Hi All -<br><br>I've been out of town and admit that I've not been able to read <span style="text-decoration: underline;">all </span>the messages on this topic, but want to say something anyway.... : )<br><br>In Oklahoma City, where my husband comes from, they have schools of excellent reputation and good roads. <span style="font-style: italic;">The also pay 8.5% sales tax on everything <span style="text-decoration: underline;">INCLUDING FOOD!</span></span> It would be interesting to know what other cities/towns pay as a <span style="font-style: italic;">total</span> tax, not just the property tax. I've heard a lot of 'talk' here about needing more police, etc., and we know that's gotta cost. I have seen improvements in our town already, from nicer looking common areas to more 'sightings' of our honorable servants in blue. <br><br>I'm casting no vote at this point for or against the tax increase, but after being shocked at what my family
in OK pays in taxes on their<span style="font-style: italic;"> groceries,</span> I'm willing to hear what the mayor has to say. I want to live in a nice town that is on the move up! <br><br>Hey, by the way, I've asked this before; what is going on with the person we hired to counsel us on improving our town commerce/town center area? I can't remember her full name. The initial meeting was quite encouraging but I've heard nothing since.<br><br>Thanks! Nancy Mooney<br><br><br><br><b><i>towntalk-request@riverdale-park.org</i></b> wrote:<blockquote class="replbq" style="border-left: 2px solid rgb(16, 16, 255); margin-left: 5px; padding-left: 5px;"> Send TownTalk mailing list submissions to<br> towntalk@riverdale-park.org<br><br>To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit<br> http://riverdale-park.org/mailman/listinfo/towntalk<br>or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to<br>
towntalk-request@riverdale-park.org<br><br>You can reach the person managing the list at<br> towntalk-owner@riverdale-park.org<br><br>When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific<br>than "Re: Contents of TownTalk digest..."<br><br><br>Today's Topics:<br><br> 1. Re: no vote will be taken at the budget hearing (CHRISTINA DAVIS)<br> 2. Re: no vote will be taken at the budget hearing<br> (Maureen Farrington)<br> 3. re proposed property tax increase -- an apology (and some<br> considerable relief!) (Dwight Holmes)<br><br><br>----------------------------------------------------------------------<br><br>Message: 1<br>Date: Tue, 22 May 2007 08:37:29 -0400<br>From: "CHRISTINA DAVIS" <book-smart@verizon.net><br>Subject: Re: [RP TownTalk] no vote will be taken at the budget hearing<br>To: "'Dwight Holmes'" <dwightrholmes@gmail.com>, "'TownTalk'"<br> <towntalk@riverdale-park.org><br>Message-ID:
<006b01c79c6d$f6813660$020aa8c0@naw.org><br>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"<br><br>The budget historically has been delivered the week before the election (in<br>election years), and preparation with town staff began 1-2 months earlier.<br>Perhaps this has changed more recently, but it might be a good system to go<br>back to. It is unusual in the town's history for a proposed budget hike of<br>this size to have not been discussed during a campaign, either pro or con.<br><br> <br><br>Also, I have been hearing much about road improvements; streets that were<br>repaired 5-10 years ago are being redone again now. This is not unusual if a<br>utility company destroys them and pays for the complete over-hall (usually<br>after much legal wrangling). But, if these newly done streets did not<br>survive their proposed 20-30 year life span, then perhaps the road repair<br>company should be taken to task and repair them at reduced or no cost.<br><br> <br><br>A
now-deceased mayor from the 1960s touted himself as the "road-paving<br>king," and did all of the town streets at once. Then, in the 1980s and early<br>1990s, they all failed at the nearly same time (as their life expectancies<br>all expired at the same time), a problem which my generation of<br>councilmembers inherited. A more moderate approach seemed to be warranted,<br>as it would not seem prudent to pass this problem along to your children<br>after the town had learned such a valuable lesson then.<br><br> <br><br>Chris <br><br> <br><br>-----Original Message-----<br>From: towntalk-bounces@riverdale-park.org<br>[mailto:towntalk-bounces@riverdale-park.org] On Behalf Of Dwight Holmes<br>Sent: Monday, May 21, 2007 3:50 PM<br>To: TownTalk<br>Subject: Re: [RP TownTalk] no vote will be taken at the budget hearing<br><br> <br><br>Roland--Thank you for the information here you've given us that I was not<br>previously aware of, and which is good to know. The value of this
