In reviewing various reports on sbynews, the Daily Times, as well as some emails in my inbox regarding people’s concern and their reverberation of my earlier prediction that Rick Pollitt is creating the “perfect storm” to set up the argument that the revenue cap needs to be repealed. it now seems to be becoming a populist notion. Why? Well, Pollitt’s own proposal to deal with the issues of the budget shortfall leaves quite a bit of writing on the wall, given his stop gap measure doesn’t address the real issues of the problem: OVER SPENDING. 
Pollitt is taking fire for using the budget economic problems, partially caused by his own mis-management of tax funds to raise taxes.
Additionally his staff and paid “spokesperson” Jim Fineran, along with Patricia Petersen, Wicomico County’s director of finance, is out there speaking for Pollitt because he seems to have some aversion to speaking to the residents of Wicomico County himself. Some of wonder why he’s above speaking directly to the people who pay his salary.
Goodness knows having all these people speak for Rick is a prime example of tax dollar waste.
“Now is the time to organize at the grass-roots level in time for a voter referendum question on the cap to be placed on the November 2010 election ballot, Patricia Petersen, Wicomico County’s director of finance, told the audience of about two dozen residents.
In the midst of a county budget crisis and national recession severely limiting incoming revenue, voters are urged to consider options to the current cap that, if not modified, is certain to adversely impact the level of resident services and reduce government programs and employees, said Petersen, who said she favored a cap modification. Attempting to eliminate the cap all together would be unrealistic, she said.
“We have cash-flow issues; we expect revenue to decline $6.1 million, or 5.3 percent, in fiscal year 2011,” Petersen said. “We will retain core services, but some of the nice things may go away.”
I’m very disappointed that Pollitt’s first action is to target the NAACP. Such a tactic is pretty transparent. NAACP president, Mary Ashanti, is a sharp lady and I hope that she uses all the resources available to her to study the core issues and the desired outcomes from the county executive branch, knowing that the members of her group and their objectives are not being accomplished by raising taxes.
While the Wicomico branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People has taken no position on the issue, President Mary Ashanti told the audience that the nonpartisan civil and human rights organization is available to work with community organizations interested in mobilizing educational sessions about the impact of the cap and proposed revenue-generating options.
“We are about civil rights and human rights, and (county services) are along the line of the mission of the NAACP,” Ashanti told the audience that gathered at First Baptist Church off Delaware Avenue and Booth Street. “I advise you to invite county (leaders) to speak to your group, and this should be done quickly. I’m hoping that in a few days, that you’ll talk to somebody you influence.”
Even more astounding was the blatant “Organizing for America” tactic that Fineran used, as he transparently tries to start a groundswell in support for raising taxes.
Jim Fineran, Wicomico County spokesman, urged residents to attend Wicomico County Council meetings and raise questions regarding the revenue cap, saying they would undoubtedly get the attention of elected officials. He also reminded the audience that VOICE founder Don Coffin, who mobilized support for the revenue cap, was defeated in a subsequent bid for a seat on the County Council. On the other hand, County Executive Rick Pollitt, who had opposed the 2 percent cap, won his seat as top Wicomico executive.
“I guarantee you, if one or two of you said you wanted to take a look at this, you’d get their attention,” he said.
At least 10,000 valid voter signatures would be required by next August in order to have the revenue cap question on the November 2010 ballot.
So this is Pollitts‘ idea of “grass roots”? Have your minions go out and threaten people with loss, without providing all the facts and tell them to demand Wicomico raise Somebody Else’s Taxes to cover for our Executives mismanagement of our tax dollars.
OK. Got it.
Not once did they mention that we have a little issue with how we spend out money.
Right Coast Girl
