USWWarrior
It's a Jeep thang!
As a communication follow up to the Company 6 Public Forum held on October 16th we are providing some additional facts for you to review. As stated by this group the community does not need a Taj Mahal for a fire/EMS station that will cost between 8 and 10 million, especially one that does not have a social hall and will likely include a Helicopter Pad, along with excessive training spaces.
Fact The public forum was basically a one way discussion with the community as opposed to an “open forum”. When the public was allowed to speak, an individual had 3 minutes to make their point. The 3 minutes was strictly enforced and included stating your name and address if you were against the tax increase. If you were for the tax increase, the 3 minute time was loosely enforced and even went beyond 5 minutes on 2 occasions. By our count (estimates only), only 4 people that spoke supported the tax increase whereas about 8-10 were against.
Fact Company 6 refused to directly respond to any question from the community at the meeting. The community had to write their question down with a promise for a response form Company 6 as soon as possible.
Fact Company 6 tried to quiet the crowd by having two local law enforcement personnel present. This intimidated a few on the members of the community and prevented them from talking. Were two law enforcement personnel required for a “public forum”?
Fact Company 6 at the October 16th Public Forum briefed the following, their proposed tax rate hike is estimated to raise their income on a yearly basis by $231,463. This Fire and Rescue Tax increase is a 30% overall increase above the current Fire and Rescue Tax income of $ 565,804 collected in Fiscal Year 2017. They also brief that they are experiencing deficit from the EMS expenditures of around $ 50,000 but provided no other information regarding the Fire Operations portion of the business. So, if they are only experiencing a shortfall of $ 50,000. Why does Company 6 need a yearly $ 231,463 tax increase? There is on one conclusion that can be reached. This proposed increase is mainly to make yearly mortgage payments on the proposed Fire\EMS station for the next 30 or 40 years.
Fact It should be noted that even no major tax increase rate has been proposed over the past decade as briefed by Company 6 at the Oct 16th Public forum. Every time your property assessment value has been increased by the county or a new residence is built. Company 6 receives a yearly increase in Tax income. Company 6 collected $ 547,722 fire and rescue taxes as income in FY 2015 and during FY 2016 they collected $ 554,112 which was shows a $ 6,390 increase from 2015. Another example is in FY 2016 they collected $ 554,112 and at the end of FY 2017 they reported tax income of $ 565,804, which is an automatic $ 11,692 of income increase without a tax rate hike. So, as they try to sell the fact that are operating at a disadvantage. Company 6 has the luxury of automatic increases each year from the Taxpayers pockets without having to even ask.
Fact Bay District built their fire station in 2008 for $5.3 million WITH a social hall that can seat 380 people AND training facilities. While it is not a combined fire/EMS station, it is 30,000 square feet. Does Valley Lee really need a second Bay District Fire Station at the expense of the tax payer?
Fact There are adequate training facilities for fire fighters at Bay District, University of Maryland and the Harry Lundeberg School. In fact, the Harry Lundeberg School is nationally recognized for its firefighting training but yet that is not good enough for Company 6 to use?
Fact The “fill the boot” sign shows a progress of $700,000. According to Company 6: Fill the boot signs will be posted to demonstrate fundraising and donation progress. So have they really collected 700k in 4 months? Or did they transfer money from one of their investment accounts and are mis-leading the public about the amount of support.
We have a petition going around the community for signatures if you are opposed to this requested tax rate increase. We request your signature support in order to turn this unwarranted proposed tax increase around and allow the commissioners to provide a referendum vote which will allow the voters of the 2nd and 9th District to decide if they want to support or reject this enormous tax increase request. Please contact us by email at concerncitizens2and9district@gmail.com or follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Concernedcitizensof2ndand9thdistrict-St-Marys-County-1572519312789805/
Fact The public forum was basically a one way discussion with the community as opposed to an “open forum”. When the public was allowed to speak, an individual had 3 minutes to make their point. The 3 minutes was strictly enforced and included stating your name and address if you were against the tax increase. If you were for the tax increase, the 3 minute time was loosely enforced and even went beyond 5 minutes on 2 occasions. By our count (estimates only), only 4 people that spoke supported the tax increase whereas about 8-10 were against.
Fact Company 6 refused to directly respond to any question from the community at the meeting. The community had to write their question down with a promise for a response form Company 6 as soon as possible.
Fact Company 6 tried to quiet the crowd by having two local law enforcement personnel present. This intimidated a few on the members of the community and prevented them from talking. Were two law enforcement personnel required for a “public forum”?
Fact Company 6 at the October 16th Public Forum briefed the following, their proposed tax rate hike is estimated to raise their income on a yearly basis by $231,463. This Fire and Rescue Tax increase is a 30% overall increase above the current Fire and Rescue Tax income of $ 565,804 collected in Fiscal Year 2017. They also brief that they are experiencing deficit from the EMS expenditures of around $ 50,000 but provided no other information regarding the Fire Operations portion of the business. So, if they are only experiencing a shortfall of $ 50,000. Why does Company 6 need a yearly $ 231,463 tax increase? There is on one conclusion that can be reached. This proposed increase is mainly to make yearly mortgage payments on the proposed Fire\EMS station for the next 30 or 40 years.
Fact It should be noted that even no major tax increase rate has been proposed over the past decade as briefed by Company 6 at the Oct 16th Public forum. Every time your property assessment value has been increased by the county or a new residence is built. Company 6 receives a yearly increase in Tax income. Company 6 collected $ 547,722 fire and rescue taxes as income in FY 2015 and during FY 2016 they collected $ 554,112 which was shows a $ 6,390 increase from 2015. Another example is in FY 2016 they collected $ 554,112 and at the end of FY 2017 they reported tax income of $ 565,804, which is an automatic $ 11,692 of income increase without a tax rate hike. So, as they try to sell the fact that are operating at a disadvantage. Company 6 has the luxury of automatic increases each year from the Taxpayers pockets without having to even ask.
Fact Bay District built their fire station in 2008 for $5.3 million WITH a social hall that can seat 380 people AND training facilities. While it is not a combined fire/EMS station, it is 30,000 square feet. Does Valley Lee really need a second Bay District Fire Station at the expense of the tax payer?
Fact There are adequate training facilities for fire fighters at Bay District, University of Maryland and the Harry Lundeberg School. In fact, the Harry Lundeberg School is nationally recognized for its firefighting training but yet that is not good enough for Company 6 to use?
Fact The “fill the boot” sign shows a progress of $700,000. According to Company 6: Fill the boot signs will be posted to demonstrate fundraising and donation progress. So have they really collected 700k in 4 months? Or did they transfer money from one of their investment accounts and are mis-leading the public about the amount of support.
We have a petition going around the community for signatures if you are opposed to this requested tax rate increase. We request your signature support in order to turn this unwarranted proposed tax increase around and allow the commissioners to provide a referendum vote which will allow the voters of the 2nd and 9th District to decide if they want to support or reject this enormous tax increase request. Please contact us by email at concerncitizens2and9district@gmail.com or follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Concernedcitizensof2ndand9thdistrict-St-Marys-County-1572519312789805/