The fact that the Council had no qualms about spending even more than MCPS asked for despite that binding maintenance-of-effort state law raises questions of the councilmembers' fitness for office. Councilmembers approved the massive spending on MCPS while knowing that there are only two uncertain sources to pay the additional $16 million, and one of those is a one-time $5 million possible payment from the state for upgrading the County's long-failing 911 system. The other $11 million? LOL - they'll figure it out. And thanks to the law, we now have to give MCPS - the system that has declined in performance even as spending on it has surged - that amount every single year going forward. We already are in the red every single year as far out as the forecasts go as it is. Heckuva job, Brownie!
"The annual [property tax] bill for the average homeowner will increase," the Council's press release on the budget vote acknowledges - while not admitting the real-world dollar value of that increase, which is far more than the "average" cost cited often by the County. That tax hike comes after the Council and County Executive Marc Elrich promised voters they would not raise taxes.
Bloated and filled with loot for the Montgomery County cartel, the budget maintains the corrupt Council's MO of "managing the decline," and continuing our slow slouch towards Gomorrah. The Council has failed to take a single action on our economic development crisis since taking office last December, forgoing for another year any sensible attempt to increase our revenue from commercial development or attracting major corporate headquarters - something Montgomery County hasn't been able to do for over twenty years. Instead, the County has sunk to rock bottom by every economic development benchmark, even behind tiny counties like Culpeper and Rappahannock. It's humiliating.
Considering the Council has raised property taxes every year except 2014, imagine what will happen when the national economy goes into a recession. We are now in the weakest position ever to confront such an economic challenge. Given the County's massive debt, the much-touted AAA bond rating will be in jeopardy as soon as bad times hit, and we are due for a bust cycle any month now. Remember: we have to maintain this level of MCPS spending and county employee pay hikes every year no matter how bad the revenue picture gets.
With that in mind, it's obvious that while our leaders may be tools, they aren't exactly the sharpest tools in the drawer. But that's the caliber of leadership you end up with when most voters don't bother to research the candidates before voting, and simply go by the party affiliation after the name. We can't go on like this.
60 comments:
What ever happened to truth in journalism?
6:43: You might want to pose that question to the media outlets that are falsely reporting that there is no increase in property taxes in this budget. #FakeNews
More sour grapes?
They are duly elected council members, people who live in our own communities, trying to do their best for the county amid difficult economic times.
On this Memorial Day weekend, take some time to thank our servicemen and women for their dedication to keeping us free.
There is no NEW property tax increase in the budget.
6:59: FALSE. I have not only quoted the Council press release that admits property taxes increase with this budget, but have linked to my previous report that shows actual Council documents announcing the tax increase.
6:54: You just committed an act of stolen valor - disgraceful at the start of Memorial Day weekend. To my knowledge, no member of the Council has served in our armed forces; to claim otherwise is stolen valor.
Secondly, Memorial Day weekend is about those who gave their lives in service; Veterans Day is the weekend to thank servicemen and women in general.
You are a font of false information today.
So much bitterness by Bob today?
I NEVER said that ANY councilmember was in the service. I went out of my way not to say that since I did not know is any were.
I know what Memorial Day is. I remember when it officially changed from Decoration Day to Memorial Day in the 1960's. And yes, it is the day to remember those who gave their lives in service of this country for our freedom.
Personally, I prefer to thank our service members while their are alive. That's why I fly the flag. That's why I regularly thank those in uniform, and those retired for their past service. Except for Marines. If you ask an old man "Were you a Marine?" He will say "No, ma'am. I AM a Marine." ;o)
Which branch of the armed services did you serve Bob? Or did you have bone spurs?
7:49: The draft no longer existed when I reached the eligible age, Senator Blumenthal.
7:56: They falsely reported that property taxes would not rise in the budget. #FakeNews
It's a sign of desperation that you have to post links to competing websites on my site to get traffic for them. Sad!
Dyer, are you still pretending that you don't understand the difference between the property tax rate and individual property tax assessments?
Of course 34.6% of all MoCo residents are renters and do not (directly) pay any real estate tax. Nor do they have equity down payments, mortgages, HOA fees, real estate transaction fees or any maintenance costs and appliance replacement cost on their apartments. They also don’t pay expensive home owners insurance, or in most cases, natural gas bills, the cost to heat domestic water, so they are less impacted by rising utility costs.
Of course they pay rent, and some limited utility costs. Their rent likely includes these above expenses passed through from their landlords, but it is quite wrong to assume that most MoCo residents are directly impacted by property tax increases. Because MoCo includes such a high percentage of renters, well over 1/3 of its residents, property tax increases become even more of a burden for those who choose to own a home or condo.
