Anger to Understanding

On Tuesday, the county commissioners voted 5 – 0 to raise our property taxes by 4.3 cents to 94 cents. Along with the majority of the county, I wasn’t too happy. I thought that things would be a lot different this year with 3 Republican commissioners. Promises were made last fall about holding the line on taxes. Were these empty promises made again during an election to get elected? Commitments were made soon again after the elections to hold the line on taxes.

My first reaction was to crucify the 3 Rs in public for their votes. But after sitting down to write this post, after putting my thoughts on paper, my anger started to subside. Were the two commissioners sincere when they committed to holding the line on taxes last winter? I believe they were. The commissioners would have had to cut the budget by another $4.3 million to maintain the constant yield rate of 89.7 cents. If the state hadn’t cut the state revenue to Cecil County by $4 million, it would have been an easier task.

Where would you have cut the budget by $4.3 million to maintain the constant yield? Education – doesn’t work for me, I have 3 kids in school and education is very important to me (plus with my wife on the school board, she would have hurt me). Public safety – I personally want more deputies on the road, not less. Parks and Recreation – I don’t think that there is enough. We belong to a Harford County soccer league because none exist in the western part of the county. Libraries – nope, not here either, my kids fully utilize the Rising Sun library. So basically what I am saying is that there is no easy answer. There are services provided by the county that we want more of or at least maintain at the current level. Was there fat in the budget that could have been cut out? I don’t know, what is fat to some is essential to others. I have to trust that the commissioners that I voted for have done their job the way that I would have expected them to.

Another way to look at this is to look at our elected state officials. We all know that Delegate Smigiel, Delegate Sossi, Senator Pipkin and Senator Jacobs would never vote to raise taxes. Delegate Smigiel and Senator Pipkin are quite vocal about it and I respect them for their stance. If you would take Delegate Smigiel or Senator Jacobs and put them into the position that they had to vote for a tax increase or a major decrease of funding to public safety, how would they vote? I would immediately say they would vote no to new taxes, but public safety is a major area of concern to them. So what would the outcome be? (I took liberties with the state budget scenario, we all know that there is so much fat, no, not fat, blubber, that this would never happen)

I do not think that it is “my patriotic duty to pay more taxes” and never will. I believe the economic policies of President NObama and Governor NO’malley are disastrous for this county and state. I am not happy with the increase in property taxes and am disappointed with the 3 R commissioners. But I will not crucify them for their decision. I think that they did their best with what they had to work with. I will continue to keep the faith that they will do their best to represent me and others. So I will continue to support Commissioners Demmler, Mullin and Hodge.

Property Tax Increase - Different Views

Two different interesting views on the recent property tax increase in the Whig on Friday from Terry Peddicord and Gene Cochrane. Terry had said that Delegate Smigiel and Senator Pipkin were grandstanding in their public stance against the increase during the commissioner's meeting. I don't know if I would have called it grandstanding, Mike's heart is in the right place and he does stand up for what he believes in and for the voters he represents. Terry wondered what did they want cut from the budget instead of not adjusting the effective rate. Gene had wondered where the public opposition was against the increase. I think Gene was right when he said that the opposition should have taken place a month ago when the budget process started.

I just don't know enough about the county budget to say which side is right or wrong. I know when it falls on your shoulder to make those budget decisions, it is not an easy task. But then again, we expect our elected officials to make the tough choices.

SEN. PIPKIN & DEL. SMIGIEL – "JUST SAY NO TO 10% TAX INCREASE – ENOUGH IS ENOUGH"

May 19, 2008




FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


SEN. PIPKIN & DEL. SMIGIEL – "JUST SAY NO TO 10% TAX INCREASE – ENOUGH IS ENOUGH"

Senator E. J. Pipkin and Delegate Michael Smigiel, Republicans who represent the Upper Shore District 36, strongly rejected a 10% Cecil County property tax increase, declaring "No to the increase – enough is enough!" The county has increased the property tax for the past 12 consecutive years.

