Constant Yield Proposed by Jarboe and Dement; Sunk by Raley

Democrat Tax Hike Coming

By Kenneth C. Rossignol
ST. MARY’S TODAY

LEONARDTOWN (May 13, 2008) --- St. Mary’s Commissioner Dan Raley (D. Great Mills) passed on an proposal by Commissioner Larry Jarboe (R. Golden Beach) and supported by Commissioner Kenny Dement (R. Piney Point) to maintain the constant yield and accomplish that task by reorganizing county government and consolidating various departments. 

Jarboe's view is that the deteriorating economy will continue to drive down revenue for the county and that estimates being relied on to fund operations will likely continue to be wrong and imperil county employees jobs.

“I don’t think you are going to see any savings in such a reorganization, not the 6 or 7 million you need,” said Raley, who said that a careful examination and study of the proposal was needed before taking action.  “And for Commissioner Dement, I see you want to lower the tax rate but at every budget session you have voted in favor of all the spending that would have to be cut in order to support the constant yield.”

“I still support the constant yield on the tax rate and that is what the citizens want,” said Commissioner Kenny Dement (R. Piney Point).

Russell noted that the budget has to be done by June 1^st.   The public won't be done with the board for another two years.  

The board failed to support the proposal by Jarboe and Dement to avert the $14.5 million tax hike on real estate that the new budget requires.  The three Democrats put their stamp of approval on proceeding with the tax hike by turning down this latest appeal from Jarboe for maintaining the constant yield.

St. Mary’s Board Hears Request for

New Restrictions on Property Owners

LEONARDTOWN --- Do you think you can decide what to build on your own property, a house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright or perhaps a Victorian gem?

A proposal presented this week by a couple of elderly citizens, Hal Willard and Theresa Wilson, clearly not happy with others deciding what to build on their own property, would have put severe restrictions on what to build, how to build and where to build, restrictions never before contemplated and so bad that even the Democrats on the board shuddered at the elitist proposal.

If so, pay attention, a historic roads committee made a presentation to the St. Mary’s Board this week to put even new restrictions on those who want to use their property in order to conform with what the presenters said were “guidelines” on preserving old roads in the county.

Commissioner Jackie Russell (D. St. George’s Island) suggested that more time be given to consider the proposal and get comments from the public, Commissioner Tommy Mattingly (D. Leonardtown) pointed out the problems with adding new restrictions, Commissioner Larry Jarboe (R. Golden Beach) said roads need to change over the years to accommodate the public; and the committee who made the presentation said there was a dire need to preserve old roads with new restrictions.  

A request by Russell to have the planning commission hold public hearings on the matter got no support.

The presenters made a further plea, with Wilson, a county staffer at Land Use and Growth Management saying, ‘we put a couple of years of work into this’. 

Willard, even more frustrated, said that he recently went down Town Creek Drive and saw a vacant lot and said, “If they built one of those new houses on this road it wouldn’t fit with the 1950’s style houses and shouldn’t be allowed.” 

His pitch to stretch the road ordinance into an architectural ordinance likely sunk the deal for good.

Jarboe pointed out that “things do change” and said that old time barns and farmhouses falling apart symbolize the changing days and that restrictive ordinances often keep out environmentally friendly proposals from coming to the county.

Wilson, noting her fellow presenter's remarks, said that the guidelines as proposed govern the appearance of the road itself and what is alongside the road, not a building design standard.

At least not yet.

Mattingly, in a rare stand on the side of property rights, perhaps with his eye on having to run against Johnny Wood in the next election and not wanting to face a hornets nest of county residents, noted that her description of the proposal was contradicted by the proposal itself.

Requirements for parking areas shall be screened from view or a 4 foot high berm, preserve pasture land vistas were among aspects of the plan cited by Mattingly as being restrictions, minimal sight visibility standards.  “ We are telling folks that you can go out here and buy a 20 acre parcel of land, make them buy TDRs and now we are going to tell them where to build their house instead of where they want it," said Mattingly.

Russell said the recommendation isn’t going to get any support from this board. 

Mattingly said “I don’t have a problem with noting that this is a historic road but not putting  requirements into the proposal.  I think we ought to give the flexibility to the property owner about how they want their home to look on their property instead of telling them what to do.”

The proposal died an ugly death and the presenters were sent on the road back to the drawing board.

 

 

 

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