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BRAC may bring more commuters than movers

Many employees headed to Fort Meade undecided on whether to relocate

By RYAN JUSTIN FOX Staff Writer

Published 10/03/09

Fort George G. Meade is shaping up to be more of a commuter town than a bedroom community as the post quadruples its operations over the next two years.

Employees from a massive Defense Department installation headed for Fort Meade seem to be reluctant to take up relocation packages to move to their new job site.

That decision could increase the strain on the already failing roads and busy mass transit system.

"We're going to have to change our modus operandi," said Bob Leib, the BRAC coordinator for Anne Arundel County. "Fort Meade (after) BRAC is going to be more of a commuting...

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Scott.. - 2009-10-06 15:54:24

I more or less agree with you statement. To clarify, I was referring to the tax from the commercial properties that the workers would fill, local business patronage by those workers, etc. I understand that the County would not get personal income tax from employees who do not live here, but that type of tax rarely offsets the cost of new residents, anyway. I also agree that clustered development, particular redevelopment of already paved or cleared areas, is preferable to bulldozing forests with more sprawl.

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Jeff S. - Arnold, MD - Karma: Good

Jeff - 2009-10-06 11:52:49

I'd hate to see the county become even more over-developed as well. However, the tax revenue goes to the jurisdiction where the employees live, not where they work. AA doesn't get the tax revenue if they don't live here. But our roads get even more clogged with their traffic if they commute from somewhere else. If the employer were a private business, AA would at least get corporate taxes out of the deal, but not so with a government agency.

While there's really no good solution, I'd rather see high density housing (condos, townhouses) built on base or immediately around the perimeter, close enough so that at least the rest of the county doesn't have to suffer with more sprawl.

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Scott S. - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Excellent

Good points Jeff - 2009-10-06 08:08:00

and Shubbie-Doo, when Ehrlich wanted slots it was the Dems that shot it down, then once O'Malley got it in it was the smartest thing they ever heard. It was Janet Owens who touted the West County area the Gold Coast of AACO. She is the one with the developer friends. The one making out on this deal would have to be St. John Properties. BRAC will bring in temp labor jobs but once the building is done there will be very few decent paying jobs to be had for county residents. The residents will just be stuck with traffic problems from the increase in commuter traffic and bad roads. At least slots will not be spending our money to further this boondoogle.

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Pat M. - Arnold, MD - Karma: Excellent

BRAC Population Growth is Not Good - 2009-10-05 13:07:16

One of these days, our planners and politicians will admit that a growing population is not a reasonable goal in and of itself. These employees, highly paid or not, are unlikely to offset their cost to the County through any taxes that they would pay. This fact has been demonstrated over and over. Having them work here but live elsewhere is a better alternative for Anne Arundel County residents. The County gets the tax revenue from their employment without the tax drain of more residents. Hopefully, now our planners and the developers, as shortsighted as they can be, will realize that we do not need to pave over our few remaining forests to build thousands of additional homes that will serve only to further glut the areas home inventory.

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Jeff S. - Arnold, MD - Karma: Good

Stick it in a slot - 2009-10-04 20:45:36

Slots!! Can't live with them, can't live without them. Ehrlich often sung the praises of slots, perhaps he has some developer friends that need a favor and could lend a hand in finding a home for his baby.

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Fred Shubbie - , - Karma: Terrible

From - 2009-10-04 10:22:07

stopslotsatamm.com: Casinos reduce an area's average wages by creating low paying jobs. Highly paid employees looking to relocate to Maryland due to the Ft Meade BRAC will choose to live in surounding counties, resulting in reduced Anne Arundel County income tax revenue.

The high paying job holders that are coming to FT Meade are going to do everything to hold onto their jobs in this economy, even if they have to drive hours to do so. Don't be so naive to think this has anything to do with slots. The people spoke they wanted slots sorry that they might land in your backyard but that's life. Slots will create more jobs than BRAC.

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Pat M. - Arnold, MD - Karma: Excellent

upside down on homes - 2009-10-04 09:12:26

I agree with Pat - people are anchored to their homes and can't move even if they wanted to.
As for Arundel Mills - that place is already a cesspool thanks to the riffraff who loiter there. If I do go there, it's always in the morning to avoid them.

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T. Jackson - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Excellent

Slots - 2009-10-03 19:29:33

have nothing to do with it. They are buried in their homes in No VA and they can't afford to sell them. Casino and entertainment complex at A Mills would be fantastic. I had stated in another post on BRAC it was all hype and no substance. There will not be the jobs promised, and there will be very few high paying jobs created by BRAC. AAWDC touted BRAC as the job savior for this county, they were not even close.

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Pat M. - Arnold, MD - Karma: Excellent

Slots - 2009-10-03 10:15:11

No one wants to live next to a casino. That is probably a major factor in their decision. Each highly paid employee who does not move represents lost income tax revenue for the County.

www.stopslotsatamm.com

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Rob A - hanover, MD - Karma: Good