thread<br>continues to accumulate. However, I'm puzzled a bit by your citing of my<br>earlier email. What I wrote was "Like some have already said, I think it's<br>too bad the discussion couldn't have started somewhat sooner -- it does feel<br>a bit rushed, for something as momentous as this is. But it is good to know<br>that there are at least a few meetings to go before things are finalized."<br>You took a piece of that out of context. I think it misconstrued the<br>meaning of what I wrote.<br><br>And whether we are eventually talking about tax hike of 27% or 18% or even<br>10%, I think it's fair to say that it is momentous. I would argue at the<br>very least that it *should* be seen as such. I'm not advocating for or<br>against any particular proposal at this point. As a new homeowner in the<br>town, I want and need much more information. That's why I've appreciated and<br>expressed as much for the current thread(s) we've got going here. Without<br>this email list
I would know nothing of any of these issues. It's really<br>too bad more of our residents don't join in. But mainly, I'm just saying<br>that a tax increase of any amount in that range (10 - 27%) is certainly not<br>inconsequential, is certainly significant, and may be seen by many on tight<br>budgets as mom entous. <br><br><br><br>On 5/21/07, Roland Walker <walker@pobox.com> wrote:<br><br>[Dwight Holmes writes]<br>> it does feel a bit rushed, for something as momentous as this is.<br><br>Outside the world of this email list, the budget process is neither so<br>rushed, nor the taxation decision so momentous. <br><br>No vote will be taken tonight -- the meeting is only a hearing, one<br>that is required under the laws that govern the process.<br><br>The mayor's submitted budget represents, in large part, "wishlists" <br>put forward by town staff, gathered up together, and proposed to the<br>council.<br><br>Tonight's hearing publicizes a maximum number, which our taxes
cannot<br>exceed. However, it is expected that the final taxation instructions <br>we send to the county will be lower. The law gives us the flexibility<br>to move down -- but not up -- from the publicized number. So we call<br>it first on the high end.<br><br>Right now, what is happening is that your councilmembers are poring <br>over the budget, finding items to remove or add, generally working to<br>bring the budget down by whittling away at staff wishlists. One<br>councilmember has also found a revenue item which was missing.<br>Citizens have also read the budget and forwarded good money-saving <br>suggestions, and are encouraged to do so.<br><br>The incoming council are the ones that will actually pass the budget.<br>They are on point right now to see that the budget fits their policy<br>priorities as described to voters. <br><br>This is generally a consultative process, not an adversarial one. Mr<br>Oppenheim's exhortations on the subject may be charitably
explained by<br>noting that having served only half a term, he is not very familiar <br>with the process.<br><br>The final tax rate will be lower than the advertised rate. It will<br>probably represent a modest rise in rates.<br><br>Vernon Archer ran for mayor in '05 on a platform or building up our <br>town, and was unopposed in '07. Perhaps someone will run in '09 on a<br>platform of cutting police and public works. In the meantime,<br>measured, steady buildup will continue.<br><br>This was the choice of the voters. <br><br>R<br>_______________________________________________<br>TownTalk mailing list<br>To post to the list, send mail to TownTalk@riverdale-park.org<br>TownTalk-request@riverdale-park.org is for automated subscription processing<br>only<br>http://riverdale-park.org/mailman/listinfo/towntalk<br><br>For more information about Riverdale Park, visit<br>http://www.ci.riverdale-park.md.us<br><br><br><br><br>-- <br>~~<br>Map of Riverdale Park MD Trolley
Hiker-Biker Trail and Cafritz Property<br>http://tinyurl.com/2wsfql<br>~~<br>Tracking the Washington Nationals' 2007 season (will they catch the '62<br>Mets?):<br>http://tinyurl.com/2m6f43 <br><br>-------------- next part --------------<br>An HTML attachment was scrubbed...<br>URL: http://riverdale-park.org/pipermail/towntalk/attachments/20070522/60868111/attachment-0001.html <br><br>------------------------------<br><br>Message: 2<br>Date: Tue, 22 May 2007 11:24:10 -0400<br>From: "Maureen Farrington" <maureen.farrington@gmail.com><br>Subject: Re: [RP TownTalk] no vote will be taken at the budget hearing<br>To: TownTalk <towntalk@riverdale-park.org><br>Message-ID:<br> <848cd36e0705220824r4d718b23o26c7b86410c9cec@mail.gmail.com><br>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed<br><br>If repairing the roads all at once saves us money, I don't see how<br>this is a bad thing for the future of the town.<br><br>On 5/22/07, CHRISTINA DAVIS
