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<div><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=3> A big thanks to all who came to the Tax Rate Hearing last </FONT></div>
<div><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=3> night (Mon, 5/22/07).</FONT></div>
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<FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=3> </FONT><div><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=3> The meeting was both well attended and calm and polite. </FONT></div>
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<FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=3> </FONT><div><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=3> The large attendance made it clear that people are concerned </FONT></div>
<div><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=3> about this. And that was important to drive home. The nature </FONT></div>
<div><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=3> of the comments and the calm and polite tone made it clear</FONT></div>
<div><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=3> that people want more information before final judgement.</FONT></div>
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<FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=3> </FONT><div><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=3> I would have preferred that we heard more budget details at</FONT></div>
<div><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=3> last nights meeting. However, more details will be forthcoming. </FONT></div>
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<FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=3> </FONT><div><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=3> Over the next few weeks the old and new council members will have </FONT></div>
<div><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=3> several work sessions digging into the budget, asking questions and </FONT></div>
<div><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=3> looking for items to cut and looking for alternative revenue sources.</FONT></div>
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<FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=3> </FONT><div><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=3> Two such work sessions have been scheduled so far: Thursday </FONT></div>
<div><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=3> May 24 and Thursday May 31, starting at 7:30 pm. </FONT></div>
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<FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=3> </FONT><div><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=3> The meetings are public and you are most welcome to attend.</FONT></div>
<div><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=3> However, most people will find them horribly boring. If you have</FONT></div>
<div><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=3> the stomach for such things, please come out and help dig.</FONT></div>
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<FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=3> </FONT><div><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=3> I hope that the council will schedule at least two more work sessions </FONT></div>
<div><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=3> over the memorial day weekend and the beginning of next week. </FONT></div>
<div><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=3> There is a lot of work to be done and very little time left. </FONT></div>
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<FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=3> </FONT><div><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=3> Once I know more I will certainly let you know.</FONT></div>
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<FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=3> </FONT><div><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=3> All the best</FONT></div>
<div><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=3> Rob Oppenheim</FONT></div>
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<FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=3> </FONT><div><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=3> Outgoing Ward One Councilman, Riverdale Park</FONT></div>
<div><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=3> 5902 Cleveland Ave</FONT></div>
<div><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=3> Riverdale Park, Md 20737-1930</FONT></div>
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<FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=3> </FONT><div><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=3> Home Office: 301 779 1745</FONT></div>
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