This in from Bob Caldwell:
“We have examined the certification reported by City Clerk Brenda Colgrove (sic), and have found no material discrepancy that would change the outcome of the petition drive. Therefore, we will not challenge the findings. The desired referendum will not occur.
“We do, however, dispute the conclusion that since our effort fell slightly short of the required number of signatures, citizens believe that a 14% property tax increase is necessary or appropriate.
“We challenge City Council President Louise Smith to bring forth a budget that provides fair compensation not only for police officers, but firefighters, EMT’s, and paramedics as well. It can be accomplished without a double-digit tax increase by giving priority to vital services and eliminating non-critical expenditures. Once that is done, the budget should be passed unanimously.
“I am extremely proud to be associated with the group of men and women who worked on the petition drive. They understood from the beginning that the challenge of securing signatures from more registered voters than actually voted in the last election would be daunting. But as concerned citizens, they were determined to make the effort. They worked long and hard to give the citizens of Salisbury an opportunity to vote on the important issue of an arbitrary tax increase. As a community, we owe them our thanks and gratitude.”
So, while it’s not quite in the Chief Joseph vein, this part of the fight over property taxation in the City of Salisbury and its impact on the FY08 budget appears to be done. However, it does show that the grassroots are fired up, and Salisbury in its own way follows a nationwide trend embodied in the backlash against the immigration bill backed by President Bush and essentially defeated in the Senate. I’m going to post on how grassroots politics doomed the immigration bill and is impacting the GOP later this week.
