Is it true that we are going to be paying about $120 or $125 for our tags now? How can they justify an increase like this......they got away with it the last time it hiked sky high, so I guess they're gonna do it again. It sure is expensive to live in Maryland.

Let me know if this is true someone please.

Haven't heard about the local stuff, but plates (aka tags around here) are a lot different in Indiana where I grew up. The cost of plates depended on the value and age of your car. Want a hot new sporty thing? Try forking over about $400. Got an old junker? How about the state minimum of $40? Not sure if it's still that way, but we always had an older used car when I was a kid!

That's for tags, right? Which you only get when you buy a car or want to switch to different kind of tags?

As long as we're not talking about the registration renewal we go through every two years, I don't think $120-$125 is really all that bad.

I just renewed this week.....$81. Maybe it's up a little, but not that bad. My car is only a year or two old and I remember it being at least $100 to get the new tags for it. That's probably what they're referring to.

It's the 2 year renewal registration which they are going to increase...why not just go ahead & call it a tax increase? A fee is a tax--plain & simple....and yes, it is proposed to increase to $120 from $81 it is now..

[QUOTE]The governor also has proposed increasing the fees on driver's licenses, and raising the biannual car registration fee from $81 to $128 on cars and from $108 to $180 on minivans and pickups.

sorry--it is higher than I thought...of course I own a pickup & a minivan..

Thank you Bob (I won't raise taxes) Erlich...

who is changing his name to:

Bob (I didn't say anything about exhorbitant fees) Erlich.

###WARNING: POLITICAL OPINION FOLLOWS###

I guess he's got to do something to clean up the mess that former Gov Spendening and Kathleen Kennedy Townspend left us.

Every time I turn around, there he is making me sorry I ever voted for him.

He's basically a Democrat in Republican's clothing.

I hope he's not getting too comfortable. He'll be out of there come next election.

well, it looks like they are going to pass it--heck, why cut anything--just increase taxes(read fees). didn't we have a revolution at some point about that? the stamp act/tax....

I'm ready to dump my iced-tea into the Potomac!

Anyone with me????

only if we can dress up like indians..

But I have a Pirate's costume!!

That's okay, I was gonna wear my pink tutu.

Can us West Virginians come too!

Sure, the more the merrier!

When the previous (Democratic) administration left him with a huge deficit and the legislature won't allow slots what would you propose to raise money to pay off this deficit and to provide state services?

I would join you but then there would be a fee to clean the tea from the bay. Whats next a breathing Fee?

Legalize Marijuanna then tax the hell out of it.

Absolutely nothing. The government shouldn't be taking MORE of our money by any means. It should be ruthlessly slashed and burned. Cut out or drastically trim the B.S. programs Glendenning foisted on us that are sucking the life out of the State's economy.

Many services can be provided much more efficiently by private organizations, and, I dare say, some shouldn't be provided at all. Which onesI cannot say, but Ehrlich needs to be lookng at it much more seriously. So far it appears he's either too stupid or too cowardly to do what needs doing.

The problem is Big, Fat, Wasteful, ... Government.

You bet BMIC! If we have to live within our budgets, so should they...lets get rid of DARE, and all these other bogus programs which over the years have not done a darn thing for anyone...but give a few a job...

Why not instead run the government like a business and don't spend more than you take in, and cut some programs.

The people that use government services the most -- pay the least for it.

But for some reason, all the politicians go pandering after those votes. "Oh, I'm such a good guy. I want to help you. Vote for me, and I will help you pay your rent, put food on your table, and pay for your doctors and medicine!" BARF! Then they have to do something to make good on all those campaign promises.

or just turn your back to it like Canada does...

you probably wouldn't mind paying taxes if you were high.

You know this country wasn't like that until FDR(the socialist)..his cousin(TR) said that is great to live here and be able to do for yourself...
Since that time we have galloped closer & closer to a communist/socialist type of structure...in 20 more years we will not be recognizable as a republic...the increase in fees is just the beginning--who do you think is going to fork over the cash for the prescription drug 'benefit'(choke,choke)..someone has to pay to let someone have it "free"

Folks,
Very interesting posts...
surely we have folks who can identify programs that are wastful and can be eliminated. txexpatriot mentioned DARE. How about some others?

