Monday, August 11, 2008
Anyone know?
I just received this inquiry as a comment on another thread:
"I know this is off topic "but" I would like for you to explain if you could what is going on. I have heard that the well connected business owners convinced the Commissioners to roll back their reassessments. Now instead of the 11.7 millage rate that has been advertised the taxpayers are going to have and increase of 11.85 mills. How can they continue to screw the little guy like this. I lease my space and I am not connected. So should I pay more than the Brandons or anyone else because of this."
I must confess that I've not been following this closely enough to comment. Anyone?
Update: 08/12 @ 1122HRS.
Last night, the CCBOC voted to hold the millage increase to 11.7 over Mr. Howard's request for 11.85. This was done by forgoing requested additions to the contingency fund. That was the solution recommended by Commissioner Sears, the likely author of the above inquiry.
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10 comments:
I have not read this either. But, you know how the Commissioner work. They will slip these things in when people are more involved in other things, like the election, and hope that noone catches onto whats really going on, so this is probably why we are not hearing anything about this. So the business owners are off the hook and the average homeowners will be paying the bills, as usual. I think I can no longer afford to live in Camden County so I am going to start looking for a decent place to live where you don't have to pay into a savings account each month so that you might have enough money to pay your taxes each year. These Commissioners never look for new revenues, they just tack it onto the property owners and tag purchasers advalorem taxes. Its like "if we don't have enough money to build everything we want to build and increase certain employee's salarys, we will just up the taxes and let the people pay all the bills". Maybe Sandy can enlighten you since he thinks he knows EVERYTHING.
You are exactly right. Because the local business owners bitched and complained so bad, we will be paying more personal property taxes to make up the difference while reassessments for businesses are done. Also, if you go to the county website and look through the BOC minutes from meetings in May-June, I believe you will find that Mr. Berry proposed freezing business property assessments at last years values while they look into the reassessments. Thus, there is now a shortage of tax monies, and once again the "little guy" will get stuck in the arse! Oh well, I guess this is also a good way to pay for Mr. Howards new $135,000 per year salary with new car and free gas!
Better yet why not contact Commissioner Berry. You encouraged us to vote for him against Carla Carper. He should be able to answer why the millage has been increased from 11.7 to 11.85.
I went back and read the old newspaper articles they all say 11.7. So if it is true that they have increased to 11.85 to off-set the payment for commercial business owners don't they have to redo the public hearing stating the new rate of 11.85.
Damn, my insticnts are good. When I first read the original comment, I immediately smelled some sort of Thuggie ad hominem attack against me - and sure enough, here it is!
Is 00.15 mils more going to put any homeowners into the street?
It takes a majority of the commission to vote that increase. If, in fact, such an increase exists, I'm sure it was not done lightly.
And before you go there, I'll have my second meeting later this week with the guy building my house. Before Christmas, I'll finally have the right to an opinion and a vote - and the tax fairy can stop paying my pro-rata share of the property taxes on Park Place.
And as to Mr. Howard's salary, we obviously got him at a bargain basement price whe he was hired. He is well worth $135,000 per year and has amply proven that.. Do you realize that some local public school principals make that - or very close to it?
Before you sing his praises Jay, you may want to take a trip up to the old courthouse and take a good look at the "harem" he has built. They will have to add more rooms to the new building so they all can fit. Then ask to see the county salaries which by the way have not been made public for 2 years. I think you will be shocked at what you find. By the way, what exactly has he done to justify a 25% raise? Can you tell me? If you are talking about that "pat on the back" article in the Tribune, you might want to talk to someone on the inside before you sing his praises any further. Very little, if any, of his "master" plan has even been implemented yet. Very few of the county workers have gotten any raises in the last 3 years. Oh yeah, the county workers are due a 2.5% raise in January 2009. Yes I know we have educators in the school system who make that and more. Look how long they have worked for the school system. See how many have their Doctorates. I bet not a one started out over that $100,000 mark and then got %25 more after one year of service!
Just heard that of all people Commissioner Rainer opposed the 11.85 millage rate hike. He could not get them to roll back the the recommended state approved amount. But he did convince enough of them to go with the advertised rate of 11.7.
So my question now is will the commercial business owner have to come up with their fair share, or will the Commissioner that made them this promise instruct them to take the money out of the reserved fund?
Mr. Howard made a strategic decision to agree to sign on with Camden County for a salary below his worth.
His decision and the county's have both proven to be a good one. The 25% raise you quote was just to bring him up to parity. You don't really doubt that his position is worth his pay, do you?
Do you really think that Mr. Howard started HIS first job in public administration at over $100,000? Of course you don't.
Um, let's see: I recommended voting Rainer out, so I am even more repsonsible for the tax increase right?
Don't you think it is a little early to be working on behalf of Charlene Sears - or are YOU Charlene?
Mr. Howard is just a typical CEO. The article was full of half truths and, I believe, timed just right. Hmmmm... Could he have already known that he would get this huge raise and perks to go with it? Whatever happened to leading by example?
Oh, grow up!
The man is more highly educated, more experienced, and, ergo, commands a higher salary than the average Camdenian. Get over it.
What article are you referring to?
And yes, he did know that at the end of his first year, if he met the commissioners expectations, he would get a "huge" raise. It was well covered in the press when he was hired. Like I've said, given the reputation this county - thanks to the Terible Troika - had no doubt developed in Mr. Howard's professional circles, we're damned lucky that we got anyone of his calbre to apply.
From the T&G archives:
"Mr.Howard said he first became familiar with municipal government while working as a garbage collector for the City of Punta Gorda, Fla. He served as the director of purchasing for DeSoto County from 2000 to 2001, then moved on to work as purchasing administrator for the Polk County Sheriff' Office, which at the time employed 1,800 people and serviced an area the size of Rhode Island, he said.
From 2002 to 2005, Howard served as the deputy director of staff services for the sheriff's office before moving up to become the director of business services. He comes to Camden County from Seminole County, Fla., where he served as the director of administrative services, according to his resume.
He holds a Master of Public Administration degree from Lacrosse University and is a certified public manager, public purchasing officer, public buyer and purchasing professional.
Howard's philosophy, he said, is to see Camden's challenges as opportunities, and to have a vision of what the county could be in the future.
'My philosophy has always been ... take on as much as you'll give me,' he said."
Yeah, just another "typical CEO." It's the old gabage collector to chief county executive story, all over again.
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