Town Hall Alliance

Highlights of Delegate Bohanan Town Hall Meeting at Ridge Fire House on December 9, 2009

There were about 20 or so folks from Ridge.  Commissioner Raley accompanied Delegate Bohanan into the Fire House.  I sat in front of the podium where Bohanan spoke, Commissioner Raley sat behind me, and Randy Guy sat behind Commissioner Raley.

Delegate Bohanan first started to tell the crowd how they will hear rumors from the other side as to how bad economically the State of Maryland is and that they should not believe it.  Bohanan said though the projected Maryland deficit is 2-3 Billion, it is probably less since other department costs are not as high as projected.  Delegate Bohanan talked of Maryland having a good economy and that unemployment was only 5.9% in Saint Mary's County.  I took this as re-election talk and why they need to re-elect him.

Bohanan kept telling the crowd how Maryland is given an AAA Bond Rating from Wall Street and how it is much cheaper to do projects during a depressed economy since the construction costs were lower.  Bohanan had said this same thing at the last Commissioner meeting and the 25 Million Bond discussion.  I said though my credit rating is very good, I am not going out to buy frivolously things and put myself more in debt.  So why not the Government do the same?

The first subject that came up was the poor road conditions in Ridge and how they are being neglected.  Since roads were the subject, I questioned the road work being done on Great Mills in Lexington Park.  I asked why Out of State workers were doing the road work and why not In State or In County workers were used so to help our economy.  Bohanan then said it was a State Project and the best bid got the job.  I said sometimes the best bid does not necessarily get the best work and I mentioned some out of County Home builders coming in the County and building cheaper homes with shoddy construction.  Well Bohanan just said the State found the best workers to do the job.  I also questioned whether some of those workers were legal.  Delegate Bohanan then accused me of "Racial Profiling".  I took this as his way of trying to shut me up.  Bohanan said there are strict procedures that prevent "illegals" from working on these State projects and he guaranteed there were no illegals in the job at Great Mills.

Delegate Bohanan then talked about the Schools and how they are guaranteed that the level of funding cannot be less then the previous year.  Bohannan said the State provides 55% while the County takes up the 45%.  One of the Ridge folks brought up that since we are in a depression, why the law can't be changed.  I said that there seems merit in something to be done since the School Board currently has $13 Million of funding they are just sitting on.  They defiantly seem to be getting more funding that they need.  Commissioner Raley then said he too had thought the School Board would return some of this funding, but so far no return of funding has occurred.  Bohanan had no comment.

Tax assessment then came up in discussion from some local Ridge folks and how they were being over taxed and how messed up the tax people were.  Randy Guy then told the crowd his experience and how you need to confront the "Tax" man.  I also reminded the crowd my story of when I confronted the Tax man and got my property assessment reduced and how they also found my property was listed as a Rental and I was paying higher taxes then I should had been paying.  I informed them of the software glitch that will sometimes label your house as a Rental if you have a P.O. Box address.  I saw many eyes light up when I informed them there could be a big check the County may owe them for over payment of taxes.

One of the firemen brought up the $25 Million Bond Authority desired and what would happen to the new Emergency Communications wanted for coverage they are lacking.  Delegate Bohanan said he was still promoting the 25 Million Bond Authority though Delegate O'Donnell was opposing it.  Bohanan said Delegate Wood was now on his side of this $25 Million Bond Authority.  I talked to this fireman after the meeting and informed him of the current $44 Million Bond Authority not used and how they need to prioritize what is needed.  Like there is no need for the $13 Million Library.  I have used the library and it is fine.  Now is not the time to put the County more in debt.  Commissioner Raley said during the meeting that on 22 December, there will be a Public Forum on how the $44 Million Bond Authority will be prioritized.  This date is Close to Christmas Eve?

Near the end of the meeting, I brought back up Delegate Bohanan statement that the Maryland deficit was not as bad as thought.  I reminded Bohanan that at the last County Commissioner meeting that he presided over with Delegate O'Donnell (R) and Delegate Wood (D), that both Wood and O'Donnell agreed that the State of Maryland deficit was 3 Billion, and given it came from both parties, I took that as gospel.  Delegate Bohanan then took the defensive and said again he could show me paperwork that the projected deficit was not 3 Billion.  I then said when I did budgets on base to test aircraft; I was very accurately able to predict what it would cost to do a test and was what I presented to my sponsor for funding.  I said if I could do such estimates accurately, I would expect the budget personnel in Annapolis could do the same.  Bohanan then said Maryland State Tax would "Not" go up to pay for the deficit.  Bohanan also said that when Governor Ehrlich left office, there was a $1.5 Billion deficit.  Last I heard from Delegate O'Donnell there was a surplus when Ehrlich left office.

It was after I got Delegate Bohanan on the Defensive that Commissioner Raley blasted both myself and Randy Guy that if "You" guys are County Commissioners, you will not do the right purchases to keep the County going.  Raley mentioned Leonard Hall and how the forth sight of that acquisition was good for all.  Raley then said if we are elected, the effect will be what happened "5 years ago", and that was a "Stagnant" County for there were too many cuts.  I think Commissioner Raley was saying "if" the elected Commissioners are all Republicans, we will put the County in a "Stagnant" state for we will be very mean and cut everything.  Commissioner Raley was accusing the last Republican County Commission of making the County "Stagnant".  Well, since Raley brought it up, I said to Commissioner Raley that how about the Hayden Farm.  Was that a good deal?  You had two prior estimates of about $3 Million and paid $5.2 Million for it and held the hearing on Christmas Eve.  Dan Raley then did not want to talk about that.  I then went further that there were things that could get cut and still maintain the Schools, Fire, and Police etc.  I said for example the Wicomico Golf club and Restaurant and Bar; "why is County Government running a Restaurant and Bar?"  At this point, Delegate Bohanan re-steered the discussion and closed the meeting.
UPDATE: After this report was posted on the Town Hall Alliance website and linked to ST. MARY'S TODAY, both Bohanan and Raley called ST. MARY'S TODAY to say that they were not still pushing for a new $16 million library.  Its great to see them realize this is not going to happen, thanks to all those who have been very vocal in opposing this bad decision and special thanks to Senator Roy Dyson for his stand in opposing any further bond authority for the St. Mary's Commissioner, meaning the library won't be built.