Last week Smyrna's finance committee voted 4-2 to recommend to council a 3 cent increase on real estate assessments which increases your real estate taxes depending on your assessment. Also included was an increase in utility rates, trash collection fees and a 3% raise for town employees. Then on Monday, another 3 cent increase was being considered for capital projects like expanding the police station and buying new vehicles and equipment.
All this at a time when unemployment is extremely high, foreclosures averaging 5 per month in Smyrna (monthly newspaper listing), and senior citizens who will not get an increase in social security next year, many of them on fixed incomes and social security their only means of survival. You don't hear from them as many are too proud to ask for help.
People in Smyrna are homeless and approximately 200 kids are receiving free breakfast and lunch in Smyrna schools.
Certainly raising taxes and utilities won't help.
Other fees were recommended at the finance committee yet suggestions such as once a week trash collection coupled with recycling such as Clayton and the City of Baltimore have done fell on deaf ears. Sweeping streets every 10 days rather than weekly would save, as well as going out for quotes on insurance.
Had we not filled all the vacant positions throughout the year knowing we were in a deep recession, that would have made a big difference but the town manager wanted it, he got it, and you're paying for it. I'm sure there are many other ways to save money.
We must cut back and give the citizens of Smyrna some relief while continuing to support the fire and ambulance service. We must honor our union contracts as well as the police, although we could ask them to forego the 3% raise. It's better to have a job in these times. The state workers took a 2.5% pay cut. The county gave early retirement to reduce positions and the City of Dover took several other measures. Evidently we have planners without a plan.
The budget will be decided at the next council meeting on December 7, which is Pearl Harbor Day. Don't let them sink us. You're entitled to have your say at council. Either speak up or pay up. Hope to see you there.
