Maryland DMV Giving Those Who Make “Corrections” To Licenses Automatic Renewals For Five Years.

I noticed that there was a small error on my driver’s license that needed correcting.  So I went to the DMV and asked to correct the error. The  charge for correcting an error on the driver’s license is only $22.  Now my license needs to be renewed in three weeks because that is my birthday and it has been 5 years since  my last renewal.  It costs $30 to renew you driver’s license.  To my surprise (feigned somewhat) it turns out that if you pay the $22,  to fix an error, weight, height, etc. on your license, the DMV automatically renews your driver’s license for 5 years.

Now my experiment was not really about saving $8, it was more about seeing if it is true that there is an automatic renewal by the State DMV of those licenses brought in for corrections to them.  It turns out the rumors in the Hispanic community are true.  This brings two problems immediately to mind.

First, how much money is the State of Maryland losing each year to renewals as a result  persons coming in before renewal time to pay for a corrected license and then the license is automatically renewed for five years?   Second, how many illegal aliens have brought licenses in for minor corrections to have them automatically renewed for another five year period?

I am in the process of asking the DMV to answer some questions about how many requests for corrected licenses were made each of the last four years.  I have a sneaky suspicion that the numbers are going up each year.  The Real ID Act is being put in place to halt  the policy of  driver’s licenses being given to those without proof of legal presence in the country. If we do not put a halt to this policy,  the numbers of those seeking corrected licenses and receiving automatic  five year renewals of their driver’s licenses shall continue to escalate. 

I  am also seeking information about where the law or regulation is that allows the automatic five year renewal for those who merely seek to make a small correction on their licenses.  I believe it is an administrative policy that seeks to get around the federal and state legislative actions.   This policy appears to be a pro-illegal immigrant action which will allow thousands of persons otherwise ineligible for a Maryland drivers license to maintain one for a longer period of time and at a cheaper cost than even Maryland residents pay for a five year extension.

I will update everyone once I receive the requested data from the DMV.  In the mean time I trust that the department will at least halt the policy of giving automatic five year extensions to anyone who requests a correction to their license.  I would suggest that ”corrections” be  done but no extensions be given. If a correction is done within six months of the renewal date then the driver should be required to pay the renewal fee and be issued a new license not a corrected license (as I was actually required to do).   For those renewing, it would be preferred, obviously, if they were required to show proof of legal presence. (Yes, we could require that such common sense precautions be taken before issuing driver’s licenses to anyone.) Unfortunately, the prevailing political climate in Maryland is a socialistic, One World State, mentality that subjugates our Independence to an idealistic universalism. None the less,  the DMV needs to correct this policy as soon as possible so as to prevent thousands of illegal immigrants from taking advantage of the  policy in an effort to get around the legislature’s efforts to require compliance with the federal Real Id Act.  It will not take long for the illegal immigrant population to discover that there is no need to prove legal residency if every four and a half years one need only go to the DMV and request a “corrected” driver’s license and receive an automatic five year extension on the life of the license. This policy needs to be addressed and corrected as soon as possible.

Watch for updated information as it becomes available.

Cecil County S.P.C.A. problems persist, public concerned, Commissioners oblivious.

Several times a week I continue to receive complaints about the Cecil County SPCA.  I usually try to get someone to volunteer to help, thankfully there are many good hearted people still involved who help whenever asked. Occasionally, there is a situation like this one that need the Commissioners to put pressure on the appropriate local agencies to find a way to help.  Please contact the Commissioner’s and the new SPCA task force to ask that they help address this immediate situation and perhaps formulate a policy that will assure future circumstances such as this can be handled more efficiently to prevent the slow death of  faithful pets left unattended in a home.

Dear Delegate Smigiel:

 I had the pleasure of meeting you at the vigil that was held in Cecil County in January of this year.  I am writing you today as I am very concerned about animals in a home down the street.  And, more specifically, I am alarmed at the lack of response from the SPCA.

