When I first got in on this blogging game, I made a promise to myself: if ever I got 48 comments on a post before making another post, I would retire. The last post has 47 comments, so here we are.
Economic theory suggests that countries, or other sovereignties, may engage in a "race to the bottom", a phrase describing a phenomenon of continuous reduction in taxes and regulatory burden that is supposed to attract capital investment to the country that 'finishes first' and has the least burdensome business environment. Think Cayman Island and Swiss bank accounts.
Limitations of the race-to-the-bottom theory usually involve logistical costs. For example, a business or person wouldn't relocate from Annapolis to Annapolis Royal (Canada) for a tenth of a percent off of property taxes. However, a person has great financial incentive to move outside of the Annapolis city limits. I took advantage of this incentive, and I now write the leading "outsider" and the #7 "maverick" blog involving city of Annapolis politics from a non-resident.
The incentive is lower property taxes.
(Post intermission: Property taxes are asinine. So are income taxes, and many more. Consumption (sales) taxes are the most efficient and the most free-market/free-will way to go. I've always felt this way, but then I read the Fair Tax book by Neal Boortz, and now I really feel this way.)
As we know, there are 2 things that determine how much property tax you pay each year: the property tax rate (PTR) and the tax-assessed value (TAV) of your house. For you math lovers:
PTR x TAV = $$$$$$$ out of your pocket
The rate is the more straight-forward of the 2. The council sets the rate in their infinite wisdom and goes on their merry way. But, even if the rate doesn't change, we could still get screwed. Houses are assessed every 3 years. During real estate bubbles, some house values double over that time. Luckily, the government recognizes that people's incomes will almost never double in 3 years, and they offer protection in the form of the Homestead Credit. The state mandates that the assessed value of a property cannot increase by more than 10% each year. Local jurisdictions are free to lower that percentage, but they cannot raise it.
Anne Arundel County has further lowered the Credit to 2%. Race-to-the-bottom theory would suggest that the City of Annapolis might do the same; yet, true to form, the city has left its rate at 10%.
Three aldermen, in the form of 2 separate bills, have sought out to remedy this. Alderman Israel, a mayoral candidate, introduced O-31-08 which would drop the number to 5%. As required by the Republican National Committee, Alderman Cordle (another mayoral candidate) and Alderman Paone (a crafty and rather tall Ward 2 rep with a fan club on this blog) have sponsored O-34-08, which is the same thing except the number is 2%.
I have a hard time believing this is anything other than election strategy (but that doesn't make it bad). All of these people have had plenty of time to officer this ordinance in the past--they didn't, and it's not because they didn't know it was important. In the last mayoral election, Independent Gilbert Renault got like 2,700 votes and finished second to Moyer by only a few hundred--running a campaign that's only issue was lowering the Homestead Credit from 10% to 4%*.
(*"only issue" is a reach, but that was the main thing)
I don't care who passes it, but the lower, the better.
Showing posts with label fred paone. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fred paone. Show all posts
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Fred Paone To Speak Tomorrow Morning
...at the Wednesday Republican Breakfast Club:
Overall, the Paone campaign is going swell. He has adequate funding, and is approaching 200 yard sign locations.
The most important factor in the election will be the voter turnout, and if people who say they will vote, actually do.
With the election merely a week away, there is reason to be optimistic--but not complacent! I have spoken to several people specifically, and I will be making sure they vote! I encourage all of you to do the same, or face the consequences of the same leadership that we've had on the city council.
Fred Paone is the Republican Candidate for Ward 2 in the Dec.19th Annapolis
Special Election to replace Mike Christman as Alderman. Please come by to help
with Fred's election to the City Council.
The WRBC meets each Wednesday at the Eastport Yacht Club, 317 First Street.
We salute the Flag at 07:30 AM Sharp.
Overall, the Paone campaign is going swell. He has adequate funding, and is approaching 200 yard sign locations.
The most important factor in the election will be the voter turnout, and if people who say they will vote, actually do.
With the election merely a week away, there is reason to be optimistic--but not complacent! I have spoken to several people specifically, and I will be making sure they vote! I encourage all of you to do the same, or face the consequences of the same leadership that we've had on the city council.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Ward 2 Candidates Forum
Scores of people sheltered their necks in scarves and braved the blustery, lip-chapping Monday night weather to attend the Ward 2 candidates forum sponsored by Paul Foer.
