We’re Glad Jim Ireton Isn’t a Math Teacher
The newly elected Salisbury city council is on its way to adopting a budget for FY 2014. Included is a tax rate hike of nearly 8% coupled with a DROP in water and sewer rates. One thing that appears to be missing is mayor Jim Ireton’s promised “storm water authority”, now laughingly referred to across the country as the “Rain Tax”.
Newly minted council president Jake Day is backpedaling on his campaign commitment not to support a tax hike. He now claims that he won’t support a tax hike above constant yield. We’ll give him that one (on style) since the net affect of the rate increase should be revenue neutral. We wonder if the people who stayed home at the last election will be as forgiving since a sizable number of them will see their taxes rise?
The section of Ireton’s proposed budget that disturbs us most is a cut in the water and sewer rates. WHAT? A self-identified conservative is against a cut in government fees (water and sewer fees are not really a tax)? Sorry to disappoint, but … YES!
Here’s the problem. Salisbury is showing a sizable surplus in its Water and Sewer Enterprise Fund. HOWEVER, Salisbury is having to PAY TWICE for its failed waste water treatment plant (WWTP). By cutting rates now, the city will have to raise them that much more in the future. The problem is simple. Ireton hopes to justify future general fund tax hikes because he’s decreased the water and sewer rates. Given that Ireton makes Barack Obama look like a Reaganite, he just can’t sit idly by and watch tens of millions sit unspent, even if it is in Salisbury’s best interest. That money needs to be SPENT! Sadly for Ireton, he can’t spend water and sewer money for every fly by night leftist scheme that comes down the pike, even if he thinks that Jake Day will rubber stamp Ireton’s every whim. (The jury is still out on Day, we all know that Laura Mitchell and Shanie Shields will rubber stamp all sorts of craziness.)
SALISBURY, MD – Another questionable real estate deal is catching the eyes of Wicomico County taxpayers. Today the Wicomico County Council is scheduled to vote on the 
SALISBURY, MD – As Wicomico County homeowners again face an increase in their property tax rates, County Executive Rick Pollitt held a “public hearing” on his soon-to-be-released FY 2014 county budget. It should be noted that no real budget detail was provided for citizens to comment on.
When I’m cruising through Delaware (or northern Worcester or Wicomico counties) I often bump my dial over one tick from 
The state of Maryland has just passed a $37 billion budget, chock full of the expected tax hikes and wasteful spending. Wicomico County Executive Rick Pollitt will unveil his proposed budget on Thursday during his annual dog and pony show at the Wicomico Youth and Civic Center. We can expect a proposed $0.07 rate hike. In a lead up to this, Wicomico School’s superintendent 
GEORGETOWN, DE – Sussex County Sheriff Jeff Christopher’s ongoing battle with the state of Delaware over the extent (limit) of his powers has 
Why are YOUR tax dollars – and that’s what funds the Tri-County Council – being used to hold meetings at a brew pub when you have already paid for perfectly good meeting space?
In part one of a multi-part series on 
Two weeks ago the council refused to place the grant acceptance on the agenda. Tonight they will vote on whether to accept $1.4 million to hire additional fire fighters. Again, in most places this would be a no-brainer and on the consent agenda. The fire department says it can use the additional fire fighters. The federal government will pick up the cost for two years. What’s the problem?
Monday evening, a motion to include acceptance of a $1.4 million federal grant for the Salisbury Fire Dept. on the meeting’s agenda failed. According to the administration of Mayor Jim Ireton this effectively killed the grant. As far as this goes, that is true. What about “the rest of the story”, including another Ireton hissy fit where he ordered all city employees to leave the council meeting?
BALTIMORE, MD – The 
EASTON, MD – The Talbot County Board of Elections has 
SUDLERSVILLE, MD – After a request from engineering firm 
DEWEY BEACH, DE – In the wake of an Attorney General’s opinion that the mayor and council of Dewey Beach was guilty of multiple violations of the state’s open meetings law, the former mayor of this resort town has called on the current mayor to resign. Former mayor Dell Tush, in a July 27th letter to Dewey Beach mayor Diane Hanson, asked Hanson to resign. “It is time for you to resign before our town is damaged beyond repair,” Tush said.
SALISBURY, MD – Yesterday it was announced that Maryland governor 
DOVER, DE – Dover’s non-union city employees have abandoned their previous tactic for organizing and asked the Amalgamated Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees to be their certified bargaining agent with Dover’s city council.
CAPE CHARLES, VA – Virginia governor Bob McDonnell has appointed Northampton County Supervisor and businessman Willie Randall to the Virginia State University Board of Visitors. Randall is a 1976 graduate of VSU. After retiring from a 20 year career in the U.S. Army, Randall opened the Exmore office of the Edward Jones Investments.
ANNAPOLIS, MD – Anne Arundel County Executive John Leopold (R) will stand trial for four (4) counts of official misconduct and one (1) count of misappropriation of taxpayer dollars. Retired Circuit Court Judge Dennis Sweeney refused to grant Leopold’s motion to dismiss all charges.
Guess who was in the audience adding her support? Ms. McLain. Guess who was part of the “Revitalization Committee” that added their collective names to Ireton’s plan? Ms. McLain. Guess which TV station dispatched a reporter to the home of council president Terry Cohen (frightening her children to the point that her daughter was brought to tears)? WMDT (of which McLain is the GM). Guess whose reporter sheepishly admitted that she was ordered to attempt an ambush of Cohen at her home? McLain (WMDT reporter Jemie Lee). Guess which outlet presented a one sided view of Ireton’s dog and pony show without even disclosing that McLain was part of the group promoting Ireton’s plan? WMDT.
SALISBURY, MD – The Salisbury City Council is expected to vote tonight on the city’s plan to rearrange the intersection of S. Division Street, Bateman Street and Onley Road. Will they?
SALISBURY, MD – 2010 Wicomico County Executive candidate Joe Ollinger has proposed saving Wicomico, and Maryland, taxpayers approximately $11 million in the construction of a new James M. Bennett Middle School. 
