Save Your Home: Stop Jack Johnson's Tax Hike

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Kelley A Howells, khowells@erols.com
Date: Fri, Feb 6, 2009 at 4:13 PM
Subject: FW: SAVE YOUR HOME: STOP JACK JOHNSON'S TAX HIKE
To: PG-Politics@yahoogroups.com

Greetings All,

In case you didn't know, our county is on the verge of a fiscal disaster.  Last week Prince George's County Executive Jack Johnson met with a panel of our State Delegates to lobby them for a new State law enabling him to double our homeowner property assessments from 5% to 10%.   If the Delegates go along with Johnson's proposal he will bypass the county's charter amendment requiring voter approval to increase county tax rates.  At the meeting he was accompanied by Council Chairwoman Marilynn M. Bland (D-Dist. 9) of Clinton, Councilman Samuel Dean (D-Dist. 6) of Mitchellville and Councilwoman Camille Exum (D-Dist. 7) of Capitol Heights.

Some of the State Delegates are reported to have told Mr. Johnson that they would take the measure to the floor, but only after the County Council took a position on the measure.  Council Chairwoman Bland has said that she will schedule the council to discuss the matter on Tuesday, February 10, 2009 at 1:00 pm.  You can read the entire story as reported by Daniel Valentine of
The Gazette at the following link: http://www.gazette.net/stories/02052009/prinnew95928_32489.shtml

As you know our country is in the midst of an economic slow down.  Many of our friends have been laid off, seen their home values plummet, or lost their homes through foreclosure.  Yet in the midst of this economic disaster, Jack Johnson wants to double your property assessments.
Unbelievable!

What we have here is a simple math problem.  Our county government doesn't have enough money to pay its bills.  In order to fix the problem someone has to cut back on spending.  The only question is whether that someone is you, or the government which overspent in the first place?

I know how I would answer that question.  Its time for the county to be responsible and cut back.  If we have to cut back on our spending its only logical that the county do so as well.

Fortunately we can force the county to do the right thing.  If we stand together and tell Jack Johnson and the County Council that we won't accept any new taxes we will prevail.  Especially when they understand that any action to increase our taxes will end their political careers.   If you are willing to stand with me in opposition to this proposed tax, let me know that you will meet me in the foyer of the County Administration Building, 14741 Governor Oden Bowie Drive Upper Marlboro, Maryland 20772-3050, on Tuesday, February 10, 2009 at 12:30 pm.  The County Council is scheduled to discuss the issue at 1 pm that day.

I know that many of you have jobs or other matters which require your attention during the weekday.  But the cost of not attending this hearing will dwarf whatever monies you might make on a days labor.  If we don't take action to stop them now, it will be even more difficult to stop them later. Please make the sacrifice and stand with me on this issue.  Just send an email to let me know if you will attend.  Feel free to forward this email and recruit others to stand with us as well.

Hope to see you on Tuesday.

Regards,

Mykel Harris, Chair
Republican Central Committee for
Prince George's County

P.S. This is not a partisan issue.  Anyone willing to stand with us will be welcome.