 A concerned neighbor called my husband and I tonight, telling us that the home next to her at 120 Kirkcaldy Drive, Elkton has had no one home for nearly a week and no one checking in and caring for the three dogs and multiple cats.  She called the SPCA this afternoon and was told that they cannot do anything unless there is “probable cause”.  Considering the SPCA is armed with the mission of “preventing cruelty”, I am unsure of what more “probable cause” is needed for them to act.  These animals will die without food and water.  The cats’ bowls can be seen from a window and their empty.  The cats were jumping at the windows trying to get to the neighbor and myself when we went to see if we could get in through an unlocked door to help.  One cat was hanging onto the door – digging into the wood with his nails so that we could see him. 

 Anyway, we’ve since learned that the lady who lives there may have been committed to a mental hospital for treatment.  A message was left at the hospital where she may be; however, due to confidentiality, staff cannot confirm nor deny her presence there. 

 The neighbor who informed me of the situation called the police as well and they said they cannot do anything.  So, the police cannot do anything and the SPCA cannot do anything.  Neighbors will be charged with breaking and entering if we do something.  We’re just supposed to sit by and later hear that these animals died. 

 It would be a beautiful world if people would start standing up and saying “this is what I can do” instead of “I can’t ….”.  Why couldn’t the SPCA say “we’ll drive to residence and take a look”? Tell us what they can do.  Often times, it’s not that they CANNOT do, it’s that they are  not willing to do.  If the staff fails to drive to the residence in question, how will any issues validating “probable cause” even be witnessed?  That’s the key.  They don’t want to witness anything because then they have to take action.

 Delegate Smigiel, it’s a disgrace that the SPCA continues to function this way even with the media scrutiny.  There is a complete lack of concern for these pets.  It’s quite possible that a dead pet(s) will be the result of this non-action.  When the pet owner was hospitalized previously, she failed to have a neighbor care for the pets and one of her dogs did die. 

 Please do whatever is in your power to contact the proper people and act swiftly.  I am very serious when I tell you that these pets are in a very cruel situation and our local SPCA is failing to act at all. 

 I am sending a copy of this email to them as well. 

 Thank you for your help.

 Kathy S. Creek

SAY IT AIN’T SO JOE! COMM’S VOTE 5 – 0 FOR TAX INCREASE!

In politics there has been nothing that has surprised me more than the vote on May 26, 2009 by the Cecil County Commissioners to raise taxes by a 5 – 0 vote.  I was absolutely sure that Commissioner Mullin would keep his word and vote against any tax increase.  Commissioner Mullin is a real estate appraiser by trade and owns his own business.  He knocked on thousands of doors where he personally handed out literature and made verbal promises of  “no new taxes”.  (just 6 months ago)  I am shocked, disapointed and sorry that I told so many that he could be counted on to keep our taxes down. Jim is and will continue to be my friend but I cannot explain why he would vote in favor of what he has pledged to oppose.

I was hopeful that Commissioner Hodge, if gently reminded of his promises to “hold the line on taxes” would uphold his campaign election promises.  After all, Commissioner Hodge had been the Chairman of the Cecil County Republican Central Committee and last year when Senator Pipkin and I held our taxpayer forum at the Elkton branch of  the Cecil County Library, Commissioner Hodge signed up as one of the Charter Members of the Cecil Citizens Against Taxation (C-CAT).  Hodge ran as a business man who knew how to make the hard decisions to have us live within our means.  Yet, this was just six months ago, apparently a life time in politics.

I held out that there was a chance that Commissioner Demmler would join her fellow Republicans and make it a majority vote against any tax increase.  I was in the audience when a citizen turned to ask those in attendance at the May budget hearing, How many persons are willing to pay higher taxes?  Only the former School Superintendent, Mr. Carl Roberts raised his hand.  Likewise, when the audience was asked how many of you would be willing to forgo some public services to keep your taxes lower or the same, every hand was raised, except for Mr. Carl Roberts’.   Surely the Commissioner’s got the message, the public who voted you in would rather do without some services in order to be able to keep more of their own hard earned money.

I had a vague hope that  Commissioner Lockhart may join in with Mullin and Hodge in voting against any tax increase, if Demmler did not, because I thought that Commissioner Lockhart wanted to run for a higher office in 2010. 

I never held out any hope that Commissioner Thome would vote against a tax increase. 

