Adam Meister's scribe spreads his innate enthusiasm for all things Baltimore--and, in particular, the political inner workings of his beloved hometown.

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Showing entries for Category: Government-waste

New Arena in Baltimore Could Mean A 6.5% Sales Tax

23 Comments

POSTED July 25, 6:15 PM

Adam Meister - Baltimore Politics Examiner

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So they are trying to force a new arena down our throats. Apparently the state (the tax payers) will pay for most of it. John Moag says that it could cost close to $400 million. Last year the citizens of Maryland were told that we had a budget shortfall and that our sales tax would go from 5% to 6% in order to generate $780 million. The current arena is profitable by the way. Would you rather the state magically come up with $400 million for a new arena or would you rather them not spend money they either have or do not have and drop the sales tax back to 5%?

If we had a budget shortfall last year then I do not see how we suddenly have an extra $400 million to overpay politically connected developers to build a new arena that we do not need. The state is setting a horrible example by spending money they do not have on things they do not need!

We are not getting another major league professional team! We will just end up like Kansas City with a brand new arena and a few more events a year. Do you really want to be the next Kansas City or do you want to be Seattle where they stand up to the corporate bully otherwise known as the NBA?

Right now our arena is profitable and it is a positive economic contributor to Baltimore. At the end of the day after you consider the following factors will Baltimore and Maryland end up in a better economic situation once the new arena is built?

To build a new arena the old one must be shut down for two years. No revenue will be generated, no taxes will be collected, no people will come to an event and spend at surrounding businesses, no parking garages will be filled...
The new arena will cost close to $400 million. Where will the money come from?
How quickly will the arena be able to generate a +$400 million impact for the state of Maryland?
Will we end up with a 6.5% sales tax to fund this new arena?
Once the new arena is fully operational will it be as profitable as the old one?
Once the new arena is fully operational will it really attract new events that the old one could not? How profitable will these events be and how much money will they bring in for the local economy?

For more info: Read Rick Maese

Topics: taxes , Government waste , NBA , new arena

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READ 23 COMMENTS:

Random Tuesday Thoughts

2 Comments

POSTED May 27, 11:19 PM

Adam Meister - Baltimore Politics Examiner

At most community meetings I attend people like to bring up their desire for more foot patrols by police. With $5 gas on the horizon the police department could save a lot of money and make a lot of people happier by taking police out of... Read More
Topics: crime , Government waste , $5 Gas , police , Federal Hill , mass transit

How $5 Gas Can Help Baltimore

8 Comments

POSTED May 15, 11:26 PM

Adam Meister - Baltimore Politics Examiner

The City and the citizens of Baltimore need to plan for later this summer when gas hits $5 a gallon. A few weekends ago when running in Baltimore I noticed three city-owned vehicles idling when they should have been turned off. Baltimore... Read More
Topics: Government waste , $5 Gas