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 – 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.
BALTIMORE, MD – While Eastern Shore property owners brace for the news of how much they will be forced to pay, business owners and non-profits on the Western Shore of Maryland are 
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 
ANNAPOLIS, MD – The House Ways and Means committee approved an amended version of Maryland governor Martin O’Malley’s gambling legislation Monday night. It is expected that the bill will be debated and voted on in the House of Delegates today.
RICHMOND, VA – Gov. Bob McDonnell has announced that Virginia will finish fiscal year 2012 with a $129.2 million surplus. This is the third year in a row that the Commonwealth has finished in the black. FY 2011 ended with a $544.8 million surplus. FY 2010 had $403 million of revenues in excess of expenses.
Maryland governor Martin O’Malley can’t run a state. He never saw a tax hike that he didn’t love. If it wasn’t for the largesse of China (for their willingness to buy US sovereign debt) and the federal taxpayer, O’Malley would be governing one of the poorer states in the Union rather than one of the wealthiest. Martin O’Malley would be a pauper, rather than a prince. Martin O’Malley does have one trait that has served him well … he is a prince of the sound bite.
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. 
Yesterday the Wicomico County Council passed County Executive Rick Pollitt’s FY 2013 operating budget. While Wicomico continues to endure one of the highest unemployment rates in Maryland, citizens and businesses alike will face higher taxes; placing even greater difficulty on those struggling to keep their homes and adding one more impediment to to a business sitting on the bubble as to whether or not to hire new employees.
EASTON, MD – The Easton Town Council passed a $17 million budget for FY 2013 Tuesday without any change in tax rates.
SALISBURY, MD – By a 5-2 vote, the Wicomico County Council approved the FY 2013 operating budget. Council president Joe Holloway and councilwoman Sheree Sample-Hughes were the two dissenting votes.
CHESTERTOWN, MD – The Kent County Commissioners will hold their public hearing tonight on the 
Larry Hogan, chairman of 
EASTON, MD – The 
GEORGETOWN, DE – 
PRINCESS ANNE, MD – The Somerset County Commissioners will not raise property taxes this year, according to the county’s finance director. The Daily Times’ 
ANNAPOLIS, MD – Montgomery County boasts one of the most liberal legislative delegations in Maryland. That’s saying something given the the overall complexion of Maryland’s General Assembly. They have always been ready to vote in favor of spending other folk’s money; but when MoCo gets hit it’s time to vote like a conservative.
I’ve lost count. Literally. I’ve lost count how many times Salisbury’s daily newspaper has applauded Maryland governor Martin O’Malley and a majority of the General Assembly for 
ANNAPOLIS, MD – By a vote of 33 – 13, the Maryland Senate has passed 
SALISBURY, MD – Tuesday evening I had the honor of speaking to a meeting of the Wicomico chapter of the Maryland Society of Patriots. The topic was the FY 2013 Wicomico County budget. Almost every seat was taken and attendees included members of the legislature as well as several local elected officials, past and present.
![120509_MSOP_WicomicoCountyBudget_thumb[1]](http://www.delmarvaobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/120509_MSOP_WicomicoCountyBudget_thumb11.png "120509_MSOP_WicomicoCountyBudget_thumb[1]")
PRINCESS ANNE, MD – If the Princess Anne Town Commissioners adopt a new real property tax rate of $1.12 two things will have happened:
![120509_MSOP_WicomicoCountyBudget_thumb[1]](http://www.delmarvaobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/120509_MSOP_WicomicoCountyBudget_thumb1.png "120509_MSOP_WicomicoCountyBudget_thumb[1]")
ANNAPOLIS, MD – After weeks of conjecture Maryland governor Martin O’Malley has called a special session of the state legislature to begin on May 14th.
ANNAPOLIS, MD – News abounded yesterday on the blogosphere, Twitter, and Facebook that Maryland governor Martin O’Malley had called a special session of the Maryland General Assembly to increase taxes and avoid the so-called “Doomsday Budget” which spends ONLY $700 million more than last year. House Speaker Michael Busch and Senate President Mike Miller have both told the press that they expect a session the week of May 14th.
EASTON, MD – The Talbot County Council will hold its first of two budget hearings this afternoon at 2PM in the Bradley meeting Room of the Talbot County Courthouse. The second hearing will be at 7PM at Easton High School.
When asked how the administration made such a huge mistake, Strausburg said, “We were told in a meeting that the MOE re-set would only be $7 million.” Strausburg also said that the administration needed the extension in hopes that the legislature would remedy the situation.
ANNAPOLIS, MD – The Maryland General Assembly ended its 2012 REGULAR session Monday night by adopting the so-called “Doomsday Budget” because the two houses were unable to agree on a hike in income taxes. The “Doomsday Budget” contains far more cuts that the Democrat-controlled legislature would prefer.
It appears that Senate president Mike Miller carried through on his threat to stop consideration of an income tax hike until the House passed legislation permitting a new casino, with table games, at the National Harbor complex in Prince George’s County. Gov. Martin O’Malley offered a veiled criticism of Miller to the Baltimore Sun:
"The republic was not built on gambling gimmicks, bingo or bake sales." Sometimes lawmakers have to put "egos and pet projects" aside in order to "advance the common good," the governor said.