<book-smart@verizon.net> wrote:<br>><br>><br>><br>><br>> The budget historically has been delivered the week before the election (in<br>> election years), and preparation with town staff began 1-2 months earlier.<br>> Perhaps this has changed more recently, but it might be a good system to go<br>> back to. It is unusual in the town's history for a proposed budget hike of<br>> this size to have not been discussed during a campaign, either pro or con.<br>><br>><br>><br>> Also, I have been hearing much about road improvements; streets that were<br>> repaired 5-10 years ago are being redone again now. This is not unusual if a<br>> utility company destroys them and pays for the complete over-hall (usually<br>> after much legal wrangling). But, if these newly done streets did not<br>> survive their proposed 20-30 year life span, then perhaps the road repair<br>> company should be taken to task and repair them at reduced or no
cost.<br>><br>><br>><br>> A now-deceased mayor from the 1960s touted himself as the "road-paving<br>> king," and did all of the town streets at once. Then, in the 1980s and early<br>> 1990s, they all failed at the nearly same time (as their life expectancies<br>> all expired at the same time), a problem which my generation of<br>> councilmembers inherited. A more moderate approach seemed to be warranted,<br>> as it would not seem prudent to pass this problem along to your children<br>> after the town had learned such a valuable lesson then.<br>><br>><br>><br>> Chris<br>><br>><br>><br>><br>> -----Original Message-----<br>> From: towntalk-bounces@riverdale-park.org<br>> [mailto:towntalk-bounces@riverdale-park.org] On Behalf Of<br>> Dwight Holmes<br>> Sent: Monday, May 21, 2007 3:50 PM<br>> To: TownTalk<br>> Subject: Re: [RP TownTalk] no vote will be taken at the budget
hearing<br>><br>><br>><br>> Roland--Thank you for the information here you've given us that I was not<br>> previously aware of, and which is good to know. The value of this thread<br>> continues to accumulate. However, I'm puzzled a bit by your citing of my<br>> earlier email. What I wrote was "Like some have already said, I think it's<br>> too bad the discussion couldn't have started somewhat sooner -- it does feel<br>> a bit rushed, for something as momentous as this is. But it is good to know<br>> that there are at least a few meetings to go before things are finalized."<br>> You took a piece of that out of context. I think it misconstrued the<br>> meaning of what I wrote.<br>><br>> And whether we are eventually talking about tax hike of 27% or 18% or even<br>> 10%, I think it's fair to say that it is momentous. I would argue at the<br>> very least that it *should* be seen as such. I'm not advocating for or<br>>
against any particular proposal at this point. As a new homeowner in the<br>> town, I want and need much more information. That's why I've appreciated and<br>> expressed as much for the current thread(s) we've got going here. Without<br>> this email list I would know nothing of any of these issues. It's really<br>> too bad more of our residents don't join in. But mainly, I'm just saying<br>> that a tax increase of any amount in that range (10 - 27%) is certainly not<br>> inconsequential, is certainly significant, and may be seen by many on tight<br>> budgets as mom entous.<br>><br>><br>><br>><br>> On 5/21/07, Roland Walker <walker@pobox.com> wrote:<br>><br>> [Dwight Holmes writes]<br>> > it does feel a bit rushed, for something as momentous as this is.<br>><br>> Outside the world of this email list, the budget process is neither so<br>> rushed, nor the taxation decision so momentous.<br>><br>> No vote
will be taken tonight -- the meeting is only a hearing, one<br>> that is required under the laws that govern the process.<br>><br>> The mayor's submitted budget represents, in large part, "wishlists"<br>> put forward by town staff, gathered up together, and proposed to the<br>> council.<br>><br>> Tonight's hearing publicizes a maximum number, which our taxes cannot<br>> exceed. However, it is expected that the final taxation instructions<br>> we send to the county will be lower. The law gives us the flexibility<br>> to move down -- but not up -- from the publicized number. So we call<br>> it first on the high end.<br>><br>> Right now, what is happening is that your councilmembers are poring<br>> over the budget, finding items to remove or add, generally working to<br>> bring the budget down by whittling away at staff wishlists. One<br>> councilmember has also found a revenue item which was missing.<br>>
