Oppose Pollitt’s Parking Lot

At 10 AM this morning, the Wicomico County Council will meet and hold a public hearing on County Executive Rick Pollitt’s proposal to spend $300,000 per acre on additional parking for the Wicomico Youth and Civic Center.  If they adopt this scheme, they will later come back to borrow additional funds to clear and pave the lot.

The time is now to say NO!

Does the Civic Center need more parking?  Yes.

Do we need to spend this money now?  No.

Pollitt makes an eloquent case for his folly.  The Civic Center needs a additional parking.  The money will come from state, not local, coffers.  He even admits that we will probably be overpaying for the property, but …

Sadly, Pollitt once again shows that he just doesn’t get it.  This is the TAXPAYERS” MONEY.  Yes, we all understand that the funds for purchasing the land will come from a “particular” state program.  However, does Pollitt REALLY want to be held to his own logic?

Remember that state funds pay all of the associated purchase costs. Some say, "It is still our money."

No, it is not. Not unless you bought or sold property in an agriculture district recently. Program Open Space is funded by a state transfer tax paid only by parties so engaged. It is not general taxpayer money. Nor can the money be used for general government purposes. It cannot be used to pay teachers, equip police or pave roads. It can only be used for projects such as the one we’re discussing.

According to Pollitt, we have no “skin in the game” and shouldn’t worry about this.

Well, using Pollitt’s logic:

• Amusement tax monies should only be used to benefit, of with the consent of, those who attend movies, or go to a Shorebirds game.
• The use of room tax funds should be governed by those who stay in hotels or motels in the county.
• Those who rent should not have a say in how property tax dollars are spent.
• Since children seldom pay income tax, should they benefit from the use of county income tax dollars which help to fund public schools?

Ridiculous?  Of course these questions are ridiculous.  They are just as ridiculous as Pollitt’s eloquent, but specious, argument that we shouldn’t care how state tax dollars are being spent because we didn’t pay directly into the fund from which this “grant” comes.

Attend this morning’s meeting.  Speak out against another one or Rick Pollitt’s follies.

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