Don't blame me when your property tax bill has increased

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

In the 10 years that I have served, four times I have successfully been part of a majority vote to hold the constant yield tax rate. This is the state-figured calculation that caps property taxes to the previous year's level. Last year, with the awareness of the coming fiscal fiasco, I again supported this tax relief for our local property owners. This time, I was in the minority opinion.

Admittedly, my effort came late in the process. The Enterprise raked me over the coals. Aware of the nature of the critique, I provided a solution early in the FY 2010 budget process.

Six months ago, during an open budget hearing, I motioned to require two budgets of agencies that request funding from the St. Mary's County taxpayers. One budget would be level funded while the other would be presented with a 5 percent reduction. They could, as an alternative, present a single budget that showed a 5 percent reduction. Evergreen Elementary School and the jail expansion would be the exceptions to this cap as the board of education and the sheriff must provide these new functions.

My motion was based upon a proven means to cap budgets. The 5 percent variance gives the county commissioners a view of less necessary funding requests that we can selectively remove or we may task our department heads to provide this balance.

There was no support or even a second for my motion. Instead, the rest of the commissioners voted to allow department budgets to grow up to 5 percent. No consideration was granted for the new elementary school.

Soon after, I added a list of department consolidations that would diminish our expensive contracted employment by more than 50 percent.

The public record shows that I was the lone vote against the high-priced Hayden Farm purchase and the three-quarter million dollar developer bailout on the Beavan property. The recent appointment of a new land use director could have been absorbed by the consolidation that I had proposed.

The savings that I have supported in both the capital and operating budgets equate to more than $12 million. Holding the constant yield requires less than a $6 million reduction. Do not blame Commissioner Larry Jarboe when you see how much your next property tax bill has increased.

The frustration people are feeling is very real as our incomes diminish and retirement savings are disappearing. Rather than use harsh words or wish physical harm on anyone, there are positive cost effective solutions as we anticipate the 2010 election.

On May 30-31, I will be holding the next generation Jarboes Mill Energy Show n' Tell event. The attendance anticipated is such that we have moved the public display to the Southern Maryland Izaak Walton League Outdoor Education Conference Center in Charles County.

There will be many conventional and new energy technologies that can annually save you hundreds of dollars in savings. In addition to being good for the environment, free or renewable energy sources are generally exempt from taxation as well.

Check out altenergy2012.com for more info. Thank you.

Larry Jarboe, Mechanicsville