If I may ...This is a very funny quote, "In response to these challenges, Calvert County Government instituted a new budgeting analysis to ensure operational efficiency. This analysis revealed that 99 percent of the county’s expenditures were mandated or mission-critical." That really cracks me up. 99%. Sure.
The real reason for the coming increases, "The county looks forward to additional tax revenue from the Dominion Cove Point LNG liquefaction project. However, revenue from the expansion will not be available until Fiscal Year 2018. A majority of the revenue anticipated will be used to fund public schools retiree, as well as, Calvert County Government retiree health benefits, known as other post-employment benefits or OPEB, and to fund operational expenditures that have been deferred." All this while, in the private sector, wages are being cut, more out of pocket being paid out for health care, and what employee retirement contributions? Funny also, that prior to this announcement, none of the commissioners had absolutely, (least that's what they said in public), no idea what the extra money from Dominion was going to be used for.
And this, “This proposal, supported by the plurality of the board, will go far in protecting the county’s strong bond ratings..." Screw the people, we have to please wall street.
It is not law that we must fund the OPEB anyway, let the teachers and county employees pay more to fund their own retirement and pay more towards their own health care, just like those in the private sector.
So, to hell with roads maintenance, infrastructure and the like, no, we have to pay for these overpaid, (yes, relative to the private sector, way overpaid,) government workers and pad their already well padded retirement accounts and pay for their health care that we are having trouble doing for ourselves, if we can afford it at all.
In addition, in that whole press release stating the need and "modest" reasoning for tax increases. [And the use of the word "modest". Were just going to modestly shove this up your rectum taxpayers, you really won't feel it too much.] There is no actual estimate of the amount to be realized. It is time for the commissioners to start cutting worker benefits, (health care subsidies and retirement contributions), just like in the private sector.