Wicomico Taxpayers Receive Back Door Tax Increase

The arrogance of bureaucrats never ceases to amaze me.  They spend the TAXAPAYERS’ money yet act as if it’s from their personal discretionary account.

A current example is the $4 million purchase of the Powerwave campus on the corner of US 50 and Walston Switch Road, east of Salisbury.  Almost daily we hear a sad tale of woe from Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley or Wicomico County Executive Rick Pollitt about the said state of either the Maryland’s or Wicomico County’s fiscal situation.  There simply isn’t enough money to go around according to these two.

However, a few days ago we learned that the Tri-County Council of the Lower Eastern Shore (TCC) has purchased the Powerwave Campus.  According to comments made by several officials, the TCC needs the space.  Perhaps they do.  I’m certainly in no position to argue that point.  However, several points are easily arguable.

With the purchase of this property, the land and building will be going off the tax roles.  Based on its current assessment, Wicomico County will be losing approximately $30,000 per year in property tax revenue.  This means that county taxpayers will be paying a higher rate next year than they would be otherwise.  This isn’t arguable – this is fact.  One of the benefits of the county’s revenue cap is that big government advocates such as County Executive Rick Pollitt or Councilman Bill McCain can’t truthfully argue otherwise.

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Lowell Stoltzfus Not Seeking Re-election

Maryland Sen. J. Lowell Stoltzfus (R-38)  announced this evening that he will not seek re-election.  Speaking at the Fountains Conference Center, Stoltzfus said that he would not seek another term in 2010.

Contrary to rumors that have been circulating, Stoltzfus will not be resigning his seat.  Some have speculated that Stoltzfus would resign his seat so that a replacement could be appointed and run as an incumbent next year.

Currently there are three individuals that have either expressed interest in the seat, or are rumored to be interested.  Michael James, who narrowly lost to Maryland House Appropriations chair Norm Conway (D-38B) in 2006, along with Pocomoke City mayor Mike McDermott, have expressed interest in running for Stoltzfus’ seat if he did not seek re-election.  Del. Page Elmore (R-38A) is also rumored to be interested in the seat.

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Don’t Forget Tonight’s AFP Meeting

Don’t forget tonight’s meeting of the Lower Shore Chapter of Americans for Prosperity!

The Lower Shore chapter of Americans for Prosperity is having a meeting tomorrow evening at 7PM. The meeting will be held at the Greater Salisbury Committee building, 200 W. Main Street, Salisbury.

Park in the parking lot between the Library and the Plaza. You access the building on Camden Street between Channel 47 (WMDT) and the Plaza Gateway building.

If you can, RSVP at 410-251-8884 or americansforprosperitymd@comcast.net

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AFP Lower Shore Meeting – Tuesday

The Lower Shore chapter of Americans for Prosperity is having a meeting tomorrow evening at 7PM.  The meeting will be held at the Greater Salisbury Committee building, 200 W. Main Street, Salisbury.

Park in the parking lot between the Library and the Plaza.  You access the building on Camden Street between Channel 47 (WMDT) and the Plaza Gateway building.

If you can, RSVP at 410-251-8884 or americansforprosperitymd@comcast.net
If not, come anyway.  Take the opportunity to meet a growing group of people who stand for individual liberty and free markets.

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Somerset BOE Stands Firm, Educations More Important Than Sports

The Somerset Board of Education has stood firm and kept its current policy of requiring student to hold a minimum 2.0 GPA to participate in school sports.  The BOE should be commended for its strength of character.  This is in particular contrast to the Wicomico and Worcester Boards who allow a much lower GPA.

At least someone gets it.  School is for learning.

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Somerset NAACP on Participation in Sports

Kudos to the Somerset County branch of the NAACP for demanding that students be required to keep a 2.0 average in order to participate in sports.  These folks obviously have their priorities in order.

Unfortunately for the Wicomico and Worcester Boards of Education this raises a serious question.  Why do they seemingly place a higher priority on sports participation than academic achievement?

Wicomico only requires students to maintain a 1.6 GPA.  Worcester? 1.75  As we approach budget time, the two boards should be asked some hard questions.  Bad teachers can’t be fired.  Money is wasted on often meaningless bureaucratic programs.  But … we need to make sure that kids who can’t get at least a C in all of their classes should be able to play football or basketball.

I’m dying to hear a response to this one.

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The PAC-14 Fiasco Continues

Citizens of Wicomico County are about to see their public access cable channel (PAC-14) handed over to a group of local agitators and Salisbury University.  This group will be wholly unaccountable to the taxpayers and cable ratepayers who will continue to foot most, if not all, of the bill.  This is the revised strategy of PAC-14 Director Mike Goodson, local left-wing activist Mike Pretl, Salisbury Mayor Barrie Tilghman, Councilwoman Louise Smith and various shills of the University.

Starting Monday we will begin another series on the revised plans to steal PAC-14 from the citizens and hand it over to a politically motivated special interest.

In the meantime, you may want to look back at our previous series:

• The PAC-14 Fiasco – Part I

• The PAC-14 Fiasco – Part II

• The PAC-14 Fiasco – Part III

• The PAC-14 Fiasco – Part IV

• The PAC-14 Fiasco – Part V

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Shouldn’t the Rules Apply to Brenda Wade?

Smack on the front page of today’s Daily Times we have a story about retired UMES dean Brenda Wade withdrawing her name from consideration for the Somerset County Board of Education. I get the distinct impression that writer Deborah Gates expects us to have sympathy for Mrs. Wade.

With all due respect, why should we? Yes, she was disqualified for election to the Princess Anne Town Commissioners. So was her husband. However, rather than offer any evidence that either Wade was the victim of any injustice we are simply offered a vague allusion that unnamed candidates in previous elections were allowed to run with fully meeting the residency requirement.

Is it the Gannett’s editorial policy that two wrongs make a right? Even if this is so, we should expect better evidence of the first wrong.

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O’Malley Appointee Doesn’t Qualify for Office

The last time I checked, to serve on a county liquor licensing board you had to be (not only) a Maryland resident, but a resident of the county where your appointment rests. True to form, little things like this don’t bother Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley.

John Wade, who was recently disqualified as a candidate for the Princess Anne Town Commission because he failed the residency requirement, is an O’Malley appointee to the Somerset County Board of Liquor License Commissioners.

Wade has a driver’s license from Georgia, is reportedly driving a car with New Jersey tags, and reportedly has a residence in Delaware! By Somerset County standards, the man is absolutely cosmopolitan.

It seems that Wade is just one more example of the type of governance we can continue to expect from O’Malley. Let’s keep trying to raise those taxes and leave little things like the law to others.

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Another Crisfield Ferry Proposal?

The Tilghman Times reports that New Jersey based Mid-Atlantic Hovercraft Operations is considering running a passenger ferry that would operate from Crisfield – Southern Maryland – Downtown Baltimore (I am assuming in a circular route). Provided that no tax dollars are spent in subsidizing this operation my two cents worth is GIT’R DONE. Read more

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