The property taxes had been raised for thirteen years straight on the citizens of Cecil County.  If there was any hope for the citizens of Cecil County it was this year.  Instead, we have seen a 14th straight year of increased property taxes on the citizens of Cecil County.

I was at the last hearing when we were told the vote on the increase on property  taxes would be held at 7pm on Tue. May 26, 2009.  Somehow that hearing was cancelled and a hearing was held at 2 pm. 

How is it possible that in this time of “tea parties” and anti-tax movements is it possible that so many people who made public promises, “elect me and I will keep your taxes from being raised”, decide it was ok to just ignore those promises and betray the trust that the public had placed in them.  

I don’t buy the argument that the public services we are provided are so necessary that they can not be trimmed.  I do not believe that there is a growing need for services that can not be addressed by a more efficient distribution of the services available.  I believe that our children deserve to be free from the bondage of  government intrusiveness into our lives.  The power to tax is the power to destroy and our government is doing its best to destroy Capitalism and the free markets.  Sometimes we feel powerless to do anything at the federal level.  We can though, effect what happens at a local level.  We must work to show that we can live within our means. If we can not do that locally how can we complain when those we elect to represent us in Congress fail to keep their promises to keep our taxes down?

Cecil County Blog Calls Tax Increase A Cut!

What is so hard about understanding that an increase, is an increase,  is an increase!  A decrease in an increase, which leaves an increase in place is still an increase.  It does not matter if you lower the increase 2 cents per hundred dollars of assessed value if you do not reach the constant yield.   

I wrote an earlier piece reacting to the Cecil Whig headline which wrongly declared  the cut of the increase as a Tax cut. Once again for the benefit of Mr Zane and any of his readers who are being mislead by his failure to understand  that in fact the County Commissioner’s are proposing a tax hike on the citizens of Cecil County for the 14th year in a  row!

 The tax rate is currently at 96 cents per $100 of assessed value on real property in Cecil County.  In order to keep the taxes on the same piece of property the same as were assessed last year, the county would have to reduce the tax rate by 6.3 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.  This is because the County has increased the assessed value of real property over the last year.

This additional proposed increase in tax assessments brings in an additional $966,569 of revenue for the county.  Bringing in almost an additional million dollars in taxes does not amount to a decrease in taxes and is not a proposed tax cut!  It is irresponsible to mislead the people and to print the Democratic lie that the reduction of a proposed increase is a decrease in taxes. It is not now nor will it ever be.  Yet Mr. Zane  writes that it is a decrease and that I should be happy with the partial decrease.

At a time when grass roots organizations are springing up across the country to challenge increased taxation; local newspapers and Republican Bloggers call increases, “decreases” and seem to stand with the tax oppressor instead of the tax payer. 

Mr. Zane also took the time to imply that I should not be pointing out that Commissioner Hodge had made promises to hold the line on taxes because I have not attended the budget meetings.  Mr. Zane should perhaps call me or check his facts, in the future, before printing assumptions.  I was at the last public meeting to discuss taxes and since last year when Senator Pipkinand I held community meetings in Cecil, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Caroline counties I have met with members of the Cecil Citizens Against Taxation (C-CAT) to discuss various aspects of the budget and held meetings at my office to discuss the Cecil County  Budget.   Mr. Zane would not know that because he has not been at the budget hearings or participating with the core group of citizens Democrats and Republicans who are working very hard to find places in the budget where cuts can be made or questions need to be asked regarding the budget.

Lastly I want to address the “Anonymous” commenter  who Mr. Zane allowed to attack me without any citation to an event, speech, vote or behavior they disagreed with.  I think that people who do not have the courage to sign their names to their writings should be ignored.  I understand that there may be a rare instance when someone is in fear of retaliation or they wish to be anonymous to save their job but rarely is that the case.  It is more likely to be that the anonymous author knows that what they write is indefensible and perhaps even know that  it is wrong and they therefore wish to be unaccountable for their libels and slanders.

