The homeowners of Montgomery County cannot afford a property tax increase beyond what the charter allows. We have just had the largest state tax increase in history, along with $4 gas and increases in food, water and Metro bills wioth record numbers of foreclosures.

I am not anti-tax as the Post likes to say, but rather anti-tax increase and pro pro charter oproperty tax limit. A 3.6% increase in property tax revenue should be enough. That is what the charter allows.

The latest example of county waste is the county Board of Elections mailing out tomorrow, a four page letter in English and Spanish, to the 90,000 voters in County Council District 4, telling the voters the party affiliation of Mark Fennel and Don Praisner. They are both candidates in Tuesday's special election. Because the Board of Elections did not have party affiliation noted on the ballots, they are required to correct the ballots, but NOT the sample ballots mailed to voters. This expensive mailing is a political mailing designed to turnout voters for Don Praisner, a candidate, who has failed to inspire anyone and who is wrong on the property tax relief issue.

This is MoCo so I highly doubt they'll cut these raises (or anything else) at all despite their largess. I mean weren't they like 30+% over 3 years? They should ask the illegals to pay more taxes, since everybody else seems to be leaving MoCo.

There are a number of suggestions for Montgo country that need attention:

1) Stop all purchases of private land/buildings property for country use. Leggett is in process fo purchasing a proeprty in Kentlands, when was that given a public hearing?

2) review the sale of country land and purchase of land for country use.

2) cut inmate population in house of detention by 10-20% and reduce manpower.

3) cut unnecessary employees ie over the 500 already scheduled

4) review the social services for efficacy and either eliminate or consolidate programs.

5) introduce cost savings through computerization in agencies

6) reduce Housing employees. Currently that agency employs between 475-500 employees which seems excessive even for Montgo county.

7) call a moritorium on all afforable housing initiatives until public can weigh in on them. County should not be in business of building or partnering with developers for housing. We are awash in affordable housing already built.

8) get the budget online and readable by the citizens

9) Redirect all training and equipment for police/fire/ems/ to real life emergecies such as fire, storm, etc and stop all training for so called terrorist attacks and the like. Eliminate all scare tactics against the population.

10) Review the need for a fire truck to go
along on all citizen calls for an ambulance. Seems unecessary expense.

Hey Adams - You're off on #10. There is a need for a manpower piece to go on ambulance calls. Many times a third crew membe is needed, etc., and ambulances are staffed with only two. This has been proven over many years worldwide and saves lives. The fire engine crews would much rather not have to go on these calls either but they are often needed.

He's off on #7 too - MoCo is not anywhere near to being "awash in affordable housing already built."

The overtaxed residents of Montgomery County cannot afford a property tax increase beyond what the charter allows. There were more than 25,000 foreclosures in MD last year. Many homes are not selling, often, buyers are scared off by the estimated property tax they see on the fact sheet. Two homes in my Rockville neighborhood were on the market for nearly a year, when they finally sold, one was for 85,000 of the original asking price, the other 112,000 below. These homes were not overpriced and in decent shape.