The city's tax base isn't going to substantially increase for the next three years and the state isn't likely to give Annapolis a raise in its "allowance" - all factors that leave the city with a tax increase as the only option to maintain services, a report by the Blue Ribbon Commission on City Finances said.
"During the currently economic crisis, the only feasible option for the city to increase revenue significantly would be to raise the...
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Robin Stanek - 2009-11-20 19:42:16
I'm sure at least some of the people leaving critical comments on this matter did NOT vote "this bunch" into office. I don't live in Annapolis, so I didn't vote for any of them. Stop generalizing when people have complaints... oh, never mind, you live in Churchton, a place where the citizens voted to keep it a crappy little town where the most attractive land mark is a traffic circle with a bunch of weeds and rusty sculptures.
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eric sacratini - tracy's landing, MD - Karma: Excellent
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This still cracks me up - 2009-11-19 21:24:09
Oh Lord.
What a boondoggle.
"A renewable energy plant for Annapolis."
Just those words in combination together make me laugh, but it is hollow, bitter laughter; the gallows-laughter of a man condemned to watch his property confiscated and destroyed in the pursuit of the absurd, empty, and unachievable projects of the demented progressives who infest this city.
Maybe the power plant will power our new rainbow trolley system. Or perhaps we could bulldoze all of West Street and make it a Renewable Festival Park!
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Neill Harrier - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Terrible
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City Council Meetings - 2009-11-18 17:14:22
People, make a point to attend at least one Annapolis City Council meeting next year. I attend several each year, and while I do have a personal stake in some of the decisions they are making, I never cease to be amazed by how few local citizens take the opportunity to respond and participate. It is almost always the same attendees, the same nodding heads, and the same results, meeting after meeting. This goes way beyond just voting in elections, for sure, but you do get a better idea of who really makes the decisions about this city and what motivates them.
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TH Williams - Virginia Beach, VA - Karma: Excellent
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city tax hike - 2009-11-18 17:13:58
Why would you ever expect anything other than tax and spend from Democrats? The people of Annapolis elected the bunch. Please stop complaining. You voted this bunch into office. You reap what you sew.
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Robin Stanek - Churchton, MD - Karma: Excellent
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Meanwhile... - 2009-11-18 12:26:10
"Feds Cite [Anne Arundel] County For Pollution"
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eric sacratini - tracy's landing, MD - Karma: Excellent
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Taxes - 2009-11-18 12:16:51
In my estimation, our property taxes should be going DOWN. I don't understand how my taxes are going up when Anne Arundel County forecasts the value of my home to be the same over the next three years. We need to revolt and get rid of the current government. They are doing nothing but filling their own pockets with our hard-earned money, and when that's not enough, they raise our taxes arbitrarily, that is they pick new things to tax year-to-year. Sales, tobacco, alcohol, ammunition, property. Why don't they just tax our taxes? (sarcasm) I can see the headlines now; '"Tax' tax being instated, mass head-scratching ensues". Instead of throwing pennies at O'malley at the next Polar Bear Plunge, let's bury him in the sand... oh, no wait, the Shovel tax is going up.
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eric sacratini - tracy's landing, MD - Karma: Excellent
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record - 2009-11-17 21:25:12
I just gave myself and Mr. Trampolini -2's. For the record, I meant those to be +2's, but on account of the whiskey I selected the wrong thumb.
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Neill Harrier - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Terrible
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Annapolis got $330 million - 2009-11-17 21:20:38
Obama's Stimulus reports $264,604,422 spent in grant/contracts on 21401, and $67,143,316 for sip 21403:
http://www.recovery.gov/transparency/pages/home.aspx?State=MD&datasource=recipient
How does this bear on the budget? I don't pretend to understand the bull that Stimulus puts out, and have given up on my elected "representatives" to explain it. Has The Capital given it a shot?
Or how these two zip codes now owe the Chinese $330 million dollars, which many of the now-living will not have to repay?
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Neill Harrier - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Terrible
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Insightful? - 2009-11-17 21:00:41
Mr. Sussman's comments from a 'BLUE RIBBON COMMISSION' would be are laughable, if it wasn't so sad. He just doesn't get it, Politicans spending into the future money not yet recieved, bad... wow! there's intelligent commentary, something we didn't know! Please is this supposed to pass for guidance? Stating the obvious is just worthless nonsense. They arrive at childlike conclusion 'During the economic crisis the only feasible option for the city to raise revenue significantly would be to raise property tax rate'. That's it?, if thats all the 'BLUE RIBBON' can come up with? During an economic crisis you don't raise taxes. How about cutting expenditures, increasing efficiencies, or developing creative business opportunities? Deal with the revenue side with something more creative, than raising taxes.
