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“Taxes” One of the dirtiest words in the English language. The word “taxes” is not dirty because We the People don’t want to contribute our fair share of money to pay for necessary services and operations. The word is dirty to us because of the extreme level of corruption, fraud, waste and abuse that is associated with our tax dollars.
Our local government is
recommending a 1.5 cent increase to the current 69.5 cents rate;
raising the rate to 71 cents per $100 of assessed value, but they are advertising
a possible rate increase as high as 73 cents in their recent Public Hearing
announcement. According to the announcement, the Board of Supervisors will hold
a Public Hearing on next year’s budget at 7:00 PM
on Wednesday, March 29, 2017 in the T.C. Walker Education Center auditorium.
Before taxes are raised again,
our local government should make the following changes:
1) Consolidate our local
government and public school system departments. This one action will result in
over a $1 million reduction in yearly operating costs.
2) Eliminate the County’s
department of community engagement and return all functions to social services,
information technology, county administration, the school system and the
various nongovernmental organizations the department facilitates. This action
will save the taxpayers close to $400,000 per year.
3) Build our own libraries
and health department space so the taxpayers can stop renting them. Owning our
health department space will also result in an $80,000 yearly revenue stream
from rent payments received from the state. All together this move will result
in a yearly savings of around $210,000 and create $50,000 or so in
additional revenue after expenses.
4) Limit the number of full
time animal control employees to two, redirect animal control response calls
through the Sheriff’s department dispatcher and cease all patrolling by animal
control employees. This will result in a savings of well over $100,000
annually.
The changes we have outlined
will result in a combined saving of around $1.7 million per year and create an
$80,000 revenue stream. Now it is time for you, the taxpayers and citizens of Gloucester County, to decide what our local government will do. Continue
to raise taxes or cut unnecessary costs and get our financial house in order?
The March 29th Public Hearing will be the ideal time to let those who work for us
know it is time to drain the swamp and set things straight. Remember, three
supervisors and three school board members are up for reelection this November.
Hold them accountable.
Fy2018 proposed budget gf & capital expenditure line item including exte... from Kenneth Hogge Sr
Public Hearing Agenda:
THOMAS CALHOUN WALKER EDUCATION CENTER 6099 T. C. WALKER ROAD MARCH 29, 2017 07:00 P.M. |
Complete E-Packet |
I. | Call To Order & Roll Call |
II. | Invocation & Pledge of Allegiance |
III. | Introductory Comments – Phillip N. Bazzani – Chair |
IV. | Proposed Tax Rates and Budget Synopsis – J. Brent Fedors – County Administrator |
V. | Public Hearing on Proposed FY 2018 Budget |
Summary
Link to proposed budget
VI. | Public Hearing on Proposed Tax Levies for Calendar Year 2017 |
Summary
Supporting Document
VII. | Board Comments |
VIII. | Review of Budget Adoption Schedule – J. Brent Fedors – County Administrator |
FY 2018 Budget Calendar
Public Hearing Notice:
Summary from Kenneth Hogge Sr