Concern Citizens Facts 1 and 7 in Opposition to the Proposed Fire & Rescue Tax Increase

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The following is posted on behalf of the undersigned...

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 new 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 unnecessary 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 against the proposed tax increase had 3 minutes to make their point. The 3 minutes was strictly enforced and included stating your name and address. 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 10 were against the proposed tax rate hike.

FACT: Company 6 did not allow any question from the community at the meeting, even after their hour long presentation. The community had to write their question down with a promise for a response form Company 6 as soon as possible. As of to date there has been no response to any questions that were presented at the forum on the 16th of October which numbered about 12 questions. To date, we have submitted 5 forms to Company 6 and have yet to receive a reply to any of them.

FACT: Company 6 tried to intimidate the crowd by having two local law enforcement personnel present at the October 16th forum. This did intimidate a few of the community members and prevented them from talking. Were two law enforcement personnel required for a "public forum"? Who paid for the officers to be there?

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 with an estimated cost of roughly 10 million?

FACT: There are adequate training facilities for fire fighters at the Bay District location, University of Maryland and the Harry Lundeberg School in piney point. 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 and therefore the proposed excessing training space which is adding to the overall expense?

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? They did transfer money from one of their investment accounts and are miss-leading the public about the amount of community support in favor of this proposed tax rate increase.

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/
 

USWWarrior

It's a Jeep thang!
I spoke to a member of the concerned citizens, they recently posted this on Facebook:

To the citizens of 2nd and 9th districts, our group has been very open about trying to keep you informed with matters concerning the proposed tax increase for the new fire/EMS station. While we are adamantly opposed to this tax increase, the decision is ultimately yours to make. You should be aware though that our information is based solely on documented facts from either Company 6 papers submitted to the county obtained through an Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to the county government. Our other sources include the Company 6 Newsletter, the 2014 Feasibility Study, the current proposal given to the County Commissioners by Company 6 on 28 Aug 2017. At no time did we publish information based on hearsay, rumor or anything like that. If by chance our information is incorrect, it is because Company 6 has changed something without telling either the members of Company 6, the Commissioners or the community.
You should be aware that there are members within Company 6 that are opposed to this tax increase proposal. However, they are remaining quiet in public because they are fearful of retribution by Company 6 leadership. If we were to publish something that was rumor based, we would tell you that Company 6 has told members "if they are opposed to the tax increase, to remain quiet". However we cannot confirm it, so we cannot state it as factual.
 
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