The Homestead Tax Credit Ploy

At the meeting of Salisbury’s City Council on May 29 we once again heard Don Cathcart (Lynn’s husband) argue that homeowners should accept and fund the Mayor’s proposed budget “by means of a double-digit tax increase“ because of the so-called homestead tax credit. That device protects a resident from paying higher property tax on his/her home as a result of increase in its tax value (assessment) after he/she has purchased the home. The actual tax imposed by the City of Salisbury remains the same unless the tax rate is changed “ in which case the tax amount changes in proportion to the rate change. And that has happened twice in Salisbury in the past 4 years.” Read more

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Break The Chains!

The deadline is near. The choice for Salisbury voters is simple:

BREAK THE CHAINS!

STOP THE BUREAUCRACY!

SIGN THE PETITION!

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Let The Voters Decide!

Stop the 17% Tax Increase!

Sign the Referendum Petition TODAY!

On April 23, the Salisbury City Council majority voted for a last-minute charter change to allow for a

17% TAX INCREASE

as requested in the Mayor’s budget –

Before the council had even met to discuss the budget!

Sign the petition to put this huge tax hike to referendum!

Final 3 Days –

If we missed you…

Sign petition at front of Wico. Youth & Civic Center

THUR., MAY 31: 7-9 a.m., 11 a.m.-1 p.m., & 5-7 p.m.

FRI., JUNE 1: 7-9 a.m., 11 a.m.-1 p.m., & 5-7 p.m.

SAT., JUNE 2: 7-9 a.m. & 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

For more info, call Bob Caldwell at 410-251-2799.

 

Yes, we can fund police, fire/EMS personnel without a huge tax hike.

Think your tax bill or rent is too high now?

Then sign the petition! Get signatures!

Let the People Decide!

Technorati Tags: taxation, referendum, Salisbury, politics, salisburypolitics

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A True Man of Principle

Bob Caldwell is a true man of principle. This gentleman has served Salisbury and Wicomico County his entire adult life. He works full time. He donates countless hours to the Wellness Community. When he could spend what little spare time he has with his family he has chosen to devote time and effort to save the taxpayers of Salisbury from the onerous 17% tax increased proposed by Mayor Barrie Tilghman and enabled by council members Louise Smith, Gary Comegys and Shanie Shields.

On Tueday night, Mr. Caldwell delivered this jarring commentary on the actions of the Mayor, her city adminstrator John Pick and Council President Louise Smith to stifle public debate, rob us of our constitutional right to petition our government, and to attempt to control the media.

Two issues came to the forefront last week, and I think they are worthy of a few minutes of our time.

In the first, Salisbury Administrator John Pick published a letter in the Daily Times suggesting that citizens of Salisbury should NOT participate in the current petition initiative.

Never, in my wildest imagination did I expect to see an official of our city, elected or appointed, tell citizens they should shun a basic right. Petitioning is the ONLY peaceful method available to those wishing to seek redress from their government. It is what separates us from those places where the only option is to attempt an overthrow.

I realize that Mr. Pick was acting as the Mayor’s water boy in submitting this letter, but that doesn’t excuse him. He had the option of choosing to not enter the political arena in order to give the Mayor “cover”.

To make matters worse, he followed his letter with a television interview, in which he again stated that Salisbury voters should forfeit the rights detailed by the Federal & State constitutions, and by Salisbury’s Charter. I find that beyond disgusting. The line
between suggesting that citizens not use their right to seek redress, and finding ways to deny them that right, is very, very thin.

I have tried to not frame my feelings about Mr. Pick’s actions on a personal level, but I have found it impossible. I was on council when Mr. Pick was hired, and I believe my influence in that decision was substantial. If I were in the same hiring/firing position today, I would advise Mr. Pick to dust off his resume, and try to think of an explanation of why he isn’t able to include a letter of recommendation.

The second issue directly involves Mayor Tilghman. She was apparently overwhelmed with anger because Ms. Smith had her feelings hurt during a radio interview. The radio host/interviewer apologized at the first opportunity after the show, both to Ms. Smith and his listening audience. But that apparently…..make that obviously, wasn’t enough.

War was declared. The enemy? The radio host. The goal? His job… Assisted by Ms. Smith, Mr. Richard Insley, and former councilwoman Cathcart, the Mayor began her
vindictive campaign.

Calls were made, letters were written, all to no avail. They were rebuffed at every level. Mr. Reddish, the radio host, retains his job.

Then, at the end of a TV interview given by the Mayor last week, we learned that she has an appointment on June 7 with the Broadcasting group’s management in Wilmington. Apparently, Mayor Tilghman has not yet reached the end of her quest to punish. I hope, that as she continues her offensive behavior, she doesn’t use city assets to advance her cause. I would suggest that neither city vehicle nor gasoline be used. No mileage allowance should be claimed. There must be no inference that the Mayor is acting in an official capacity, or that seeking revenge for an unflattering interview is city policy.

