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Johnson concerned about phone service taxes
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Related Topics: Prince George’s County
Prince George’s County (Map, News) - Should the Prince George’s County Council not approve a phone service tax increase, which would generate $17.1 million for the Board of Education in the next fiscal year, the county executive is concerned that the school budget might have to be cut in fiscal 2009.
As part of his fiscal 2008 budget, County Executive Jack Johnson proposed increasing the county’s tax on phone service from 8 percent to 11 percent. Although County Council members approved the $2.64 billion budget Wednesday, they have yet to OK the tax increase and might never do so, County Council Vice Chair David Harrington said Tuesday.
For fiscal 2008, Harrington said the $17 million could come in a supplemental budget or from funds leftover from projected expenditures, among other sources. But in a letter Tuesday to the council, Johnson wrote, “Fund balance is a one-time source of revenue, and while it can pay for costs this year, it could leave a serious gap in funding. ...”
“Coupled with end of the Thornton funding increases after FY 2008, the use of additional fund balance for the board’s ongoing costs may result in the need to cut the budget for the school system next year.”
Council Administrator Craig Price said the earliest the County Council could vote on the legislation is late June.
“Quite simply, [there are] two issues,” Council Member Thomas Dernoga said. “One, should we raise the tax? And if we do raise the tax, should voters have a referendum on it?”
dfowler@dcexaminer.com
Comments from Examiner Readers
8:22 PM MST on Tue., Apr. 15, 2008 re: "Post offices stay open late for tax procrastinators"
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5:30 PM MST on Tue., Apr. 15, 2008
re: "Post offices stay open late for tax procrastinators"
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4:39 AM MST on Mon., Mar. 31, 2008
re: "Tax pros: Don’t forget deductions for education, savings, contributions"
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5:22 AM MST on Tue., Oct. 30, 2007
re: "‘No new taxes:’ Md. groups rally against O’Malley’s tax hike plan"
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5:14 AM MST on Tue., Oct. 30, 2007
re: "Republicans say poll a sneaky way to increase taxes"
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4:42 AM MST on Tue., Oct. 30, 2007
re: "‘No new taxes:’ Md. groups rally against O’Malley’s tax hike plan"
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4:12 AM MST on Tue., Oct. 30, 2007
re: "‘No new taxes:’ Md. groups rally against O’Malley’s tax hike plan"
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4:06 AM MST on Tue., Oct. 30, 2007
re: "‘No new taxes:’ Md. groups rally against O’Malley’s tax hike plan"
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3:05 AM MST on Tue., Oct. 30, 2007
re: "‘No new taxes:’ Md. groups rally against O’Malley’s tax hike plan"
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12:24 PM MST on Tue., Aug. 7, 2007
re: "Republicans say poll a sneaky way to increase taxes"
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4:40 PM MST on Fri., Aug. 3, 2007
re: "Republicans say poll a sneaky way to increase taxes"
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2:28 PM MST on Fri., Aug. 3, 2007
re: "Republicans say poll a sneaky way to increase taxes"
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10:43 AM MST on Mon., Jun. 18, 2007
re: "Thousands of city properties on the market in tax auction"
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Examiner Reader said:
What post offices are open today later than 7:30 p.m.?
5 agree | 6 disagree
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Gizmo said:
It's pay day in the congress and Ted Kennedy is waiting for my check, it's his turn to buy a round at the Senate Bar.
5 agree | 6 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
This article should have been written in January... Better late than never...
4 agree | 5 disagree
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Martin O'Malley said:
Stop criticizing me, you'd do the same thing if you were in my position. I'm the governor, I have the right to have more power and control over money. And the best way to do that is take it from the rich. They have the most of it, and besides, they don't protest and complain because they're too busy working.
156 agree | 149 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
The poll was done by "Alliance for Tax Fairness, a coalition of liberal advocacy groups". I'm sure that wasn't biased at all... What really cracks me up are these far left groups that throw "Progressive" in their title. Progressive to who/what, other than your socialist agenda? Is huge government "progress"? I don't think so, anyway.
149 agree | 148 disagree
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reader said:
I think the politicians should stand and say to O'Malley, make the cuts and see where that lying, sack of crap will lay the blame then. Oh I forgot he can always blame Bob Ehrlich, even for the BGE lies he told us.
154 agree | 162 disagree
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VJC College Republican said:
If Thomas Jefferson thought taxation without representation was bad, he should see it with representation!
166 agree | 168 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Thanks Baltimore City and Prince Georges county for electing this tax and spend Democtat. You deserve all the taxes this wimp can impose
197 agree | 160 disagree
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Sven said:
Makes no never mind. O'Malley has got them where he wants them. Don't give him his tax increases and he will cut the funds to your county, teachers retirement, green programs and anything else to blackmail the legislators. M.O. WINS!
178 agree | 185 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Tax fairness” lol. How is it fair the I might be taxed more just because I happen to be successful? Am I using more State resources then someone who is less successful? I've got two kids in college but I don't qualify for any state aid on tuition because I've committed a sin against liberal sensibilities by making to much money. A lower income citizens kid gets the State tuition aid my kids are denied how’s that for fair. The 4% state tax on a $200,000 salary equates to a bigger contribution to the state coffers the 4% with held from a $35,000 salary so don't talk to me about fair taxation.
221 agree | 209 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Simple solutions to taxes, No Taxes except on purchases.... The rich would then pay and the poor would save. No employment tax!!
210 agree | 191 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Why is it that the folks who conduct these polls never speak with anybody I know?
206 agree | 184 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I've searched everywhere for the list, including the Times for the list of properties. It has not yet made it to the OTR website. Anyone know where you can find this other than the original newspaper ad?
263 agree | 224 disagree
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