Home and condo owners enjoy tax deductions for (limited) real estate mortgages and property taxes, and they can benefit from rising property values, or suffer from falling property values.
If property values were declining, you can bet that Dyer would not write, "County Cuts Property Taxes!"
Have the property tax rates changed?
You don't need a draft to enter into the service!!
The statement that the council “hiked property taxes” means the property tax rate has been increased. Is that the case? This post does not specify what the old rate was or what the new rate is.
Anna, it seems we are on the same page as usual.
8:09: Renters absolutely end up paying for property tax increases through their rent and fees - that is Economics 101. Your claim that renters don't pay for utility rate increases is equally absurd. Come on, man. Even you don't believe that.
And with the federal changes to the tax code, you can no longer deduct local and state taxes as you once could in high-cost areas like this. So everyone but the crooks in the MoCo cartel come out a loser in this budget.
8:04: Property taxes will increase via this budget. The required legal announcement (linked to in my article above) clearly states the amount the Council would have to REDUCE the tax rate by to avoid the automatic tax hike in this budget. As the legal announcement also clearly stated, the Council declined to cut the tax rate by that amount, thereby triggering the tax hike. You got played by the Council.
I DID NOT "commit an act of stolen valor " as you have stated.
That is a horrid lie and I'm asking for an apology.
8:13/8:14: Again, in the article I've linked directly to *photographs* of the legal announcement that clearly states the Council is raising property taxes, and their own press release admits it, as well.
Your property taxes have just increased.
Did your property taxes increase, Robbie?
8:17: You did by referring to our crooked Council as "serving," and then directly following that by saying to thank servicemembers this weekend. The Councilmembers did not serve, making your remarks a Richard Blumenthal-style act of stolen valor, trying to associate the draft-dodging crooks on the Council with Memorial Day weekend and "service."
Property taxes have just increased. Property taxes have just increased.
Residential renter do not directly pay property taxes. FACT.
Residential landlords do not directly raise rents by the amount of any tax increase.
Residential landlords can still deduct 100% of property taxes on rentals.
I DID NOT "commit an act of stolen valor " as you have stated. Nope. I did not.
That is a horrid lie and I'm asking for an apology.
8:19 — I remember seeing those photos before, which do not show the notice in its entirety. I also remember asking where the notice was published, and your refusal to answer the question. I’ll try again:
Where was that notice published?
8:22: LOL, did you graduate from the Fidel Castro School of Economics?
It's also shocking that as a self-proclaimed tax expert, you do not realize that deductions are not dollar for dollar. Higher property taxes means landlords will indeed be shelling out more to Montgomery County than last year.
8:26: It does show the notice in its entirety. And a simple reading of the actual budget passed will also indicate the rise in property tax. Is English your first language?
I've never claimed to be a tax expert. Again your words, not mine.
What are you blabbering about deductions not being dollar for dollar? For rental property, yes it is. 100% on Schedule E. As for rent increases, did you see the word "directly"? I stand by my comment. You also need to brush up on your reading comprehension. you're so busy racing to denigrate what I type that you miss the meaning of what I actually said.
2 Questions:
If my taxes are going up, what increased services am I receiving?
If our government can't manage the county's finances well during this boom economy, how will they navigate flat growth or downturn?
8:34AM - GMTAing again
Glass and Reimer wouldn't last a day in boot camp. Anna, stop comparing them to our war heroes.
Your tax rate did not change, Tom. It could have been raised, but it was not. Unfortunately the assessment schedule is still on it's same track as it has been for years. But thankfully, the tax rate % will not go up this year.
Every government is having trouble with their finances. Just like for a lot of people, the recession ushered in a great deal of debt to merely keep things at par.
8:43: Tom's taxes just went up due to the budget passed by the Council. This is a fact.
8:38AM? Your crazy is showing; you might want to tuck that back in.
Tom's tax rate did not change. FACT.
8:52: Tom's tax rate not only increase 4.8% according to the published legal notice from the Council, but the Council press release itself admitted Tom's tax bill will indeed be higher this time. If you are really a financial advisor, you could lose your credentials for trying to trick people into believing their tax bills aren't going up - taxes have just been increased by the Council. Facts.
8:52: He's on-point about the Council stolen valor, and about Hans - remember, a child's trampoline sent him to the hospital (or at least, that was the official story...). Hans in boot camp would get big ratings on Comedy Central.
what's disgraceful is that Dyer doesn't want you to thank any service members this weekend...because they're still alive.
"Memorial Day weekend is about those who gave their lives in service; Veterans Day is the weekend to thank servicemen and women in general." - Robert Dyer 5/24/2019
That's a shameful thing to say
9:01: Veterans would be the first to explain to you the distinction. It matters to them.
