Reports from County Budget (tax increase) Forum

To: PG-Politics@yahoogroups.com

From: Observer
Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 00:04:50 -0500
Subject: [PG-Politics] Busted Budget Forum Bursts at Seams

Hundreds and hundreds of irascible voters choked the auditorium at PG Community College last night. About halfway through the four-hour fusillade of citizen complaints, Junket Jack remarked that he had "never seen turnout like this for a meeting before [emphasis his]." What's more, I've never seen a gathering where the County Executive acknowledged and announced the (few) other politicians in the room, only to have them shrink into the crowd about as fast as they possibly could. Seems they weren't to eager to be associated with Johnson or his budget proposal. Certainly, none joined him on the stage.  It's clear that a whole lot of taxpayers are hopping mad about the TRIM bypass and the accelerated property tax hike (myself included).

I truly fear for the County's Annapolis delegation.  Please pardon my French, but there is a political sh*tstorm headed their way.

---Andy Carruthers

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To: PG-Politics@yahoogroups.com
From: "Judy Robinson"
Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 14:09:00 -0000
Subject: [PG-Politics] Re: Busted Budget Forum Bursts at Seams

I testified last night and brought a visual showing the growth of
county government. In 2003, operating budget was $1.7 billion / In
2009, operating budget was $2.6 billion. Jack Johnson and Marilyn
Bland, who refused to answer my question regarding the council's new
cars, were almost booed out of the hall. Jack dithered and kept
talking endlessly - People are angry, and I encouraged them to let the
state legislators know their feelings. 

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(Posted 13 Feb 2009)