The Great Wicomico / Salisbury Pay Raise Scam of 2008
At first glance, it appears that we should give three cheers to the Daily Times op-ed staff for today’s editorial calling for the removal of all pay raises from the FY 2009 Wicomico County budget. While sounding as if they are taking bold steps on behalf of the taxpayer, their call for true fiscal restraint rings a bit hollow.
Note that there is only mention of the Wicomico County budget. Where is the criticism of Salisbury Mayor Barrie Tilghman’s budget? Not only does the Mayor include pay raises in her budget, she is handing out some fat raises within her own office. I guess that Tilghman press secretary Laura D’Alessandro failed to notify her co-workers that Tilghman has budgeted over $100,000 MORE in her budget for the bureaucracy of the Mayor’s office than she has for street repairs.
Now that the campaign to re-elect Barrie Tilghman (or elect Gary Comegys) for Mayor seems to have begun we can hardly expect too much scrutiny of Salisbury fiscal affairs. Of course, there wasn’t much scrutiny before.
Read the rest of this entry »
For Bill Duvall, the Enemy of My Enemy …
I’m sure that you have heard the old adage, “The enemy of my enemy is my friend”. If you have ever been involved in politics, you have probably been guilty of falling for it at one time or another. Unfortunately, few locals have been more guilty of this sin of vacuity more than our local sage Bill Duvall.
There is no question that Bill would be leading the charge for the election of Maryland Sen. Andy Harris (R-7) to Congress EXCEPT for the support thrown on Harris by Salisbury News publisher Joe Albero (and perhaps myself). Harris and Duvall are very close philosophically. Of course it is far more important to trash someone who is perceived to be a friend of Duvall’s archenemy Albero.
Yesterday we were treated to a similar post by Duvall. Somehow, Duvall has decided that Albero has endorsed a tax increase for Salisbury.
I did a little search. The only two RECENT posts mentioning a tax increase on Salisbury News were one written by me (not Albero) and one post where Albero is drawing attention to the city’s crumbling public infrastructure. In this post Albero asks (tongue in cheek) if a 50% tax increase would make things better.
Read the rest of this entry »
Salisbury City Debt Is Just One Symptom of Gross Fiscal Mismanagement
Whether Joe Albero’s report of Salisbury Mayor Barrie Tilghman not seeking re-election proves true or not, the city of Salisbury is headed for some rough seas. The city’s debt load is only a symptom of the gross fiscal mismanagement of Tilghman’s administration.
Contrary to this morning’s Daily Times puff piece on the city’s debt, the current level of debt is not justifiable. While it is true that the large jump in debt during Tilghman’s administration is largely due to the upgrade of the city’s waste water treatment plant, the debt level would not be nearly as large IF the Mayor and her lackeys on this, and the previous, council had shown even a minimum of concern for city residents and taxpayers.
A prime example is the now infamous “growth pays for growth” strategy put forth by Tilghman, previous council president (and now Salisbury exile) Mike Dunn, and our own local Nobel laureate, Councilman Gary Comegys. Using the failed strategy of paying the customer to take your product and claiming that they would make up the losses on volume, the Tilghman / Comegys axis subsidized developers, some of whom do not even have to pay city taxes.
Read the rest of this entry »
Salisbury City Council Live Blog
Live Blog of Salisbury City Council Tonight
I’ve decided to live blog tonight’s meeting of the Salisbury City Council. Sorry for the late notice, but tune in at 6PM.
Sphere: Related ContentWho Wants to Raise Taxes in Salisbury?
The short answer is nobody … until Salisbury Mayor Barrie Tilghman is re-elected in 2009. Then, the residents and business owners of Salisbury had better watch out.
Last year the taxpayers of Salisbury were hit with a double digit property tax increase and saved from a double digit water and sewer increase only through the persistence of Councilwomen Debbie Campbell and Terry Cohen. Given that Tilghman is up for re-election, the dire need for a water and sewer increase is no longer a priority. The need for a tax increase - last year, this year or next, is certainly unwarranted but was, and will be necessary, due to Tilghman’s spendthrift ways and the refusal of her three lackeys on the city council to rein her in.
