Empress Barrie
May 14, 2007 by Cato
Filed under Fiscal Policy, Maryland, Salisbury Politics, Taxes
What are the priorities of municipal government? Talk to folks and the answers are fairly consistent. People want the police, firefighters or paramedics to respond when they dial 911. They want their toilets to flush. They want water to come out of the tap. They want the garbage collected. Unfortunately for the citizens of Salisbury these are not the priorities of Mayor Barrie Tilghman.
As evidenced by this morning’s article in the “Tilghman Times”, Barrie is no longer satisfied with being the Queen of Barrieland. It appears that her current goal is to build an Empire. If you notice Queen Barrie’s list of proposed cuts (only if she doesn’t get her 17% tax increase) they don’t include things like eliminating the proposed Asst. City Administrator’s position. They don’t include eliminating unnecessary positions in her office or eliminating promotions for her loyal sycophants in city government.
What will Barrie want to cut? Police salaries and cost of living increases for all city employees. Is this an indication of where Barrie’s priorities lie?
In reality, no. Her public announcement that this is where cuts will occur is designed to scare the public into not forcing the Barrie Tilghman – Louise Smith – Gary Comegys – Shanie Shields tax increase to a referendum. To quote former city councilman Jim Ireton,
The mayor’s statements reflect nothing more than her “my-way-or-the-highway” attitude.
Barrie’s interests lie in building a bureaucratic empire, not in serving the citizens. Rather than governing through leadership, Barrie attempts to rule by fear. She fully expects that enough citizens will buy her “take the tax increase or you’ll be murdered in your bed” line. This will permit her wasteful spending to continue while the citizens of Salisbury continue to foot the bill.
Citizens should make the trek down to the GOB tonight at 6PM and let her and her allies on city council know that you don’t want to live in the Barrie Empire.
Technorati Tags: Salisbury, politics, salisburypolitics, taxation, fiscalpolicy, BarrieTilghman, LouiseSmith, GaryComegys, bureacracy
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As I have been gathering signatures, I have been telling people right from the beginning, to expect a letter just like the mayors letter today. This how she operates and everyone knows it by now and are sick and tired of it. When I told them to expect this letter pointing the finger of blame and shame, most of the people’s replies were, “When is she up for election?” I think most people in this town see the whole picture for what it is and where the blame is to be placed, and corrected in the 2009 election~!!
The dictator that Barrie attempts to be is going to blow up right in her face. Every city employee should stage a walk out. Let her figure out how to get the job done. Maybe Comegys will be able to do a quick study and figure it out.
Holding the pay increases of city employees, fire, police and ems is not a way to get what she wants. She is threatening their livelihood. The tax increase will eat up any wage increase she decides to give them anyway.
The fire department has nothing left to lose. Initially she stated 8% increase until those fellas had enough and supported SMITH, Cohen and Spies. Next thing you know she knocks them back to a 2% increase. As of last night the fire personnel are not even included in the budget.
REVOLT NOW!
Here’s the storyboard for this selected short subject:
Barrie’s house is ablaze and the only responders are Chief Gordo and his buddy Bubba.
The G-man tries to man the nozzle (but can’t figure out how to turn it on) and the C-man cavorts around like a third grader, proudly displaying his MML pin (he’s a VP don’t you know).
Too bad for the home team, especially if their insurance is with Matt’s agency.
A fire like that would be an Act of God, insurance doesn’t cover that does it?