The other problem with Anonymous commenter’s is you can not call them up to tell them they have been misled by the Blog they just read into thinking that their tax increase is really a cut of some kind.  In this instance I think the Anonymous commenter knows the proposed tax increase is actually an increase but has decided to praise Mr. Zane for his misunderstanding of taxes and to encourage Commissioner Hodge to break his election pledges to hold the line on taxes.

Commissioner Hodge Told Voters He Would “Hold the Line on Taxes” During the Campaign.

Since the Commissioners are at the point where they will soon make a decision on whether they are going to raise taxes, I have gone back to check on some of the campaign pledges from the fall of 2008.  While Commissioner Hodge was out seeking votes in the competitive 5th district race, he always made it clear to people that he would “hold the line on taxes” and make sure their voices were heard. His advertisements in the Whig (image below) last campaign season, emphasized his promise as he also assured citizens that he would “protect our rural character.”

His web site (image above), which he still maintains on the World Wide Web at http://hodge2008.com/issues.html outlines his platform with more detail and contains statements he made to a variety of groups while he was out on the campaign trail asking for votes.  Here are a few of those promises made to get elected:

1. Cecil County Chamber of Commerce Candidate Forum – “Today’s economic challenges mean the citizens of Cecil County have to make tough decisions every day about how to spend their hard earned dollars. The County Commissioners have to step up to the plate and make those same tough decisions and be good stewards of your tax dollars. . . . We have an obligation to hold the line on taxes for the hardworking families of our community. I am committed to work hard every day to do so.”
2. Cecil County Voters Guide – “Like many of us, I’ve been frustrated at the lack of action by the County Commissioners over the years in many areas – including increasing taxes, keeping growth out of our rural areas, increasing crime and gangs, etc. I have the education, background and successful business leadership that will enable me to be ready on day 1 to hit the grounding running as your county commissioner.”
3. Cecil County 21st century Republican Forum – County Commissioners have to prioritize the many competing needs and wants of our citizens, and make tough decisions while being excellent stewards of your tax dollars. . . . This will be especially important in Cecil County’s immediate future because we face decreasing real estate tax assessments, increases in costs for expenditures previously paid by the State, and reduced tax revenues due to the current economic conditions. . . . “

C.C.S.P.C.A. Director Writes That Veternarian Is The Reason For Problems.

 

For those who have not followed the SPCA controversy from the beginning it is hard to understand the position we are in today with animal control in Cecil County. The problems began when Ms. Schwertzler, the Board President and the Cecil County SPCA board decided they did not want to adhere to the book keeping suggestions of Mrs. du Pont and her professional staff. This led to the resignation of Mrs. du Pont and several of her family members from the Board. The result was the birth of an agency without any professional oversight or moral compass. Volunteers who used to do the work of raising money through fund raising events were no longer being welcomed. The volunteers who worked at the facility were no longer welcomed because they asked too many questions. The various businesses that were being run out of the SPCA were accountable to no one for how much money they made or what was done with the money. The previous practice of having the SPCA raise money through fund raising efforts, which were then matched by the County, gave way to the County continually giving more money, each year, until we got to where we are today, with the County giving over $675, 000 per year to the CCSPCA, without any real accountability for what the money is spent on or how the CCSPCA is run.

The County Code requires the Sheriff and the Health Department Director to sit as members of the Board of Directors of the SPCA. An Assistant State’s Attorney is the Attorney for the agency and sits as a member of their Board of Directors. It hardly allows for an independent objective review of any complaints against the CCSPCA, when the Sheriff anda member of the State’s Attorney’s Office sit as members of the Board of Directors of the agency. In addition at least one County Commissioner sits as a member of the Board of Directors. The Attorney General of Maryland has offered an opinion letter that finds the CCSPCA Board Members are public persons because of the quasi-governmental nature of the agency.

