Carroll Co. Commissioner Dean Minnich
August 19th, 2006
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Pasted below, please review Carroll County Commissioner Dean Minnich:
Dean’s Thoughts
What I stand for:
Frugal, efficient and open government
Quality schools
Managed growth allowing for affordable and incremental investment in public safety (fire and ambulance services, policing, courts and justice system) and a sustained quality of life.
Economic development
Preservation of farms and open space.
Thoughts on government:
The less government, the better; but government must provide the foundation to protect the overall quality of life in the community.
Local government, closest to the people, is best. State and Federal government should defer to county and municipal governments whenever possible.
State mandates should be better funded. Up to 80 percent of the cost of local government goes to fund mandated services required by state or federal laws; only 20 percent of the local budget is left to the discretion of the commissioners. No state or federal legislation should be passed without funding by the entity that creates it. If a state or federal law is passed with funding, and that funding is subsequently reduced or eliminated, the law should be automatically repealed.
Thoughts on taxes and revenues:
Growth should pay for growth. Seven of ten homes sold are sold to new arrivals. We need to find alternatives to the property tax and rising assessments to pay for residential growth. Most new residents could afford and would be willing to pay a fee at settlement that would take the pressure off current homeowners.
Anything that impacts the financial reserves of property owners on fixed incomes should be required to have a safety valve or exclusion, so senior citizens or long-time residents are not assessed or taxed out of their homes by growth or rising costs of government caused by new residents.
Thoughts on rules and regulations
The fewer bureaucratic regulations, the better. Basic rules for order are laid out in a reasonable master plan, in which the citizens have a voice. Out of that come planning and zoning ordinances and the foundation for allowing people to live together in communities with a maximum of personal liberty while recognizing the rights of others to the enjoyment and value of their homes and property.
Economic development
We are predominantly a residential county, but we must continue to maintain and grow our economic base to help pay for the costs of services, provide employment and economic vitality, and enhance our sense of balance and community.
First, we will help local businesses and industries grow and prosper. Second, we will work with the towns and state agencies to encourage appropriate new industry that will add to the overall well-being of our county. That emphasis will include the new high-tech economies of research, knowledge and high-tech information/communications, through the development of employment campuses in strategic locations.
Three Major Issues
1. Continuity and institutionalization of the planned growth policies developed over the past three years. Consistency, balance, maintenance of adequate facilities requires it. On-again, off-again growth policies are bad business and bad public policy – and ultimately more expensive to the taxpayer. I would continue the growth policies of the current board of commissioners as determined through the Pathways initiatives and the input of the communities. I would also continue to work with the towns and the council of governments to develop surface water reservoirs and address the need for smart growth around towns and the preservation of farmlands.
2. Sound fiscal policies. Continuity of quality of life requires balance and consistency in maintenance of effort to provide good schools, public safety, recreational facilities and economic development while controlling the costs of government. It requires finding the common ground where needs and wants are met while holding the line on the tax rate. Four years ago, we proposed that “growth should pay for growth,” with fees and taxes on new home construction. Polls showed public support for that concept. We need to find a way to work with delegates to Annapolis to make that happen, and take the pressure off property assessments as the way to pay for needs.
3. Form of local government. The delegation should represent the county’s interests in the state general assembly, but the county government should run the county’s day to day operations and be directly accountable to the public. I will support hearings and public discussion of Code Home Rule government.
If that passes, I will revisit the issue of five commissioners elected by district along the lines recommended by the duly-appointed, bi-partisan redistricting committee (also known as Option 2), which was voted in by a majority in the last election, but thrown out by the courts because of the ineptitude of some members of our delegation in Annapolis.
Before we change the county government, we would hold additional educational sessions and a public hearing. The delegation has already indicated that if Home Rule does not pass, and the responsibility for decisions on local form of government stays with the delegation, they will try to put through Option One again, despite the fact that it was opposed by most residents, two business associations, and all eight incorporated towns' mayors and councils (unanimously).
Straight Talk Leadership
By Authority: Friends of Dean Minnich, Joyce Buckman, treasurer
