A Fact Check on how the Executive Position in Wicomico County “Will Protect the Citizens from Tax Increases”
“From a personal standpoint, I’m not sure I can afford for my taxes to be raised like they were many years ago, before there was an Executive Form of Government and before there was someone who could veto those outlandish decisions made by the county council. So, I fight relentlessly for this position because I so firmly believe in having that voice.” Earl Campbell / Eastern Shore Undercover 10/21/24
So Eastern Shore Undercover is claiming that keeping the Executive Position will protect the Citizens of Wicomico County from Tax Increases.
Well let’s look at what has happened with Taxes since December of 2022 when County Executive Giordano was sworn into office. At the State / County / and Municipal / Local level in Wicomico County.
The State of Maryland:
Maryland Governor Wes Moore was sworn into office in January of 2023. Governor Moore inherited a large surplus from the previous administration. However the State has created large unfunded mandates like the Kirwan BluePrint for Education. So the Governor had to spend money like a drunken sailor almost immediately.
So this surplus “evaporated” in less than a year. In addition the Governor is committing Billions of State tax dollars for “Boondoggle” Windmill projects on the Eastern Shore & The Red Line train system in Baltimore City.
So as a result of these massive spending spree’s by The Governor & his Administration in 2 years has increased Taxes and Fees on Maryland’s Small Businesses and Working Families to the tune of over $400 Million Dollars.
Eastern Shore Undercover as a “News Organization” has never reported these facts. Actually Mr. Campbell has blocked people who have tried to point these things out on Eastern Shore Undercover. The County Executive has also never said these kinds of things to the Citizens of Wicomico County, instead she sings the praises of Governor Moore so much she put him on a mail piece saying how they are working together for families… and she is regularly seen now in the Governor’s suite at Ravens Games.
What family are you fighting for when you hit them with Hundreds of Millions of Dollars of Tax and Fee Increases?….
Wicomico County:
During the 2024 budget for the County the County Executive was very heavily involved in the process of renegotiating the FOP contract with the Sheriff’s Department. She and FOP leaders came up with a deal that would give the Sheriff’s Department a 2.5 % cost of living Increase annually or a COLA. Other Sheriffs departments in the State do have a COLA however they are in the State system called LEOPS, which has guard rails in place that determine what percentage of an increase you will receive based on economic conditions. Wicomico is not in LEOPS so what was created was a large unfunded mandate / liability without the State guardrails in place. Meaning from now till the distant future Wicomico whether it has the money or not will be on the hook for this annual increase of 2.5%, these kinds of unfunded mandates are created in Annapolis all the time by the Democrat legislature, and almost every time it happens tax increases are almost always a certainty, can you say Kirwan BluePrint. While we want to support and fund the police you also want to do it in a way to protect the taxpayers from potential tax increases and this was not done that way by the Executive & her Administration, as one Councilman put it this is “A better deal than what the State has, and there are zero guardrails from protecting the taxpayers from a potential tax increase.” So I fail to see where the Executive position has protected the taxpayers from tax increases, quite the opposite.
It seems she gave away the store to the police, largely because they were her largest donors in 2022. Has Eastern Shore Undercover as a “News Organization” reported on any of this? The answer is zero,
The City of Salisbury / Wicomico County’s Largest Municipality:
In 2023 it came to the surface that the City of Salisbury, which is the financial epicenter of Wicomico County was in dire straits financially, the Previous Mayor and his administration had racked up big spending tabs on the City’s dime without creating revenue to pay for it, especially with the City’s fire department, so the Mayor who took over proposed initially increase property taxes by 10%. The City and its leaders did not increase taxes by 10%, they settled on a 5% increase instead in addition to a 10% increase on water and sewer rates. Did the Executive speak up on a tax increase on the County’s largest municipality the financial epicenter of WIcomico, she did but she did not come out against a tax increase, her quote to WMDT:
“Wicomico County Executive Julie Giordano tells 47ABC she would support a cost-per-call program, but tells us she wants to see the council at the negotiating table.
“We need to get this right and so that means getting in a room and telling us what they need as we move forward through this process,” she said.” 05-10-23
She did not say she was against a Tax Increase, and taxes were increased. A tax increase on the County’s largest municipality which pretty much impacts the entire County on taxes. Has Eastern Shore Undercover reported on any of this as a “News Organization” the answer is no. .
So these are the facts to the citizens of Wicomico County on Taxes at the State, County, & Municipal / Local Level.
Taxes have been increased at the State & Municipal / Local Level, and as far as the County it appears Tax Increases are on the horizon.
So my fact check for Eastern Shore Undercover, that keeping the Executive position will protect the citizens in Wicomico from Tax Increases, fails!
I have 2 words for Mr. Campbell / ESU, who claims to be a news reporter. “Google Search” sir it’s a great tool to find sources to write about the news….
Please see sources below that support these points.
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Sources.
1.https://marylandmatters.org/2023/07/16/budget-deficits-loom-in-the-wake-of-the-2023-session/
4. https://www.wbaltv.com/article/wes-moore-announce-red-line-light-rail/61446226
I will tell all the county council and the county executive, do not raise my taxes and make it unaffordable for me to retain my home and property.
Taxes have gone up thanks to the Governor and his administration, the Executive says shes a voice for the people on Tax Increases, yet she put out a Mailer saying she’s working with Governor Moore fighting for families.
Well which is it? Your with a Governor whose administration Administration who’s been all about Tax and Fee Increases, or are you fighting for Small Businesses and Working Families against Tax Increases? Sounds like she’s trying to have it both ways… Being a shifty politician…
That’s because she is a two faced back stabber who is duping both Democrats and Republicans just to keep her job and she is desperate!
The city of Salisbury imploding right before our eyes. The government of full of ridiculous hires, public safety is in the toilet, water/sewer/tax hikes are causing people to sell their home, and you can’t get gas at a convenience store without being accosted by addicts and seeing a “peep show.” What do city and county taxpayers get for their money?…a bunch of pet projects for corrupt politicians and a community that is a shadow of its former self. If you don’t find and elect some decent, honest public servants to represent us no changes to the structure will solve the problems.
I just saw where our infamous County Executive Julie Giordano stated that the Vote against Question A ballot initiative is costing the taxpayers $36,000 dollars! Totally false and fake news! GTFOOH Julie Giordano with your blatant lies!!!
Let’s not forget that Julie Giordano is a Member of Salisbury PFLAG and her and her group painted the gay Pride stripes on the road by the County library!
And let’s not forget when Julie had a part time business hosting Drag Shows and Gay Speed Dating at the Reign Restaurant located at 331 Civic Avenue in the Twilley Center.
This is NOT something a true Conservative does!
Talking about raising taxes, Julie has been meeting with Mike Dunn of the Greater Salisbury Committee and Bill Chambers of the Chamber of Commerce about ways to remove Wicomico County’s Tax Cap so that she can hire more people and spend more money!
Don’t fall for the lies when Julie says we need the County Executive position for a “balance of power.” Guess what? The 7 members of the County Council will be that balance of power! Why do you think Mike Dunn and Bill Chambers are fighting to keep the County Executive? Because it is easier to control ONE person instead of 7!! Think about this? Mike Dunn is vicariously running Wicomico County because of his control over Julie Giordano!
She is a real snake in the grass and needs to be removed from office immediately! Removing the County Executive position is a start! Vote for Question A!!