Those two acts – - Mr. Pick admonishing the citizens to not to join in a legitimate, lawful attempt to seek redress from their government, and the Mayor engaging in a blatant attempt to stifle dissenting speech, are made more onerous by their timing. Both came the week before we celebrated the most sacred of our American holidays…….Memorial Day. Those two acts came the week before we honored the millions of men and women who have died protecting our right to seek redress and to openly dissent. To endorse Mr. Pick’s and the Mayor’s actions diminishes the sacrifices made by those we honor.

Edmund Burke, the Irish philosopher, author, and political observer, said “The only thing required for evil to triumph is for enough good men to do nothing.”

I would suggest Mr. Pick and Mayor Tilghman take a good look at the folks in attendance. There are many good men, and women, who are not “doing nothing.” They are actively working for a better government, exercising their rights. And their ranks are growing.. The “gang of four” became the “dirty dozen”, and is now “the dirty six or seven dozen.” Those who died to preserve our rights, would be proud. They, and we, will prevail……………..

Technorati Tags: Salisbury, politics, salisburypolitics, BobCaldwell, JohnPick, BarrieTilghman, principle

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Attacking The Responsible Minority

Tuesday evening’s Salisbury City Council meeting was as close to choreographed as you can get without a dress rehearsal. There were a few perfunctory resolutions to be handled. There was a small change to the agenda to vote on whether or not to post the management letter from the city’s audit on the city website. Then the fun began. Read more

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Recall?

ShoreThings has posted a rebuttal to Mr. Duval’s post this week about whether or not a recall of certain Salisbury officials is legal. ShoreThings is absolutely correct. A recall is definitely legal. The question – is it politically feasible?

The answer is YES! If citizens want to organize a recall petition I would put together a double.

1. Move for the recall of Louise Smith and Gary Comegys. Don’t worry about either Barrie Tilghman or Shanie Shields. They are both up for re-election in 2009 and should be pluckable. Any effort made in District 1 should focus on identifying and recruiting a smart and responsible candidate in the vein of Wicomico County Councilwoman Sheree Sample-Hughes.
2. Start after Labor Day. You then have 90 days to gather the signatures of 30% of the registered voters in District 2. Ironically this would be over twice the number of people who voted to put Princess Louise and Gary in office. People’s vacations are over and the probability of getting your signatures rises exponentially.

Technorati Tags: Salisbury, politics, salisburypolitics, recall, LouiseSmith, GaryComegys

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The Princess Louise Show Continues

I deliberately gave Salisbury Council President Louise Smith a free pass over Monday’s “Tilghman Times” piece telling us all how the Princess is going to unify the council by telling falsehoods and raising taxes. However, Tuesday’s piece demands response. Someone has to speak up if the “Tilghman Times” is going to continue to allow Ms. Smith to repeat the the same ridiculous statements, over and over, without even attempting to check their veracity.

Ms. Smith has basically taken the approach that the best way to balance the budget and stay within the current tax cap is to cut the things that the Mayor increased from last year. Where is the commitment to public safety that Ms. Smith spoke of when she was running for the office she currently holds? Where is the political courage to cut wasteful or non-essential government spending? Read more

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The Most Efficient Department in Salisbury Government

Salisbury city employees, on the taxpayers’ dime, are trying to convince citizens that they should be willing to accept a tax increase to continue footing all of the bill for the Salisbury Zoo. Don’t get me wrong. Shelly and I have always loved the zoo. Our kids enjoyed the zoo. That’s not the issue.

If we accept the argument that the Salisbury Zoo is regional in nature and a “treasure” to be protected at all costs, why then should the Salisbury taxpayer continue footing the whole bill? Do citizens of Fruitland enjoy the zoo? How about Delmar? Willards? Pittsville? The rest of Wicomico County? The incorporated and unincorporated portions of Worcester County? I don’t see these folks lobbying Greg Olinde and the Fruitland Town Council. Read more

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What’s Wrong With Principle?

I was both amused, and saddened, by the rank speculation and poor analysis of Sunday’s DuvaFiles post on the Andy Harris campaign for the 1st Congressional District seat currently held by Rep. Wayne Gilchrest. The “potential problems” proffered run from the sad to the ridiculous.

Start with the first obvious question the man in the street will ask;
to wit: If you: (a) earned a medical degree from, and (b) were on the
faculty of, the Johns Hopkins University Medical School, why would you
chuck all of that ( Congressional rules prohibit outside employment)
and even give a second thought to becoming an obscure back-bencher in
the den of iniquity called the U.S. House of Representatives?

There is no plausible answer unless Harris is on some sort of messianic mission that conjures up visions of zealotry. Read more

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Don’t Give Up The Ship!

“Shore Things” has a great post on the current state of the Salisbury budget battles. The author seems to have a good take on what’s happening and seems supportive of the fiscal restraint being exhibited by Councilwomen Campbell and Cohen. What I don’t understand is why the author wants them to give up the ship. Read more

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