I thought the event went well, and the candidates did well to establish the themes of their candidacies:
Debbie McKerrow--Experience Counts.
Soundbite: In the last 12 years that I have lived in Admiral Heights, there has not been a Ward 2 related issue that I have not been involved in.
Mrs. McKerrow's mailers have emphasized here experience, and she wanted to hit that point at this forum. Debbie cataloged example after example of how she was active on issues from development of high-rises to construction of the stadium. This is all fine--good, even.* The general feeling is that there is no reason to dislike Debbie McKerrow.
(*Attention all "fair and balanced" people who have been mislead into believing that I should criticize or praise Republicans and Democrats equally: this one's for you.)
There is reason, however, to know she is not the right candidate. At one point in the evening, the candidates were asked how they felt about the Homestead Tax Credit. This is about property taxes, and goes something like this. If governments assessed property taxes based on appraised value, it would be highly detrimental to taxpayers, and highly difficult to plan budgets because tax revenue would vary widely with housing markets. The Homestead Tax Credit limits the growth of taxable property value at 10% each year. (I don't know why they call it a "credit"--I imagine it's because "credit" sounds better than "limit" and would get the creator re-elected). So, if you buy a house for $100,000, then you spend another $100,000 improving your house, for tax purposes it would be worth only $110,000.
So, local jurisdictions can lower this rate if they want. Anne Arundel County has generously cut this rate to 2%. Annapolis, naturally, allows the full 10% annual increase in taxable property value, which is poppycock. People's incomes don't increase by 10% each year, but the city seems to think that its income should increase by at least that much. The idea that a government earns income in the first place is equally poppycock-ish.
Anyway, like I was saying, the candidates were asked how they felt about this. Fred said he's open to discussions (although I know from speaking with him that he doesn't like it), and Karen said something of the like. But here is what Debbie said:
Government does not spend its own money, and therefore must be held to a higher standard
in terms of efficiency. A major facet of conservatism is that in almost every circumstance, government is an inferior caretaker of money and producer of goods/services relative to private industry. This is not to even mention the equity issue--government takes money from everyone, and spends it on things that sometimes benefit everyone, but other times benefit only certain people. It is not the role of government to redistribute wealth, and Debbie's philosophy of government cannot ensure such restraint in the function of government.
Karen Jennings--The Environmental Candidate, An Independent Voice.
Soundbite: We need a candidate to think out of the box.
Ms. Jennings is an environmental consultant, and bills herself as the environmental candidate. She also made a point to mention that she is from a third party; that she would be an independent voice; and that she would be uninterested in earning political points.
Outside of that, I struggle to understand the reason she is running. If I had to characterize the other 2 candidates: Debbie is running to further and heighten her ability to help in the ward, and Fred is running to restore common sense, focus, and tackle crime. In Karen's remarks, she stressed the importance of a long-term, comprehensive perspective when considering issues, which I believe is part of the Green Party's general platform, but I would hesitate to attribute that as her motivation.
Fred Paone!
Soundbite: We need to focus on real guns, not toy guns.
The theme of Fred's campaign is 'Stop the Bullshit'. After this theme is filtered through the censors and approved by the bigwigs, we end up with "Common Sense Leadership".
An advantage for Mr. Paone is that he has 30 years of first hand experience with the issue that most Annapolitans list as most important: crime. He did a good job of exploiting this difference, at one point calling the crime suggestions of McKerrow and Jennings "balderdash", which the loyal readers of this blog will know is just a polite way to say bullshit. Mr. Paone emphasized the need to fill the vacancies in the police department, and cautioned that the unintended consequences of "revitalization" (as opposed to punishment, I think) are million dollar condos that force the former residents to the outskirts of town.
Fred is a lawyer, and his comfort with public speaking was apparent. Fred stood up and engaged the audience with every response, a technique that the other candidates mimicked to some extent as the forum went on.
"While the city council focused on plastic bags, toy guns, and the United States Navy's discipline of a former star quarterback, 8 young men were murdered on our streets, Fred pointed out. He promised to restore focus to the council and provide some much needed "adult supervision".