Shortly after being elected, Commissioner Hodge asked to be the SPCA Commissioner member of the Board because as he explained it, he was good friends with Ms. Schwertzler and she published the “Cecil Times” on line magazine. In typical Bob Hodge fashion, he did not realize that Ms. Schwertzler had been publishing the Cecil Times anonymously and had just published a blistering piece attacking Commissioners Demmler and Mullin. Shortly after being placed on the Board, Commissioner Hodge  to a closed door meeting of the Board.  Commissioner Hodge took his former campaign director who is a public relations specialist with him. While she was not allowed inside the closed door meeting, Commissioner Hodge states that he told Ms. Schwertzler that her credibility was shot and she needed to hire a public relations spokesperson. The CCSPCA board rejected his advise and so he then appointed his former campaign director to be in charge of the oversight of the investigation of the CCSPCA. It did not take long for Commissioner Hodge to back off of that decision since I pointed out that it was entirely inappropriate for him to have asked Dr. Collotti to oversee the investigation, ask her for lists of qualified persons, and then to just decide without even the courtesy of a phone call to give the position to his former campaign director. The Cecil Whig reported that I had cussed at Commissioner Hodge andyelled at him. They were correct, I did. I told Commissioner Hodge that the stench of what he does behind closed doors emanatesout beyond the doors and leaves an odor on all those associated with him. In this case he was also the Chairman of the Republican Central Committee andtherefore his actions reflected on all Republicans and  it was totally inappropriate to be trying to get his friend a job as the Public Relations person for the CCSPCA.

 After this event, Commissioner Hodge continued to make inappropriate statements that seemed to belittle and down play the seriousness of the allegations that had been made by numerous former employees, volunteers, visitors and customers of the CCSPCA. Commissioner Hodge failed to address any of the three suggested steps we provided for addressing the animal control problems raised in the allegations.

First we suggested that the TNR (Trap, neuter and return) program be set up to address the problem with breeding feral cat colonies and rabies control. The health department is charged with the duty of rabies control and already was contracting with Dr. Colletti to do clinics throughout the county. Dr. Colletti was also known to be running an active nd extensive TNR program throughout the County with volunteers and the use of her own funds. So it made sense to have her bid for the TNR through the Health Department at the same time she would bid for the rabies vaccine clinics. We know the County had made the decision to set up a TNR program because they had funded one with the CCSPCA. The County had already given the CCSPCA $5,000 to set up a TNR program. During a Commissioner hearing the CCSPCA admitted, when questioned by my office staff, that while they took the $5,000 from the County to set up the TNR program they never did so. Eventually, the CCSPCAreturned the $5,000 to the County. Therefore, the money was already available to fund at least a pilot TNR program. If a bigger program was needed it certainly could have been paid for out of a portion of the $675,000 tax payer dollars going to the CCSPCA each year. Though this easy and effective step for correcting the problems with the CCSPCA was laid out for the County Commissioners they have chosen to ignore it and to do nothing about the TNR program.

Second, we suggested that the Animal Control Officers be transferred to the Sheriff’s office control. This is suggested because in Cecil County the Animal Control Officers carry firearms and use shotguns on a semi-regular basis. There is no oversight of the officers who are using these weapons. There is no reason for the animal control officers to be carrying handguns but if they are going to be, they need proper training and supervision. Any additional costs to the Sheriff’s office for absorbing the animal control duties can be covered by taking the funding from the $675,000 a year currently being paid to the CCSPCA. Once these two changes were made to the animal control system of Cecil County then all that would remain would be animal shelter care. This would could be more easily bid out if the animal control and TNR, rabies control portions were not part of the obligation of the bidder. Unfortunately, since the Commissioners refused to address either of the other two previously mentioned aspects of the CCSPCA operations, when the Commissioners decided to put out for bid the animal control operations for the county it was not likely anyone would be able to bid for the job other than the CCSPCA, who are currently a party to the contract.

The Commissioners have set the bid process up for failure. Who would bid to take on the responsibility of the animal control officers running around the county with guns firing them at animals. It is only a matter of time before there is a terrible accident. We already have numerous stories of animals being unnecessarily shot. This problem needed to be addressed by the Commissioners before they sent the contract out for bids. The same can be said of the TNR program. The Commissioners thereafter decided to appoint a commission to advise them what needed to be done with the CCSPCA. The original plan was each commissioner would appoint two people and therefore you would have ten people chosen. Instead Commissioner Hodge, through the assistance of the President of the Board of Directors, Ms. Schwertzler ended up appointing an eclectic group of individuals with talents and experience that seem to be little associated with the running of an SPCA. It will also be interesting to see how they are able to offer advise on what is wrong or how to fix things before any of the many investigations are concluded.