This is evidenced by comments in this morning’s Daily Times:
“We did raise the property tax rate last year and, of course, as we are looking at the budget this year,, I have said from the beginning one of the key things I was waiting for was to find out if taxes were going to be raised,” said Council President Louise Smith.
First of all Louise, the Mayor’s budget has been out almost a month. You’ve known for some time whether or not she would call for a tax increase. Second, and far more importantly, it is ultimately up to the city council whether or not there will be a tax increase. Not even in the deepest, darkest recesses of Barrie Tilghman’s mind would City Attorney Paul Wilber argue that any tax increase can be implemented without the approval of council.
Louise’s comments may put her in the lead for the annual Shanie Shields award for most foolish statement made by an elected official on Delmarva.
Wicomico Budget - It’s All Because of the Revenue Cap
If you actually believe this, then voluntarily send more money in to the county.
Today’s Daily Times provides evidence that the mainstream media loves big government and those that love to spend the money of the average taxpayer. Reading Greg Latshaw’s piece almost makes me want to change my voter registration.
According to the Daily Times, Wicomico County Executive Rick Pollitt, and even Wicomico County Council President John Cannon there is just no place to cut. Not only are they mistaken, Pollitt’s ongoing parlor trick of blaming the county’s revenue cap for every conceivable fiscal problem has grown old to the point that even a die hard cap opponent such as myself is no longer in favor of its repeal.
Pollitt’s embrace of the O’Malley tax increase is evidence that a Pollitt administration should not be permitted to increase property taxes. Pollitt’s initial claim that his support of the Governor’s tax plan was “to protect funding to Wicomico County” has blown up in his face. Not only are we paying higher taxes, funding to the county is expected to fall. This is why Pollitt and the County Council are now faced with a “flat budget”.
Read the rest of this entry »
Daily Times Awards Show Poor State of Local Coverage
In this morning’s Daily Times we see that Gannett’s local outpost has gone out and won 35 awards from the Maryland - Delaware - D.C. Press Association. WOW!
Note that there was one award for an article, authored by former reporter Katherine Crowell, about the “short life span of Salisbury City Council members”. This piece was more of a feature piece than hard news coverage.
This lends further evidence to the poor state of coverage provided by the Daily Times when it comes to local government and politics, particularly when it comes to Salisbury city government. Of course this was something that we already knew.
Recently reporter Joe Gidjunis left for a more northern clime. What to do? Move city reporter Greg Latshaw over to the county beat, even though he hasn’t mastered city coverage yet. Latshaw’s replacement: a young lady who appears to follow past Daily Times practice of taking dictation from Salisbury Mayor Barrie Tilghman.
Given the state of city’s finances this is just what the taxpayers need. Of course, if Ms. D’Alessandro ever exhibits talent for her job, the can transfer her elsewhere.
cross posted at Salisbury News
Technorati Tags: Maryland, Salisbury, Wicomico, politics, Salisbury politics, Wicomico politics, media, Gannett, Daily TimesSphere: Related Content
Don’t Fault Barrie Tilghman
Salisbury government is something. Mayor Barrie Tilghman’s bureaucracy grows and grows. Property taxes rise. The only economic development that the city seems able to attract is retail or residential development. Yet, we have learned via the Daily Times that this is not Tilghman’s fault. No, it’s all because Wicomico County won’t write her a BIG CHECK!
Taking a clue from her counterpart down the hall (Wicomico County Executive Rick Pollitt), Tilghman is blaming some amorphous government policy for the fiscal woes of Salisbury. Tilghman seems to think that the city’s fiscal plight is because Wicomico County doesn’t provide a tax differential. This is similar to Pollitt’s now monotonous tactic of tying the county’s revenue cap with its fiscal problems.
It should be noted that Tilghman has now changed her rhetoric a bit and has begun calling for a “tax set-off”. As we explained in an earlier post, Tilghman wants the county to right a check, not provide needed tax relief to Salisbury taxpayers. It should be noted that our local paper has fallen right in line.