Pipkin and Smigiel will introduce legislation to lower taxes.

"After the approval of the highest tax increase in Maryland history in the November Special Session, which Delegate Smigiel and I fought against, it looks like Cecil County wants to climb onboard the tax-the-people-more bandwagon. A double-digit tax increase during a time of economic recession and soaring gas, electric and food prices is as merciless as it is obscene."

The public outrage over this ill-conceived increase was reflected at Tuesday's hearing. County residents protested. Delegate Smigiel pointed out, "Their protests were ignored."

"In short," said Pipkin, "it appears that as soon as the taxes are increased…the county spends the revenue… then, the county spends revenue it doesn't have… then the county complains about falling revenue… and seeks another tax increase." Smigiel called the process "the vicious cycle that keeps government's greedy hands in the citizens' pockets."

Pipkin and Smigiel, who both reside in Cecil County, urged their fellow county citizens to protest the tax grab when the proposed county budget will be voted on by the commissioners at the 7 p.m. meeting May 20 at the Charlestown Fire Hall.

The Herald-Mail - A senator under fire

The Special Taxing District issue has ruffled a lot of feathers here in Cecil County. I thought that this story in "The Herald-Mail" added some humor to it.

A simmering Eastern Shore legislative feud surfaced during the last full week of this year’s session on the Senate floor, with Sen. Donald F. Munson, R-Washington, in the crossfire.

Special Taxing District Meeting

Delegate Sossi and Delegate Smigiel hosted a special meeting yesterday the Rising Sun Public Library to discuss Special Taxing Districts. By now most of us are aware of the saga in the Cecil Whig about the in-fighting within the Cecil County Delegation about the Special Taxing Districts. The five county commissioners requested that the Delegation submit a bill to enable the county to designate Special Taxing Districts if they wished. This is were the problem started, the commissioners wanted residential areas to be included within the bill. Delegates Sossi and Smigiel, along with Senator Pipkin determined that they would not include residential areas within the bill. This is not what the commissioners wanted.

Some of the delegation wanted the vote to be delayed because not all members would be present. But the vote proceeded anyway and failed. It was decided by the majority of the delegation at a later date to have the vote again, when all of the members could be present. This in itself created a problem because according to Delegate Smigiel, when a vote fails, it is never voted on again during the same session. The led to even a bigger problem, what is a majority? When the smoke cleared, the vote was 4 in favor and 3 against. Delegate Smigiel stated that it failed to get a majority because with a delegation of 8, 5 would make a majority. Others disagreed and said that it passed because when 7 people vote, 4 becomes a majority. I would have to agree with that. Any vote and or election that I have participated in, it is the majority of the votes cast that wins, not the majority of potential votes.

So the end result was that the just the members of the delegation that voted in the affirmative, put forth their bills in the senate and legislation. This will most likely kill the bills, because most committee chairs are reluctant to move bills out of committee that do not have the full blessing of the delegation of the county that would be impacted by it.

I attended the meeting to find out what the Special Taxing Districts were and why they would be bad for the county. Delegate Smigiel stated that Special Taxing Districts for residential areas would lead to out of control growth. When asked if he had information to back up that claim, he could not present any. We heard that Middletown, Delaware was a good example for why the Special Taxing Districts would lead to out of control growth. Again there was no proof presented to back that claim, in fact, a lady that was at the meeting stated that she contacted Middletown and New Castle County officials and was told that Special Taxing Districts had no impact on Middletown. We were then told that these Districts were so bad, that bill had been submitted in both houses to repeal the authority for Special Taxing Districts in residential areas in Maryland. When I checked this morning, I could find no record of such a bill submitted by a Delegate and the Senate bill (SB381) only had one sponsor, Senator Rosapepe.