It would appear that the first investigation to conclude would be that of the Veterinarian because there have been statements and affidavits provided by numerous employees, volunteers and citizens that persons unqualified to do so have been performing surgical procedures at the CCSPCA.  In addition there were documents containing the forged signature of the Veterinarian and several incidents of citizens having experienced and reported unprofessional care.

If the State Veterinary investigator had any questions about what was thought of  the Doctor’s ability he could have them quickly addressed by reading the E-mail from the CCSPCA director, Ms. Jeanne Deeming of  December 6, 2008, where she wrote the following about Dr. McDermott:  “His type of medicine is the reason that we have so much problem with the spays/neuters and sickness. He just doesn’t care about any of the animals, to him it’s all about his money . This is not something that he hasn’t been told about in writing so I am not talking behind his back.”

I am sure the investigator received the same report of the Vet’s abilities from Ms. Deeming and then obtained and reviewed all the documents that “were put in writing” telling the Dr. about his deficiencies.  Which begs the question, If the management of the CCSPCA felt this way about their Vet, Why did they continue to use him and promote him to the public?  Did they also care more about the money than they did about the animals?

I hope to be soon sharing some similar thoughts that Ms. Deeming has on the abilities of other CCSPCA personnel including members of the  Board of Directors.  For now, we and the State investigator also know what Ms. Deeming thinks of one of her current accusers,  from what she wrote about her former employee in the same E-mail, ” You on the other hand, do care about the animals, are very pleasant with the clients and do your job the best you know how.”  

I trust the State will have taken into consideration the credibility assigned to the accused and accuser by the Directer of the CCSPCA before she herself  became an accused.  We will have to wait and see  if the Veterinary Board does it’s job and sends a message to other Veterinarians who may care more about money than they do the care of the animals they are in-trusted with.

Elkton Ethics Commission Complaint Still Causing Confusion

From Someone Noticed

The subject of the Ethics Commission complaint against Commissioner Mary Jo Jablonski occupied the attention of the town board for a second meeting. When the mayor asked for public comments Bob Litzenberg once again asked where the complaint he’d filed 6-weeks ago stood, since town still hadn’t responded to his letter. That, as it did last time, caused some interesting exchanges that still indicate there’s confusion around how the town is handling this complaint and how they generally should handle such situations. Commissioner Jablonski added that she too hadn’t been contacted for the investigation and didn’t know what the complaint was about. Bob clarified that matter for the puzzled elected official by saying that it was a conflict of interest concerning her role as a town commissioner and as the Director of the Elkton Alliance, a group that receives substantial funding from the town. When she votes on the budget for the Alliance while also serving as the full-time Main Street Manager and Alliance Director, there is a conflict he elaborated.

Article continues on Someone Noticed

Are Citizens Getting a Tax Cut or Will they Fork Over More? Whig is Confused

From Someone Noticed —— 

Taxes are capturing the headlines right now as local government boards across Cecil consider the levy they are going to place on citizens for the upcoming fiscal year. This subject, which is associated with the constant yield rate, the amount that produces that same tax burden as last year, is confusing a lot of people, including the writers at the Cecil Whig.  On the day the county made its preliminary decision to consider a 4.8% tax increase, the daily paper wrote that the commissioners were proposing a “property tax cut,” while the board issued a statement saying it was raising property taxes!

Article Continues on Someone Noticed

Looking Back One Year Ago: Cecil County Tax Headlines

 

Commissioner Hodge sure to vote against the Budget because it is a tax increase.

When Commissioner Hodge was running for office he made it clear that if the citizens of Cecil County voted for him he would “hold the line on taxes” .   Commissioner Hodge came to the taxpayer forum in Cecil County which Senator Pipkin and I hosted and Commissioner Hodge joined the group Cecil Citizens against taxation (C-CAT) that night.   Mr. Hodge sits as a member of the Republican Central Committee. The party platform promotes smaller government, less taxation, fiscal responsibility all things Commissioner Hodge has pledged to promote.

