Many folks have been in touch as to where/how
they can find my Westminster Eagle column on the Westminster City Budget.
Please find it pasted below in its entirety:
Tales of the Liberty Pole, squawking geese and the Westminster city budget
05/03/06
By Kevin E. Dayhoff
Perhaps one of the most difficult tasks for any local government is preparation of its annual budget.
There simply is never enough money to go around.
Even before there was a Carroll County, Carroll Countians have not tolerated big government and have always agitated for the lowest taxation rate possible. Perhaps we get it honestly from the gentleman for whom the county is named, Charles Carroll.
"In the late 1750s, when Catholics in Maryland were faced with a double tax on their property to pay for defense against the French and Indians É Charles Carroll of Carrollton became so angry that he declared he would go 'anywhere so long as there be freedom ... ' " (From "A brief history of É the Department of Assessments and Taxation," Karen Hare and Dr. Edward Papenfuse, 2002.)
In March 1791, when George Washington was president, the federal government passed The Whiskey Tax.
In a published account by local historian Jay Graybeal, "Col. Joshua Gist and the Whiskey Boys," it is noted that: "Farmers were morally outraged by the tax and they led the open revolt in the summer of 1794. É Public orations and heated discussions led to open warfare on July 16, 1794.
"Rebels attacked the homes of tax collectors and destroyed the stills of farmers who had obeyed the tax law."
Alas, the rebellion came to Westminster that summer.
Miss Mary B. Shellman wrote of the event: "A mob of men, known as the" Whiskey Boys," marched into Westminster and set up what they called a "Liberty Pole."
Becoming alarmed and knowing the personal bravery of Col. [Joshua] Gist É was sent for, and responded immediately. Riding into town with a drawn sword in his hand, he ordered the pole to be cut down, and dismounting, he placed one foot upon it, and stood there until the pole was cut in pieces, the whiskey boys leaving quietly while it was being done."
Fast forward to the present.
After several years of a depressed economy, when tax revenues for Westminster actually decreased in at least one year and the state balanced its ailing budget on the backs of local government, our city government recently announced a budget that included a 6-cent tax increase.
A wise person once said, "Taxation is the gentle art of picking the goose in such a way as to secure the greatest amount of feathers with the least amount of squawking."
A tax rebellion has come to Westminster this spring, and folks are squawking that core services can be maintained without a tax increase.
Roads need repair, and there continue to be increased demands for services in the face of rapidly escalating costs.
Most importantly, city employees have gone for too many years without an appropriate adjustment in their pay and benefits. Westminster has one of the finest municipal public works, water and wastewater treatment and police departments in the state.
However, now more than ever, they need our support.
Fortunately, this budget year is witnessing a surge in income tax and property tax revenue. The budget is still excruciatingly tight, and our elected officials have no doubt worked hard to trim the budget as best as possible.
However, they need our help. It is important that citizens get involved.
There is no need to be angry like Charles Carroll or have "Liberty Pole" demonstrations.
Get in touch with your elected officials today. Please be friendly, positive and constructive.
After all, our elected officials, who are struggling with their responsibilities, are our friends and neighbors.
The City of Westminster is asking residents what they think of the proposed budget for the coming year - with its proposed tax rate increase of 15 percent. My opinion on this matter can be found in The Winchester Report at The Westminster Eagle's Web site, www.thewestminstereagle.com.
There you'll find my thoughts - where are yours? Let us know what you think by writing to The Westminster Eagle at thewestminstereagle@patuxent.com.
Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster. E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org.
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