Annapolis Capital Punishment

(The following is from Annapolitans for a Better Community)

Say NO to any property tax increase; Demand spending cuts
from a budget that has been out of control for years

The City Council and the Mayor are moving rapidly toward a 25 – 35% property tax increase rather than
make the cuts in the budget that have been long over due. This is the range of tax increases required to
make up the budget cut shortfall. The Mayor has been clear that a tax increase will be necessary to fill the
gap. A few people that have been on the inside of these discussions are telling us that the tax increase is
almost a certainty at this point unless we make it very clear that this is not an acceptable solution to the vast
majority of the Annapolis residents. Our voices must be forceful and clear on this matter.
Write a letter or send an e-mail: The City Council member for your ward and the Mayor must
•receive written communication from you spelling out that a tax increase is simply unacceptable.
Mike Busch (State Delegate) should be copied on all correspondence to the City Council and the
Mayor. The budget needs to be cut to fill the gap – no exceptions. This needs to be received by them before the June 7 City Council meeting (see below). Some key points to make in your
letter/e-mail:
o Property tax revenue has increased 38% from 2007 to 2010 and they have still overspent it.
o The budget deficit exceeds $8 million. The Mayor has made a good effort to find cuts to
make but he hasn’t gone nearly far enough.
o Annapolis has over 700 people on the payroll when other cities like us have from 300 to 550
people. 80% of the budget is personnel costs.
o The average city employee makes $70,000 per year excluding benefits. The average
Annapolis per capita income is $35,000 per year.
o The City has arranged a $10 million line of credit to pay its bills. This is on top of the bonds
already outstanding, which require $7 million this in debt service. The Council is financing
the City’s spending habit with debt.
Attend the May 24th Finance Committee Meeting at City Hall: We need a very large turnout atthese meetings to impress upon our elected officials that a tax increase is not acceptable to the
people they represent.
Attend the May 26 Finance Committee meeting at City Hall: The Committee is key to the
process and will have a heavy influence on the actions taken by the City Council.
Attend the June 7 City Council Meeting at City Hall: At the moment, this is the meeting when
the vote will be taken on the budget cuts currently on the table and on the tax increase needed to fill
the gap. We all need the largest turnout possible at this meeting. We must make it clear that any
tax increase is unacceptable.

Again, we are being told that a tax increase is a certainty unless a very forceful and clear voice is heard from
a large number of residents. The more letters and the larger the turnout at the two meetings discussed
above, the more likely a “no tax increase” voice will be heard.

Contact information for the Mayor and your alderman is attached. Letters should be sent to them at:
160 Duke of Gloucester Street
Annapolis, MD 21401

Send this letter to everyone you know that either lives in the City of Annapolis or owns property
here. It is urgent that we reach as many people as possible.

Annapolitans for a Better Community
PO Box 165
Annapolis, MD 21404

Click here for contact information for elected officials:


410-263-7997
310 Monterey Ave
Mayor
Mayor@annapolis.gov
Joshua J. Cohen (D)
Annapolis, MD 21401
61 Shaw St
410-263-5607
Ward 1
aldisrael@annapolis.gov
Annapolis, MD 21401
Richard E. Israel (D)
47 Williams Dr
443-223-8769 (c)
Ward 2
Frederick M. Paone
aldpaone@annapolis.gov
Annapolis, MD 21401
410-267-7604 (h)
(R)
2089 Forest Dr
443-949-7755
Ward 3
Classie Gillis Hoyle
aldhoyle@annapolis.gov
Annapolis, MD 21401
(D)
131 Brightwater Dr
Ward 4
Sheila M. Finlayson
410-626-0071
aldfinlayson@annapolis.gov
Annapolis, MD 21401
(D)
PO Box 4482
443-995-5441
Ward 5
aldsilverman@annapolis.gov
Mathew Silverman (D)
Annapolis, MD 21403
443-454-0834
100 Conley Ave
Ward 6
aldkirby@annapolis.gov
Kenneth A. Kirby (D)
Annapolis, MD 21403
41 Windwhisper Lane
410-295-6549
Ward 7
Ian Pfeiffer (D)
aldpfeiffer@annapolis.gov
Annapolis, MD 21403
202-390-1760 (c)
410-295-7531
529 Sixth St
Ward 8
Ross H. Arnett, III (D)
aldarnett@annapolis.gov
Annapolis, MD 21403
410-295-9743 (h)
410-841-3800
State
Mike Busch (D)
michael.busch@house.state.md.us
Delegate
301-858-3800


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