Letter to the Editor:
On the agenda for our last Ways and Means Committee
(2/15/17) meeting was a proposal to extend the counties additional 1.5% sales
tax. I’m unsure of the timelines
involved as they weren’t explained in the memorandum nor discussed by the
leadership. There was a discussion about
efforts to make the renewal occur every 4 years rather than every 2 as is the
present case. Other than that, exactly why the proposal is being vetted in
February rather than during the summer or fall was not explained. I can only assume that the pending election
cycle might be the underlying impetus to get it over with now rather than in
the middle of a campaign for election or re-election to the legislature.
Obviously, the county depends on sales tax revenue. If it were not for that revenue stream our
property tax would be off the charts.
One secret about sales tax revenue is that it is economy based. Meaning
that when the economy is good, people are buying cars, appliances, clothes
etc., and money pours in to county coffers often above budget projections. High gasoline prices also help out. The
higher the price, the more the county takes in. The bad part is that – to some
elected officials – it can be like a cocaine addiction. They start buying
things, adding programs, construct buildings and make long term commitments
that make it difficult to disconnect, retreat, stop or eliminate when the chips
are down.
You see, it’s been my experience that our leaders (Federal,
State and yes Allegany County) feel there is no fun in serving if you can’t
spend money. No one wants to sit behind
a desk rubbing nickels together to try and make a dime. Everyone wants to be
remembered in posterity, leave a legacy or some sort of monument to commemorate
their term of service. Your name and
dates of service in a history book – to some – just doesn’t make it.
There was a lot of discussion about how much revenue the
added 1.5% brings in, how the money is needed to sustain programs, goods and
services. There was also discussion
about analyzing, year to year, program by program, where our money goes, what
kind of stress is put on our budget by Albany and that sort of thing, but no
discussion about eliminating duplication of services, program reductions, staff
reductions or curtailing the size of our county government.
The committee voted – unanimously – to move the resolution
on to the full board. The only voices in
opposition were by non committee members. Mine and Legislator David
Decker. It troubles me that a county
that can create a $29 Million dollar surplus can’t work harder to achieve
parity with its neighboring counties. It’s apparent that no effort will be made
to reduce the sales tax rate, even by a mill. The money addiction will
continue.
The proposal will come before the full board on Monday,
February 27, 2017. My belief is that it
will pass. You have a right to voice
your opinion about this and I urge you to do so. After that date, you will not have another
chance to voice your opinion about this issue for at least 2 years. Contact information for your Legislator can
be found at www.alleganyco.com or by calling the Clerk of the Board at
585-268-9222. Ask them how they intend to vote on this issue and to explain
their reasoning for same. You have a right to know.
Respectfully submitted,
Karl Graves, Legislator
District 4