Questions asked by actual Ward 2 residents addressed crime, frustration with the justice system's failure to 'put away' suspected criminals, and the traffic congestion that overflows into ward 2 from both highway travelers and downtown patrons.
The next forum is on Monday, at 7 pm at West Annapolis Elementary.
I thought the event went well, and the candidates did well to establish the themes of their candidacies:
Debbie McKerrow--Experience Counts.
Soundbite: In the last 12 years that I have lived in Admiral Heights, there has not been a Ward 2 related issue that I have not been involved in.
Mrs. McKerrow's mailers have emphasized here experience, and she wanted to hit that point at this forum. Debbie cataloged example after example of how she was active on issues from development of high-rises to construction of the stadium. This is all fine--good, even.* The general feeling is that there is no reason to dislike Debbie McKerrow.
(*Attention all "fair and balanced" people who have been mislead into believing that I should criticize or praise Republicans and Democrats equally: this one's for you.)
There is reason, however, to know she is not the right candidate. At one point in the evening, the candidates were asked how they felt about the Homestead Tax Credit. This is about property taxes, and goes something like this. If governments assessed property taxes based on appraised value, it would be highly detrimental to taxpayers, and highly difficult to plan budgets because tax revenue would vary widely with housing markets. The Homestead Tax Credit limits the growth of taxable property value at 10% each year. (I don't know why they call it a "credit"--I imagine it's because "credit" sounds better than "limit" and would get the creator re-elected). So, if you buy a house for $100,000, then you spend another $100,000 improving your house, for tax purposes it would be worth only $110,000.
So, local jurisdictions can lower this rate if they want. Anne Arundel County has generously cut this rate to 2%. Annapolis, naturally, allows the full 10% annual increase in taxable property value, which is poppycock. People's incomes don't increase by 10% each year, but the city seems to think that its income should increase by at least that much. The idea that a government earns income in the first place is equally poppycock-ish.
Anyway, like I was saying, the candidates were asked how they felt about this. Fred said he's open to discussions (although I know from speaking with him that he doesn't like it), and Karen said something of the like. But here is what Debbie said:
The problem with this line of thinking was eloquently articulated to me by a friend of mine, and I'll try to do the same here. Debbie enjoys fixing problems in her neighborhood. She is running for office because she thinks that government can do more good than harm--because she thinks that being an Alderman will give her a larger platform to solve problems. Sadly, such a view is fatally flawed.We each have our bills. Food expenses go up. Electricity
expenses go up. Health insurance costs go up. The city has to pay a
fair salary to its employees--all of these things cost money.
I am concerned about cutting revenue to the city, and I am not in favor of
cutting back.
Government does not spend its own money, and therefore must be held to a higher standard
in terms of efficiency. A major facet of conservatism is that in almost every circumstance, government is an inferior caretaker of money and producer of goods/services relative to private industry. This is not to even mention the equity issue--government takes money from everyone, and spends it on things that sometimes benefit everyone, but other times benefit only certain people. It is not the role of government to redistribute wealth, and Debbie's philosophy of government cannot ensure such restraint in the function of government.
Karen Jennings--The Environmental Candidate, An Independent Voice.
Soundbite: We need a candidate to think out of the box.
Ms. Jennings is an environmental consultant, and bills herself as the environmental candidate. She also made a point to mention that she is from a third party; that she would be an independent voice; and that she would be uninterested in earning political points.
Outside of that, I struggle to understand the reason she is running. If I had to characterize the other 2 candidates: Debbie is running to further and heighten her ability to help in the ward, and Fred is running to restore common sense, focus, and tackle crime. In Karen's remarks, she stressed the importance of a long-term, comprehensive perspective when considering issues, which I believe is part of the Green Party's general platform, but I would hesitate to attribute that as her motivation.
Fred Paone!
Soundbite: We need to focus on real guns, not toy guns.
The theme of Fred's campaign is 'Stop the Bullshit'. After this theme is filtered through the censors and approved by the bigwigs, we end up with "Common Sense Leadership".