After leaving that meeting, I felt like that I was not convinced that the Special Taxing Districts would be such a bad thing for Cecil County. Zoning is definitely not working in controlling the growth and directing the growth to the areas that it should. I think that the thing that convince me that it could not such a bad thing is that Commissioner Demmler supported it. None one could ever claim that Becky would support out of control growth. I always try to keep an open mind and will listen to additional arguments, but until convince otherwise, I believe that the Special Taxing Districts is a tool that should be made available to the county.

Taxing Districts - Special Meeting

The 21st Century Republican Club will be hosting a special meeting on Saturday, March 1 at 3:00 p.m., at the Rising Sun Library. Senator Pipkin, Delegate Smigiel and Delegate Sossi will discuss their concern of taxing districts and the effect it could have on Cecil County. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Skip Yust, President

Endorsements for Tuesday

Please remember to vote on Tuesday (Feb. 12th) in the Maryland Primary Election. Until last Thursday, there were 3 races here in this area that were being closely followed by the area Republicans, the Presidential, Congressional District 1 and Commissioner District 5.

In the Presidential battle, I will not be endorsing any of the remaining candidates. I was the Cecil County Chair for the Mitt Romney Campaign which tells you who I was previously cheering on. In fact, many of the Maryland County Chairs for Romney will be still voting for him on Tuesday, just to send a message. But at the end of the day, I will still support the Republican nominee for the general election.

I am endorsing Robert Hodge for County Commissioner in District 5. Politically, this was an easy choice. I believe that Robert has the business experience that Cecil County needs going forward with BRAC coming to the area. Personally, it was a tough choice; I have known Tom McWilliams for over 6 years now. And like many other people, like Tom a lot. I just believe that he lacks the business experience that will be necessary to move the county forward.

I am endorsing Senator Andy Harris for Congress. I believe that he has the conservative values that match mine the closest. Congressman Gilchrest lost me when he supported a timeline for a troop withdrawn from Iraq. How can you vote to send folks to war and then turn around and withdrawn your support when the political winds change. With that being said, I had to say that this has been one of the most negative campaigns that I have even seen. My mailbox has been clutter almost on a daily basis with negative brochures from all three major candidates, Senator Pipkin, Congressman Gilchrest and Senator Harris.

The Daily Times - 1st DISTRICT: Pipkin receives Cecil County FOP support

ELKTON — Queen Anne’s County Sen. E.J. Pipkin picked up an endorsement from the Cecil County Fraternal Order of Police Friday, according to a news statement released Friday.

POLITICO - Poll: Gilchrest with 60 percent negative rating among GOPers

Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (R-Md.), in the midst of a fierce Republican primary fight to hold onto his Eastern Shore-based seat, has also hit rock-bottom with many of his Republican constituents, according to a newly released poll.

The Washington Times - Editorial on Congressional Race

To regain America's trust and deserve the majority, we must elect congressmen who not only say the right things, but do them. Actions speak louder than words, and Dr. Harris's consistent, conservative record speaks for itself. The Republican Party needs a strong dose of conservative medicine, and Dr. Harris is the right prescription for an ailing Congress.

Statement on Pipkin Entering the Race

For Immediate Release
Contact: Chris Meekins
November 29, 2007 443-553-4794

Statement on Pipkin Entering the Race

"America is a free country and anyone can run for office. We are glad the only state senator not to endorse Andy finally realizes that Gilchrest should no longer be representing the first congressional district. However, Pipkin and Gilchrest are two tax-and-spend peas in a liberal pod. Andy Harris is the only person in this race who shares the conservative values of the first congressional district which is why he will win on February 12th."

The News Journal - Pipkin to enter 1st District race in Md.

State Sen. J. Lowell Stoltzfus, R-Somerset, said he sees this move by Pipkin as good for the incumbent, almost guaranteeing another Gilchrest victory.

"I'm not going to support Pipkin," said Stoltzfus, who has endorsed Harris. "For him to get into the race this late, it ensures he and Harris will both lose."

Senator E J Pipkin Announces That He Will Run For Congress

Senator E J Pipkin is going to announce tomorrow that he is a candidate for Congress. Stay turn.