Citizens have also read the budget and forwarded good money-saving<br>> suggestions, and are encouraged to do so.<br>><br>> The incoming council are the ones that will actually pass the budget.<br>> They are on point right now to see that the budget fits their policy<br>> priorities as described to voters.<br>><br>> This is generally a consultative process, not an adversarial one. Mr<br>> Oppenheim's exhortations on the subject may be charitably explained by<br>> noting that having served only half a term, he is not very familiar<br>> with the process.<br>><br>> The final tax rate will be lower than the advertised rate. It will<br>> probably represent a modest rise in rates.<br>><br>> Vernon Archer ran for mayor in '05 on a platform or building up our<br>> town, and was unopposed in '07. Perhaps someone will run in '09 on a<br>> platform of cutting police and public works. In the meantime,<br>>
measured, steady buildup will continue.<br>><br>> This was the choice of the voters.<br>><br>> R<br>> _______________________________________________<br>> TownTalk mailing list<br>> To post to the list, send mail to TownTalk@riverdale-park.org<br>> TownTalk-request@riverdale-park.org is for automated<br>> subscription processing only<br>> http://riverdale-park.org/mailman/listinfo/towntalk<br>><br>> For more information about Riverdale Park, visit<br>> http://www.ci.riverdale-park.md.us<br>><br>><br>><br>><br>> --<br>> ~~<br>> Map of Riverdale Park MD Trolley Hiker-Biker Trail and Cafritz Property<br>> http://tinyurl.com/2wsfql<br>> ~~<br>> Tracking the Washington Nationals' 2007 season (will they catch the '62<br>> Mets?):<br>> http://tinyurl.com/2m6f43<br>> _______________________________________________<br>> TownTalk mailing list<br>> To post to the list, send mail to
TownTalk@riverdale-park.org<br>> TownTalk-request@riverdale-park.org is for automated<br>> subscription processing only<br>> http://riverdale-park.org/mailman/listinfo/towntalk<br>><br>> For more information about Riverdale Park, visit<br>> http://www.ci.riverdale-park.md.us<br>><br><br><br>------------------------------<br><br>Message: 3<br>Date: Tue, 22 May 2007 14:02:20 -0400<br>From: "Dwight Holmes" <dwightrholmes@gmail.com><br>Subject: [RP TownTalk] re proposed property tax increase -- an apology<br> (and some considerable relief!)<br>To: TownTalk <towntalk@riverdale-park.org><br>Message-ID:<br> <8123da3c0705221102i6fbfbdccu8511e0900028ba9f@mail.gmail.com><br>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed<br><br>i apologize for inadvertently giving out wrong information at last<br>night's town meeting. having done a hasty,<br>trying-to-get-to-the-meeting-on-time calculation, i misinterpreted our<br>State of Maryland Assessment
Notice, and thus came up with a number<br>exactly triple of what it should have been: 19% rather than 57%. you<br>can imagine that we are as relieved as anyone to know that it's not<br>57%!<br><br>one reason i was so hurried in doing that calculation was it took me a<br>long time to decipher the semiannual "Consolidated Tax Bill for Tax<br>Year Jul 1, 2006 to Jun 30, 2007" statement.<br>the reason for that being that some of the numbers on that statement<br>are annual while others are semiannual -- and they kind of leave it up<br>to the reader to figure that out. so it took awhile to make sense of<br>it.<br><br>when i did i was able to determine that our Town of Riverdale Park<br>taxes make up almost exactly 33% of our total property tax bill. (PG<br>County's portion is 41%, and the remaining 26% is made up of the other<br>various taxing jurisdictions, the largest portion of which is Park &<br>Planning)<br><br>so the proposed increase that we are now discussing will
affect<br>roughly one-third of our bill. i have some questions about the<br>entire, overall process, but i will save those until i have gathered<br>more and better information.<br><br>-- <br>~~<br>Map of Riverdale Park MD Trolley Hiker-Biker Trail and Cafritz Property<br>http://tinyurl.com/2wsfql<br>~~<br>Tracking the Washington Nationals' 2007 season (will they catch the '62 Mets?):<br>http://tinyurl.com/2m6f43<br><br><br>------------------------------<br><br>_______________________________________________<br>TownTalk mailing list<br>TownTalk@riverdale-park.org<br>http://riverdale-park.org/mailman/listinfo/towntalk<br><br>For more information about Riverdale Park, visit http://www.ci.riverdale-park.md.us<br><br>End of TownTalk Digest, Vol 10, Issue
50<br>****************************************<br></towntalk@riverdale-park.org></dwightrholmes@gmail.com></walker@pobox.com></book-smart@verizon.net></towntalk@riverdale-park.org></maureen.farrington@gmail.com></walker@pobox.com></towntalk@riverdale-park.org></dwightrholmes@gmail.com></book-smart@verizon.net></blockquote><br><p> 
<hr size=1>Boardwalk for $500? In 2007? Ha! <br><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=48223/*http://get.games.yahoo.com/proddesc?gamekey=monopolyherenow">Play Monopoly Here and Now</a> (it's updated for today's economy) at Yahoo! Games.