Every government is not having problems with their finances. Municipalities that were adequately managed took advantage of low interest rate environment created during the recession and refinanced debt and issued bonds at dirt-low rates. As a lifelong Moco resident, it’s shameful that our council seems content with downward trajectory of our once-proud county.
“Every government is having trouble with their finances. Just like for a lot of people, the recession ushered in a great deal of debt to merely keep things at par.
8:43 AM”
So, what areas are thriving with their finances?
Anna darling,
Eighteen comments posted in a couple of hours. Even by your standards, that’s a lot.
Do you ever think of getting a life?
But you've been right here reading it the whole time?
I kinda like to fight for what I believe in, unlike you who likes to fight against people who have standards.
No, darling, I looked once.
Seriously, Anna, I’m not attacking you, and you are probably a fine person, With the utmost respect, and simply for your own good, you would be well advised to seek help. This obsession with Dyer is unhealthy.
Even if you’re 100% right, is it worth the time? Thousands, literally thousands, of posts.
Don’t take my word for it. Share honestly with your nearest and dearest, and be guided by their reactions.
"Thousands, literally thousands, of posts"
Are you sure about that? Do you spend your days counting them?
You know, 9:43AM if you would use your real name we could count up yours too. But, that would require courage and honesty on your part, and I don't think you're capable of either.
9:57AM You're always trying to spark a reaction from Dyer, to the point of trolling him sometimes with repeated phrases.
I agree that it is weird and troubling given that you claim to know where Robert lives, etc. You know- the whole "I know where you live and I'm going to..."
Let's settle this in the courts. I'm game. An arbitrator will be fine. Let them decide who is lying and who isn't.
I have no worries. I have nothing to hide.
The only one looking bad here is you
“A man should be able to hear, and to bear, the worst that could be said of him.” –Saul Bellow
It could be a landmark Supreme Court decision- the troll who sues the local journalist he is trolling for not giving him enough attention...lol.
11:12AM A stalker sues the man he is stalking...lol
I needed a good laugh to end the week. Thanks for that.
11:19 AM Wow...those three bizarre comments in a row confirm that you've really lost it.
Just the truth. You don't seem to be a fan of the truth, but, as I'm sure you'll find out one day, honesty is the best policy.
I use my name. I tell the truth. I'm sorry if that bothers you.
I've never posted anything I couldn't or wouldn't say directly face-to-face.
And you? You're swiping at me cloaked in anonymity.
I'd love for you to tell me that face-to-face.
What inner demons make you so scared of me?
Wow... the one and only “Anna” on the planet is calling someone out for hiding behind anonymity....
Anna @ 6:54 AM: "They are duly elected council members, people who live in our own communities, trying to do their best for the county amid difficult economic times."
"On this Memorial Day weekend, take some time to thank our servicemen and women for their dedication to keeping us free."
Robert Dyer @ 7:13 AM: : "You just committed an act of stolen valor - disgraceful at the start of Memorial Day weekend. To my knowledge, no member of the Council has served in our armed forces; to claim otherwise is stolen valor."
Seriously, Dyer, WTF is wrong with you? Those are two separate paragraphs in Anna's comment, the second in no way implies that any of the Councilmembers are veterans. Why can't you just slow down and read more carefully rather than just getting in another stupid argument with your readers? And learn to admit that you are wrong, for once in your life. You'd save yourself a lot of humiliation in the long run.
Instead of deleting legitimate questions and comments from your readers, and hiding behind your sockpuppets, why don't you just delete your own stupid posts?
2:46: LOL - First of all, you ARE "Anna," the troll, not a "reader." "Anna" lurks around my site all day and all night, posting only negative comments and trying to disrupt my successful website.
We witnessed a psychotic episode by "Anna" in the last 24 hours. He clearly either had the day off Friday, or trolling is his job, because "Anna" was refreshing pages on this site every minute yesterday and posting negative attacks. No normal person can or would do that or be able to commit that amount of time.
Your comment clearly was trying to associate our criminal Council with the sacrifice and honor of military service, a preposterous comparison compounded by the fact that the Council never served in the military. Now that really was a "stupid" post. You've been asked to leave, now hit the road.
Dyer: I read the tax rate link you included and I'm confused. What are tax rates going to be next year? $0.7414 or or $0.7702? Is it set automatically based on the budget or they need a separate vote to adjust the rates?
Landlord here: Increase in costs to the landlord, whether it's property taxes, rental property license fees (yes, MoCo has those of course!), or utilities will all be passed to the tenant at lease renewal time, or the landlord will need to eat the increased cost and make lower profits.
Property taxes on a rental property are an expense just like interest on the loan for that property and property management fees are, and reported on the Schedule E. They are not "deductible" in the way a charitable donation is, since that's subject to deduction and income limitations.
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