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harry trampolini - severna park, MD - Karma: Excellent
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Shrimp for the shrimp - 2009-11-17 16:57:51
I think Jen Rhodes raises a good point: we're paying benefits for people who don't really need them (other than to buy steak and shrimp). What Fred fails to understand is that the City requires us to pay for the first woman's shrimp, even though she has exceeded what she was "allotted."
I really do wish you would try to keep up, Frederick, and think things through before "logging on".
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Neill Harrier - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Terrible
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Property tax hike - 2009-11-16 17:15:26
I am not exactly sure why people go "off point" in responding to the articles in question. However, as to any proposed tax hikes, what the City should be doing is spending less money, not either keeping apace with last year's budget or even considering increasing taxes. There is no justification for either maintaining or rising the budget, especially in both the current and near term projected economic conditions. To do otherwise is pure foolishness... and a total disregard for reality.
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Gary Westholm - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Neutral
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Fred Shubbie - 2009-11-16 14:17:11
I sit hear day after day and see your post and the attitude that you spew with it and i cannot sit by anymore. As usual you are wrong and have a closed mind to anything any one else says. I have seen you change your mind on many subjects but still you show that you have not a clue. The story that Jen Rhoades told was very relevant just not in your little mind. The woman who was buying steak and shrimp will not have to worry about a tax increase wile the woman buying pot pies and telling her children no to the purchase of a candy bar will have to cut her budget even more there by taking away from her children even more food and maybe medical attention if god forbid they get sick. You really need to stop and think before you post. Try to listen for awhile you may gane insite on the real world. As for your post to increase the share a employee pays for benefits. Why dont you try chasing a bad guy through the housing projects after they are seen selling drugs. Maybe you could ride on the back of a garbadge truck in 30 degree temps in the rain or try running into a burning building when every one else is running out. then tell us if you still feel the same or are you just spouting off again. No guts No glory Fred.
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a j - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Good
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Jen - 2009-11-16 12:35:23
I think you made a very valid point. The point being that when you don't have you go without...but instead a government who thinks that its job is to house, cloth, feed and educate people, the only option to more spending is an increase in the shake down. Since government creates nothing and therefore is a net consumer it has to feed its appetite by TAKING from others! The ironic part is these self aggrandizing politicians who think they are doing such a wonderful job by "giving" with other peoples money while I bet (can't prove) that their personal giving while still a citizen (regular) was a pathetic lesson in "stiffing". The sooner people wake up and realize this fact about government, it will never change.
A side note: I cant believe the bleeding heart liberal is so shocked!!! After all, their senselessness, mind numbing ideas and world view is the mechanism that got us where we are today. So to the liberal, return the fries, youre a fraud.
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R. Rogers - Harwood, MD - Karma: Terrible
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jen Rhoades - 2009-11-16 10:44:44
off-topic and irrelevant. also, The person did not ( could not ) exceed the amount she was alloted. Wipe you tears and pay attention.
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Fred Shubbie - annapolis , md - Karma: Terrible
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Alot of cuts need to take place - 2009-11-16 10:00:20
Last night I was in the Giant on riva road, two people with children were ahead of me in the self-checkout line. The first woman to go through had shrimp and steak and a few other items, couldn't help but notice! Then she paid with her orange independence card, which is the modern day food stamps. The next woman in line, while waiting, her kids were begging to get a Hershey bar to split, she continued to say no. She had a few of those banquet potpies, some frozen veggies and milk and cereal. She paid for her groceries with carefully organized cash. I felt so bad, I told her that her children were so cute, I would like to buy them that Hershey bar, she said thank you but no, they were really happy they were getting raisin bran this week. I could have cried.
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Jen Rhoades - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Excellent
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85 million? - 2009-11-15 19:57:44
Maybe we should sell off public housing units to developers. They could build affordable homes, we could get rid of a major drain on our budget and a big part of our crime problems. I a bleeding heart liberal but it just doesn't make sense that with taxes as high as they are, that we wont be able to make ends meet. As with anything you start with the big offenders, because it makes the most impact. If we could do that we would have to make sure we work on providing affordable housing on some level. But Free housing does not have to be around except for a select few.
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Joe McCorkell - Annapolis, Md - Karma: Good
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healthcare - 2009-11-15 10:38:31
In order to reflect the rest of of great country, increase the share of costs employees pay for benefits.
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Fred Shubbie - annapolis , md - Karma: Terrible
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BS - 2009-11-15 08:40:50
If the city hired a professional manger and told him/her hey had $85M for a town of 31,000, they would say what are we doing with the excess. A responsible mayor wouldn't have tripled the budget over the past 8 years.
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Peter Dennis - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Neutral
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