Read the rest of this entry »
Barrie Tilghman’s Budget Bait and Switch
Getting back into town I see that little has changed in the land of Barrie. Salisbury Mayor Barrie Tilghman is using the same old tricks and Gannett’s Daily Times continues to accommodate her.
The taxpayers of Salisbury need to wake up to the fact that the groundwork has been laid for large tax and service fee increases. Tilghman revealed this pending scandal in Tuesday’s budget address, she simply used a lot of smoke and mirrors.
The reason? Tilghman is coming up for re-election and wants to con the voters of Salisbury into another four years of economic malaise and economic subsidies to her friends. Hiking taxes and fees before an election simply won’t do if Barrie OR her hand-picked replacement are to remain in power.
Read the rest of this entry »
Salisbury City Council and the Daily Times - More of the Same
Monday’s Salisbury City Council meeting was pretty much more of the same old thing. The taxpayers get to pay for the (pick one) laziness, incompetence or corruption of city government. Certain friends of the administration are invited to belly up to the public trough. The mayor and her rubber stamp “council leadership” continue to show that they have no intention of providing open government. Controversial projects are pulled from the agenda at the last minute in an attempt squelch public outcry. And, our local paper fails to provide any meaningful coverage.
One key case in point was the budget amendment passed last night. It should be noted that a similar budget amendment failed at the last council meeting only because two council members, Debbie Campbell and Terry Cohen refused to buckle under pressure and political threats by councilman Gary Comegys. Because a budget amendment needs a super majority, Campbell and Cohen were able to prevent more of the city’s surplus to used. Last night, the administration and their serfs on Maryland’s most irrelevant legislative body were forced to cut spending in other areas to pay for their inability to budget properly.
Read the rest of this entry »
Does the Shield Law Apply?
Struggling to retain some accuracy while sacrificing the truth, the Daily Times seems to be quite pleased that Worcester County District Court Judge Gerald Purnell has ruled that Maryland’s press shield law doesn’t apply to blogger Joe Albero. When was the last time the paper covered a civil motions hearing?
Before we go farther we need to remember something. Yesterday’s hearing in Snow Hill was simply a motions hearing. Salisbury Police Chief Allan Webster has yet to produce any evidence in court that Albero libeled him. Given that Webster has already been determined to be a public figure, his burden of proof is near impossible. IF Webster’s case finally does come to trial this summer he must prove that Albero’s statements were not true, that Albero knew that they were untrue AND that he still published the statements with malice. A tough nut to crack.
Back to the local barracks of the Gannett army. It is my understanding of Judge Purnell’s ruling that Albero was found not to be protected by the press shield law because Albero is not paid. IF Albero had offered evidence of earning revenue from Salisbury News (which he actually was at the time Webster claims that he was libeled), it appears that the shield law would have applied. This really doesn’t matter anyway because Judge Purnell ruled (based on another point) that Albero did not have to disclose the names of sources, which is the point of the press shield law.
Read the rest of this entry »
Barrie Tilghman and the Tax Differential Scam
During Monday’s “State of the City” address, Salisbury Mayor Barrie Tilghman again called for a “tax differential” for Salisbury. Now notice that she didn’t call for a tax differential for Salisbury residents, or Salisbury taxpayers.
There’s a simple reason. Tilghman doesn’t want a true tax differential. That would mean a reduction in the property tax rates of Salisbury property owners. Instead, Tilghman wants the county to cut her a check. Gotta feed that bureaucracy don’t ya know.
I happen to support a true tax differential. I understand the County government’s reasoning in not being able to grant one, I just happen to believe that it is the right thing to do. I would NEVER support Tilghman’s idea of a “tax differential”. If the Maryland legislature ever decided to force Wicomico County into providing a differential (which I am also opposed to), I can only hope that our County Council would return that money to taxpayers. The Salisbury city government doesn’t need more money to spend. They need to start being good stewards of the tax dollars they are already receiving.