In fact, Ms. Wendy Hiester’s article in the October 17, 2008 Cecil Whig reported that Candidate Hodge made the following promises just prior to election day. 

“When Hodge spoke about the county budget, he said he was determined to hold the line on taxes.

“Enough is enough. We need to learn how to get by on what we have, especially with these economic times,” he said.

He proposed that each department head be given incentives to reduce spending, including the public school system.

“We need to look really hard at the budget; start with a zero budget. There’s a habit of just increasing the budget year after year. We need to learn how to do more with less.”

We will soon learn whether Mr. Hodge meant what he said about learning to get by on what we have or whether Mr. Hodge was just saying what he needed to say in order to get elected. 

If you have been taxed too much and need relief from further taxes call your County Commissioners and let them know that you want them to take the property tax down to the constant yield.  The story below has E-mail contact information on each commissioner at the end of the story.  If you reach the commissioners or just leave a message, let us know so we can share it with others who are helping to send the “no new taxes message” to our County Commissioners.

Cecil Whig calls a tax hike a tax cut.

This is the political speech of the left, calling a tax increase a decrease  The true “bottom line” is and always will be, if you pay more taxes this year than you did last year it is a tax increase!  End of story, simple but true, no ifs, ands or buts, no political spin.  Conversely, if you pay less tax this year than you did last year it is a tax cut.  (To those just joining the overtaxed minority, the “tax cut” is rare thing indeed.)

The tax rate is currently at 96 cents per $100 of assessed value on real property in Cecil County.  In order to keep the taxes on the same piece of property the same as were assessed last year, the county would have to reduce the tax rate by 6.3 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.  This is because the County has increased the assessed value of real property over the last year.

This additional proposed increase in tax assessments brings in an additional $966,569 of revenue for the county.  Bringing in almost an additional million dollars in taxes does not amount to a decrease in taxes and is not a proposed tax cut!  If the newspaper industry has any questions about what is happening to it, they need look no further than this as an example of what is wrong.  At a time when grass roots organizations are springing up across the country to challenge increased taxation; local newspapers call increases, “decreases” and seem to stand with the tax oppressor instead of the tax payer.

The public will get two opportunities to comment on the proposed tax rate at a public hearing at 2 P.M. & 7 P.M. on Tues. May 12, 2009.  Unfortunately, most of the taxpayers will actually be working at 2 p.m. on Tues. so they can actually pay their taxes.  Therefore I ask those that are unable to make the Tuesday 2 P.M. or 7 P.M. hearing to please call or E-mail your County Commissioners.  (Their email address are found at the bottom of this post.)

 Once you have called or E-mailed your Commissioners let us know by posting a quick comment or note so that we can tabulate and report here on the Blog what the taxpayers of Cecil County feel about this proposed tax increase.   Those who can make it at the 7 P.M. hearing are encouraged to attend if at all possible.

Please note there are encouraging signs, Commissioners Mullin and Hodge pledged during their campaigns that they would not support any new taxes.  I have no reason to believe that they will not live up to their pledge to the citizens of Cecil County.   Commissioners Lockhart & Demmler are inviting the citizens to participate and seem very willing to consider the opinion of the public.  Commissioner Tome has been less vocal on the issue and I trust still has an open mind on the subject.

 I still believe that this is one of those rare times when public input, loud and clear, can effect a change in the direction our government is heading regarding a tax increase.  The starting point is to know the facts and be sure the commissioners know that you know a decrease is a proposed increase, not a cut in taxes.  We are not seeking a cut just the “constant yield.” i.e. keeping our taxes the same as last year.

 The vote on taxes will be on May 26, 2009, so let’s turn up the volume, and tell your friends and neighbors to contact the County Commissioners by one of the methods below.

 

Commissioner’s Email Addresses

1. Commmissioner Demmler’s Email Address:  rdemmler@ccgov.org;
2. Commissioner Hodge’s Email Address:  rhodge@ccgov.org;
3. Commissioner Lockhart’s Email Address:  blockhart@ccgov.org; Commissioner Mullins
4. Email Address:   jmullin@ccgov.org and
5. Commissioner Tome’s Email Address:  wtome@ccgov.org