Charter Government

[haoleboy]

Looks like Charles County will have Charger Gov't vs. the County Commissioners on the ballot in November. I guess I'm not smart enough to figure out the pros and cons via Google.
Can someone give me a quick breakdown please?

 

[Wayne]

Executive summary - Regardless of what they say, your taxes will go up. Wanna be like PG county? Vote charter.

Policing powers of the elected Sheriff's office will be moved to an appointed police chief.

Part of the end game is to move fire/rescue from independent volunteer companies to paid. King George did that a few years ago and their taxes went through the roof.

You'll have a county executive who can be bribed ala Jack Johnson in PG.

There's a racial element to the whole thing. I'll let others go into that.

We defeated it a bunch of years ago. IMHO, the county is now past the tipping point and it will pass. I voted with my feet.

 

[P-12 Norm]

Executive summary - Regardless of what they say, your taxes will go up. Wanna be like PG county? Vote charter.

Policing powers of the elected Sheriff's office will be moved to an appointed police chief.

Part of the end game is to move fire/rescue from independent volunteer companies to paid. King George did that a few years ago and their taxes went through the roof.

You'll have a county executive who can be bribed ala Jack Johnson in PG.

There's a racial element to the whole thing. I'll let others go into that.

We defeated it a bunch of years ago. IMHO, the county is now past the tipping point and it will pass. I voted with my feet.

Before the taxation issue (which is terrible is PG), this is really bad. Sheriff's actually respond to the voter, Police Chiefs are political animals, and beholden to the politicians. I've noticed thru the years Sheriff's rarely endorse gun control (except the one's in Council run counties), where as the Association of Chiefs of Police always endorses what their County Council wants.

 

[RFBfromDE]

I would vote against anything that creates more permanent government.

 

[HRDWRK]

Just so no to charter government.
Think more big government deciding to make it bigger and then taxing more to pay for the people.
Most will be friends family and donors.

 

[Clump]

I lived in Frederick county when we voted in charter government, and for several years after.

Before charter anything the county wanted to legislate had to go through the general assembly. Many things that were important to the citizens went to Annapolis session after session and were never heard.

It seemed like charter was a good solution and my recollection is that an overwhelming majority voted for it.

What many of us didn't understand was that a County council and executive would need to create a bureaucracy in order to operate and that, of course, it would continue to grow and cost more every year.

 

[River02]

I lived in Frederick county when we voted in charter government, and for several years after.

Before charter anything the county wanted to legislate had to go through the general assembly. Many things that were important to the citizens went to Annapolis session after session and were never heard.

It seemed like charter was a good solution and my recollection is that an overwhelming majority voted for it.

What many of us didn't understand was that a County council and executive would need to create a bureaucracy in order to operate and that, of course, it would continue to grow and cost more every year.

^^^^Exactly this--- The final domino in Frederick County's downfall...(IMHO)

 

[dist1646]

Charter government means that the county does not have to go to Annapolis on their knees begging for anything they need. Charter government means that those you elect locally are looking out for your interests.. Which counties have more road improvements? Charter counties. It's the same with most anything you can think of that would be the responsibility of those elected. A commissioner based government is weak and funding for virtually any improvement project must first be approved by the democrats in Annapolis. You get taxed either way.

 

[dist1646]

I lived in Frederick county when we voted in charter government, and for several years after.

Before charter anything the county wanted to legislate had to go through the general assembly. Many things that were important to the citizens went to Annapolis session after session and were never heard.

It seemed like charter was a good solution and my recollection is that an overwhelming majority voted for it.

What many of us didn't understand was that a County council and executive would need to create a bureaucracy in order to operate and that, of course, it would continue to grow and cost more every year.

Wages also improved in Frederick County as a result.

 

[44man]

Losing your elected sheriff and getting an appointed police chief? That would be a hard no for me, but that’s just me.

 

[Wayne]

Losing your elected sheriff and getting an appointed police chief? That would be a hard no for me, but that’s just me.

You'd still have the elected sheriff. The part of the SO that runs the jail would still be there.

Policing would fall under an appointed police chief. The police can then more easily be made to toe the line on what the masters wish.

 

[ted76]

Vote against it!

 

[HRDWRK]

Another reason why charter government is bad.

New County ordinance restricts locations of future firearms retailers.

New Castle County has a new ordinance on the books that restricts locations where future gun retailers could do business.

www.wdel.com

 

[RFBfromDE]

Another reason why charter government is bad.

New County ordinance restricts locations of future firearms retailers.

New Castle County has a new ordinance on the books that restricts locations where future gun retailers could do business.

www.wdel.com

Yep, I remember a time when NCC had no Police or full time elected employees.

The State Police took care of unincorporated areas and the school district ran the schools.

The county ran the courts and roads.

That’s it.

 

[BigCity]

They tried to change Carroll County to Charter a few years ago and it was defeated.

 

[Archeryrob]

They tried it several times in Washington County from the people from Montgomery county that can't get their liberal crap instituted. The refer to is as Home Rule and the residents don't want it and they can't understand why. We tell them, move back to the city if you don't like the country.

 

[HiStandards]

Does charter automatically mean new police department? Or that it can be implemented without state approval?

 

[BurkeM]

Does charter automatically mean new police department?

No.

Or that it can be implemented without state approval?

Yes.

 

[44 Bulldog]

It will pass, sadly it will be my county of Calvert next. Just ride through the neighborhoods and all you see is Harris / Walz signs everywhere. Them Liberals moving in from everywhere, just a matter of time

 

[Slackdaddy]

It will pass, sadly it will be my county of Calvert next. Just ride through the neighborhoods and all you see is Harris / Walz signs everywhere. Them Liberals moving in from everywhere, just a matter of time

Did they bring the homeless with them??? Prince Fredrick is starting to look like San Francisco !!