It was unfortunate that Greg Latshaw of the “Daily Times” did not understand that what Tilghman is calling for is not a true tax differential.
cross posted at Salisbury News
Technorati Tags: Maryland, Salisbury, Wicomico, politics, Salisbury politics, Wicomico politics, taxation, Barrie Tilghman, tax differentialSphere: Related Content
The Re-Packaging of a Boondoggle
Salisbury Mayor Barrie Tilghman’s “State of the City” address on Monday provided us with a glimpse of how a truly devious mind works. For several years Tilghman and her “Dream Team” promoted the idea of a revitalization of the “North Prong” area of the city. The unstated goal has seems to be the gentrification of the West Side of Salisbury. To those of you not familiar with the term, gentrification usually has the end affect of driving the poor black folks (and Latinos) out and replacing them with nice, well coiffed white folk.
To date Tilghman and her minions have been unsuccessful in their pursuit. Their desire to subsidize developers through a Community Development Corporation (CDC) have been a bust. Too many of the unwashed see it for what it is (a bureaucratic boondoggle designed to consolidate Tilghman’s power while funneling city funds to her friends). The state has, so far, refused to fund Tilghman’s attempts to push a large portion of the minority community out of the city. Oh, what to do?
To get around this little problem Tilghman has devised a brilliant solution! The North Prong project is no long an economic development issue. It is now an “environmental disaster”! Tilghman is now seeking federal funds, with the help of Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD), and Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (?-MD).
Read the rest of this entry »
Can a Public Hearing Really Be a Pleasure to Attend?
I wrote this post last week and neglected to post it. As I was watching the Wicomico County Council meeting this morning I was again reminded at the great chasm between how our County government behaves towards its citizens (and the minority members of council) versus the approach taken by the Salisbury City Council “leadership”. -Â
Someone from outside Wicomico County will read this and probably think that I’m crazy. Go almost anywhere else in the country to attend a public hearing or a council meeting and you’ll probably be treated with courtesy and respect. However, if you make a habit of attending (or watching) both Salisbury City Council meetings and Wicomico County Council meetings the difference is stark.
Let’s use Wicomico County Council’s public hearing Tuesday night as an example. Council President John Cannon asked the public to limit their remarks to two or three minutes. Very few of us did. Yet, were speakers interrupted? The closest thing to an interruption came when two separate speakers went on for quite some time. In the first case, Cannon politely asked the gentleman to wrap things up after speaking for over ten minutes. In the second case, Cannon stated that he would appreciate it if the speaker would wrap things up, but that he would certainly be given the opportunity to speak again after the other speakers had an opportunity to have their say.
For over two hours seven council members, County Attorney Ed Baker, and council staff sat quietly and listened to their constituents. As I stated earlier, people from outside of Wicomico County would think that I’m crazy for applauding council members for doing their job. That’s exactly what our elected officials are supposed to do, right?
Well, if you watch or attend Salisbury Council meetings then a Wicomico Council meeting seems to be something from another universe.
At Salisbury Council meetings you are able to witness gavel happy Councilwoman Louise Smith constantly interrupting the two Councilwomen who don’t happen to march to Mayor Barrie Tilghman’s drum. If you are a member of the public, make sure that you agree with Tilghman, Smith and their cohorts. If not, you’ll be interrupted (at best), gaveled down, thrown out, or even threatened with arrest. Smith is even foolish enough to put some of her threats in writing.
If you happen to agree with Smith (read Tilghman), you are allowed to speak ad nauseum. If not, you are usually cut off.
The differences between the two bodies is like night and day. Perhaps that’s one reason why Wicomico County is beginning to get its fiscal house in order and Salisbury can’t balance its own checkbook.
Note: Before someone comments about the recent landfill scandal, remember that this began under the old regime and was finally uncovered.
cross posted at Salisbury News
Technorati Tags: Maryland, Salisbury, Wicomico, politics, Salisbury politics, Wicomico politics, John Cannon, Louise Smith, Barrie TilghmanSphere: Related Content
