 years and I can tell you first hand that a business is a prodigy of its environment and the environment in Maryland sucks. Unless you change the business climate, we are going to remain in the stoneages. And don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

Anonymous said...

With the Affordable Health Care Act around the corner, if and when it gets fully implemented, there won't be any significant businesses left except Wal-mart, Sam's, BJ's, Costco, Amazon. But even these will go to all part timers. Our nation has really backed itself into a corner. I think you will continue to see further deterioration in our economic base. We simply are not creating enough jobs.

Anonymous said...

Our community needs more money for education. We need the additional revenue to fund our schools and supportive infrastructure. If we don't modernize then our community will not be able to retain key industries or entice new businesses. What we need is an infusion of funding and quickly.

Anonymous said...

Responding to 7:59 Posting

More money for education. . . for crying out loud, if after the last 4 years of educational stimulus spending -(most of went to fund retired teachers pensions)- and this is what we have to show for it!

I am buying into it, we have spent a boat load of money on education and look at the results. I'm all in favor of educating our general population, but what has transpired hasn't worked. We need to get it right, and it is not happening. Now, all the educational system is doing is strapping our youth to huge educational debt bills, with little or no ability to repay. It is a crying shame to say that we need more for education in light as to what has occurred.

Anonymous said...

I think if Maryland were to legalize marijuana like CO, our money woes might be over. The ground is very fertile, and with price of pot verses soybeans, corn, or sorghum, the farmers would reap a bounty. As for the environment, it would also help to clean up the Chesapeake.

Anonymous said...

Please don't mention about more funding for the poor old BOE. I have been hearing this every year since I was born, nearly 67 years ago. No matter what you give them it won't be enough.

Anonymous said...

Looks like all of Wicomico residents are going to be poked pretty hard if this legislation is allowed to go through.

Anonymous said...

I haven't read a word about any of this in The Daily Times. Thank you Joe for keeping us posted.

Anonymous said...

Is this so they can pay for the work needed for that contaminated water area near Fruitland?

Anonymous said...

Reference 9:35 Posting

Yep - this will be identified to those residents as an Urban Services Fee. It will open up a can of worms for others to be tacked on - click onto Fiscal Note and go to Montgomery County.

Anonymous said...

Cut the Government now-- we don't need over 50 Sheriffs

Anonymous said...

50 Sheriffs, I believe that number is more than double that. And I also believe that the Salisbury Police Department also has more than 100 officers. All told, I thing we have have 100+ Sheriff's, more than 100 Salisbury City Police, and approximately 60+ State Police assigned to the area. And still crime is running rampant. The reason - NO JOBS, NO JOBS, NO JOBS!!!

Anonymous said...

Another reason to not pay up if live in this county.