An advantage for Mr. Paone is that he has 30 years of first hand experience with the issue that most Annapolitans list as most important: crime. He did a good job of exploiting this difference, at one point calling the crime suggestions of McKerrow and Jennings "balderdash", which the loyal readers of this blog will know is just a polite way to say bullshit. Mr. Paone emphasized the need to fill the vacancies in the police department, and cautioned that the unintended consequences of "revitalization" (as opposed to punishment, I think) are million dollar condos that force the former residents to the outskirts of town.
Fred is a lawyer, and his comfort with public speaking was apparent. Fred stood up and engaged the audience with every response, a technique that the other candidates mimicked to some extent as the forum went on.
"While the city council focused on plastic bags, toy guns, and the United States Navy's discipline of a former star quarterback, 8 young men were murdered on our streets, Fred pointed out. He promised to restore focus to the council and provide some much needed "adult supervision".
Questions asked by actual Ward 2 residents addressed crime, frustration with the justice system's failure to 'put away' suspected criminals, and the traffic congestion that overflows into ward 2 from both highway travelers and downtown patrons.
The next forum is on Monday, at 7 pm at West Annapolis Elementary.
Friday, November 23, 2007
Paone Ward 2 Endorsement
This from Joyce Thomann, President of the Republican Women of Anne Arundel County:
Dear Friends:
Wednesday, December 19, 2007 we have an OPPORTUNITY to elect another REPUBLICAN to the Annapolis City Council. Frederick M. Paone (Fred Paone) REPUBLICAN is running for the now vacant Ward 2 Annapolis City Council seat!
To get another Republican elected to the Annapolis City Council, we need to get some $$$$ going to Fred’s campaign. Fred is a bit behind in fundraising because he would not begin to raise money while serving as the Assistant State’s Attorney – UNTIL he received permission from the Ethics Commission to do so. In short, Fred did what was right – because it was the right thing to do!
I hope you will send a contribution to: Friends of Fred Paone, 47 Williams Drive, Annapolis, MD 21401. Any amount will be deeply appreciated. (It goes without saying that the more you can send the better his chances will be.)
First, you may want to know more about Fred Paone –
The Paone name is very well known in Annapolis. His father, Rocco Paone, was a long-time and well loved Professor at the U.S. Naval Academy. Fred Paone grew up in a home that sponsored USNA Midshipmen – one of them was Roger Staubach.
Fred Paone is a 56-year old Assistant State’s Attorney from Admiral Heights. His campaign Treasurer is the former Republican Mayor of Annapolis Dean Johnson. An article in the Capital Newspaper observed that “Although he has never run for public office, Fred Paone has been involved with the city on a volunteer basis since 1985, serving as the organizer of the July 4th fireworks show for nearly 20 years before handing over the job to Jon Hodgson.”
Fred Paone started out as a Democrat (so did President Ronald W. Reagan) but has switched to the Republican Party. (Like President Reagan, Fred didn’t leave the Democrat Party – it left him!)
Fred has stated that “on a local level, there is much more of an opportunity to vote for the individual anyway. I was born and raised in this city. I look around and see eight young men who have been murdered this year, traffic and congestion is way too much, development has run amuck and I think the citizens of Ward 2 need a strong voice.”
Fred Paone believes that crime is the NUMBER ONE issue throughout Annapolis. As Assistant State’s Attorney Fred Paone believes he is in a good position to help address the problem.
Fred Paone, like his father, is also a teacher. The December 2003 edition of The Barrister, the official newsletter of the Anne Arundel Bar Association reported, “Fred Paone has been teaching at the Community College for approximately five years. Not only does Fred teach Criminal Law and Evidence, he also has had occasion to teach Business Law. Fred finds teaching thoroughly enjoyable, particularly because it gives him a chance to work with eager young minds.”
Fred Paone also serves as the Chairman of the Annapolis City’s Ethics Committee.
Second, you may want to know more about the race –
Because only one candidate for each party had timely filed, there was NO PRIMARY. On the December 19th General Election Ballot will be:
Frederick M. Paone, Republican
Debbie McKerrow, Democrat (who lost to Mike Christman-R by 44 votes in the last election.)