I don't feel that there is too many wasteful programs, but that the government wastes' our money. Look at Baltimore's public schools tons of money is spent there, yet there is no return. DARE obviously doesn't deter kids, and is a big joke teaching it to a bunch of fifth graders. Like I've said before the gov't should be run like a business and should not be able to spend more than they take in.

Nice try on DARE but actually that program costs nothing. The police officers who teach in the DARE program are going to be paid whether they are in a fifth grade classroom or in a police car so eliminating the program will save $0.

That's not true, Observer.
There are a lot of expenses to DARE, that are now shouldered by the local agency sponsoring the officer in the classroom.

Actually, many businesses that I have an acquaintence with have lines of credit at financial instutitions. When cash flow gets a bit weak, or they need a large outlay of cash for something, they use credit. The same with households. Our national
economy is largely fueled by credit and many households carry large amounts of debt. The Maryland constitution mandates that the Governor and the Legislature pass a yearly budget that is balenced. Of course, the the national executive and national legislature can propose and enact legislation that becomes large indebtedness...

So let me ask you this Chartim if your business makes $1000 a week, are you going to buy $2000 worth of merchandise for that week?

Well,
There is a thing called inventory if your talking goods. Depending on my projections, I may buy less than $2,000, more than $2,000, nothing at all, or whatever. What I am trying to point out in previous post is that indebtedness is a part of business. Whether that is to your stockholders, banks or whomever. Also, individuals also rely on indebtedness in their financial affairs. The trick with government is to decide what you want government to do, fund those functions adequately, when you can, and attempt to build a consensus in reducing or eliminating funds to programs that ared not deemed important. Politicians have to balence this process all the time. Not an easy task..

Chartim--your argument might be easier to comprehend if you could spell...balance...
Other outrageous uses--Family Life(let the parents teach the birds & the bees!)
And yes, there are hidden costs with all the programs...you give up time that should be spent teaching the students, and the professionals are doing a different job than that which they are supposed to...Do you not want to see the police on the street chasing and catching criminals rather than speaking to bored schoolchildren?

Gee, txexpatriot,
My whole post became , dare I say it?!, almost irrelevant with that missing a in balence! or, is that irrelevent? or....

"...biannual car registration fee from $81 to $128 on cars and from $108 to $180 on minivans and pickups..."


I'm against it. The State has not proven to my satisfaction that the money they get now is well spent. Have they looked at cutting waste first? I doubt it, and if they did look at it they failed to see the waste. For example, how many of us have NOT seen a State roads crew where 1 guy is working and 3 or 4 are watching while having coffee and a smoke? I see snow plow trucks with 3 or 4 guys in it, yet no one has been able to explain to me why it takes 3-4 guys to run a snowplow. And what do these guys do in the winter if there is no snow to plow? Very darn little. Waste, lots of it is there, yet they ask for more money from me. Sorry, my pay has not risen in years, yet I have to make due.

You mean you want them to "justify" their budget???well, heck they don't do that...just ask the BOE--they keep insisting they need additional funds, but do they get rid of waste? no--just walk into any school office and you will find idle employees--2 asst. principals to start...

I just don't see why we keep pumping so much tax money into the educational system when the schools keep getting worse! I too think the gov (state & fed) should have to account for what they use our money for.

Folks,
For you who are ready to hold politicans accountable, its time to begin a grassroots campaign to shrink gavernment. In Wicomico Co, the citizens voted a 2% cap on revenue collections and it has had the desired effect. Goverment and school budgets are being downsized-or, at least the rate of growth. With the Governors proposed reduction in aid to local governments, services will further be reduced. While many in this forum just know there is a lot of waste in Washington County and the munincipal govts, with a revenue cap it won't be neccessary to be informed. The shrinking revenues will do that on their own.