Karen L. Jennings – Green Party candidate and co-chairman of the Anne Arundel Green Party. She is an organizer of the Chesapeake Pride Festival and a participant in Mayor Ellen Moyer’s book club about community development.
The present make-up of the 8 member Annapolis City Council is: 1 Republican = Dave Cordle; 5 Democrats; 1 Unaffiliated member – Julie Stankivic (Ward 6) and the one vacant Ward 2 seat.
Dave Cordle does a great job – but he needs another REPUBLICAN on that Council! (Hold on Dave – help IS on the way!)
To find out what Ward 2 looks like, go to the official City of Annapolis web site: http://www.ci.annapolis.md.us, click on the City Government Tab which will bring up a link to “Ward Map.” Think generally of the USNA Stadium, West Annapolis and Taylor Avenue areas.
We are SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE A SMART, ETHICAL, (tall, nice looking) REPUBLICAN RUNNING! If you don’t live in Annapolis – your contribution can still help. If you know anyone who does live in Annapolis – particularly in the Ward 2 area – contact them and ask them to vote for Fred Paone. You’ll be glad you did – Dave Cordle will be glad you did –we all will be glad you did! Remember – Fred Paone can’t win without our help!
Best personal regards. Joyce
P.S. & FYI -- RWAAC has contributed $500.00 to the Friends of Fred Paone!
Dear Friends:
Wednesday, December 19, 2007 we have an OPPORTUNITY to elect another REPUBLICAN to the Annapolis City Council. Frederick M. Paone (Fred Paone) REPUBLICAN is running for the now vacant Ward 2 Annapolis City Council seat!
To get another Republican elected to the Annapolis City Council, we need to get some $$$$ going to Fred’s campaign. Fred is a bit behind in fundraising because he would not begin to raise money while serving as the Assistant State’s Attorney – UNTIL he received permission from the Ethics Commission to do so. In short, Fred did what was right – because it was the right thing to do!
I hope you will send a contribution to: Friends of Fred Paone, 47 Williams Drive, Annapolis, MD 21401. Any amount will be deeply appreciated. (It goes without saying that the more you can send the better his chances will be.)
First, you may want to know more about Fred Paone –
The Paone name is very well known in Annapolis. His father, Rocco Paone, was a long-time and well loved Professor at the U.S. Naval Academy. Fred Paone grew up in a home that sponsored USNA Midshipmen – one of them was Roger Staubach.
Fred Paone is a 56-year old Assistant State’s Attorney from Admiral Heights. His campaign Treasurer is the former Republican Mayor of Annapolis Dean Johnson. An article in the Capital Newspaper observed that “Although he has never run for public office, Fred Paone has been involved with the city on a volunteer basis since 1985, serving as the organizer of the July 4th fireworks show for nearly 20 years before handing over the job to Jon Hodgson.”
Fred Paone started out as a Democrat (so did President Ronald W. Reagan) but has switched to the Republican Party. (Like President Reagan, Fred didn’t leave the Democrat Party – it left him!)
Fred has stated that “on a local level, there is much more of an opportunity to vote for the individual anyway. I was born and raised in this city. I look around and see eight young men who have been murdered this year, traffic and congestion is way too much, development has run amuck and I think the citizens of Ward 2 need a strong voice.”
Fred Paone believes that crime is the NUMBER ONE issue throughout Annapolis. As Assistant State’s Attorney Fred Paone believes he is in a good position to help address the problem.
Fred Paone, like his father, is also a teacher. The December 2003 edition of The Barrister, the official newsletter of the Anne Arundel Bar Association reported, “Fred Paone has been teaching at the Community College for approximately five years. Not only does Fred teach Criminal Law and Evidence, he also has had occasion to teach Business Law. Fred finds teaching thoroughly enjoyable, particularly because it gives him a chance to work with eager young minds.”
Fred Paone also serves as the Chairman of the Annapolis City’s Ethics Committee.
Second, you may want to know more about the race –
Because only one candidate for each party had timely filed, there was NO PRIMARY. On the December 19th General Election Ballot will be:
Frederick M. Paone, Republican
Debbie McKerrow, Democrat (who lost to Mike Christman-R by 44 votes in the last election.)
Karen L. Jennings – Green Party candidate and co-chairman of the Anne Arundel Green Party. She is an organizer of the Chesapeake Pride Festival and a participant in Mayor Ellen Moyer’s book club about community development.
The present make-up of the 8 member Annapolis City Council is: 1 Republican = Dave Cordle; 5 Democrats; 1 Unaffiliated member – Julie Stankivic (Ward 6) and the one vacant Ward 2 seat.
Dave Cordle does a great job – but he needs another REPUBLICAN on that Council! (Hold on Dave – help IS on the way!)
To find out what Ward 2 looks like, go to the official City of Annapolis web site: http://www.ci.annapolis.md.us, click on the City Government Tab which will bring up a link to “Ward Map.” Think generally of the USNA Stadium, West Annapolis and Taylor Avenue areas.
We are SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE A SMART, ETHICAL, (tall, nice looking) REPUBLICAN RUNNING! If you don’t live in Annapolis – your contribution can still help. If you know anyone who does live in Annapolis – particularly in the Ward 2 area – contact them and ask them to vote for Fred Paone. You’ll be glad you did – Dave Cordle will be glad you did –we all will be glad you did! Remember – Fred Paone can’t win without our help!
Best personal regards. Joyce
P.S. & FYI -- RWAAC has contributed $500.00 to the Friends of Fred Paone!
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Paone Ward 2 Campaign
I have no reservations supporting Fred Paone for the Ward 2 aldermanic seat, and I will do everything I can to get him elected. You should know that even if one of the other candidates does something that I agree with, I will probably not recognize them. You see, the job of the Republican Central Committee is to get Republicans elected, and as my non-blogging political activism is more important, I shall not be swayed from my duty.
If you would like info about Fred's campaign, you can email me or leave a comment, and I'll respond.
Please send $$$$ to:
Friends of Fred Paone
47 Williams Drive
Annapolis, MD 21401
If you would like info about Fred's campaign, you can email me or leave a comment, and I'll respond.
Please send $$$$ to:
Friends of Fred Paone
47 Williams Drive
Annapolis, MD 21401
Monday, November 5, 2007
Shock: 3 Candidates File For Ward 2 Seat, No Primary To Be Held
Ok maybe not a shock, but if I started this post with "Of Mild Interest:.....", you would close your browser window and find a re-run of I Love Lucy on TV Land.
I just came from City Hall, and the following is first hand information regarding the candidates for the vacant Ward 2 seat. They are:
1. Debbie Rosen McKerrow, Democrat
2. Karen Jennings, Green Party
3. Fred Paone, Republican
There was some speculation that we would have to have a primary anyway, citing a possible requirement that the candidates must receive at least 1 vote in the primary; however, the City Attorney advises that there is no such requirement, and the general election will proceed, without a primary, as scheduled on December 19th.
Of note, former Ward 2 Alderman Irving 'Pete' Mager filed a certificate of candidacy as an Independent on Friday, but failed to submit a petition with the required 100 signatures to make it on to the ballot. According to the city clerk, he was unreachable at the phone numbers he provided, and consequently will not be on the ballot.
Also of note, Karen Jennings' petition included 175 signatures. The winner in Ward 4's special election had something like 150 votes, and although more people vote in Ward 2, Ms. Jennings' candidacy should not be taken lightly.
I just came from City Hall, and the following is first hand information regarding the candidates for the vacant Ward 2 seat. They are:
1. Debbie Rosen McKerrow, Democrat
2. Karen Jennings, Green Party
3. Fred Paone, Republican
There was some speculation that we would have to have a primary anyway, citing a possible requirement that the candidates must receive at least 1 vote in the primary; however, the City Attorney advises that there is no such requirement, and the general election will proceed, without a primary, as scheduled on December 19th.
Of note, former Ward 2 Alderman Irving 'Pete' Mager filed a certificate of candidacy as an Independent on Friday, but failed to submit a petition with the required 100 signatures to make it on to the ballot. According to the city clerk, he was unreachable at the phone numbers he provided, and consequently will not be on the ballot.
Also of note, Karen Jennings' petition included 175 signatures. The winner in Ward 4's special election had something like 150 votes, and although more people vote in Ward 2, Ms. Jennings' candidacy should not be taken lightly.
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