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The Irony Of It All
Brad Hollerbach

Property Tax Contemplations

Posted Thursday, July 30, 2009, at 12:00 PM

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  • These commissioners are certainly being short changed on the salary issue. If they are only making $63,000 a year they are being underpaid.

    Heck, records indicate that the Director of the Cape County Health Dept makes $82,000 a year and that person doesn't even have to campaign for the job. Tax records indicate the Health Dept receives over $1,000,000 from tax paying citizens in this county. With benefits and perks, we are probably paying the director alone 10% of the tax money. Quite a hefty package for no more than this person does.

    -- Posted by howdydoody on Thu, Jul 30, 2009, at 1:01 PM
  • Yes, but does the Director of the Health Dept get Free Sunshine Law training?

    I wonder what -- if any -- are the requirements for the Heath Dept position, and who actually does the hiring?

    Thanks for reading.

    -- Posted by Brad_Hollerbach on Thu, Jul 30, 2009, at 2:25 PM
  • How are these people getting by with paying their taxes late? Is it not escrowed into their mortgages? No one should get by with it year after year after year. I would be much more sympathetic if it was a one time thing due to hard times, but this seems to be a pattern with these "society" people!

    Brad- do you know how many years Merriwether Investments has been running behind on their taxes?

    I would not have voted for Purcell had I known his record of paying taxes.

    -- Posted by Skeptic1 on Thu, Jul 30, 2009, at 4:58 PM
  • Apparently escrowing has been optional. I believe it is a requirement on my personal mortgages, but I'm guessing that differs from bank to bank and person to person.

    I don't know how long the Wyman's have been behind in their taxes although they were listed in the legal notices either at the end of 2008 or earlier this year, where the county will sell your property if you don't pay up. I believe it takes 2 years of back taxes to get on that list. I'm guessing since they paid 2007 but have delayed 2008.

    TFR

    -- Posted by Brad_Hollerbach on Thu, Jul 30, 2009, at 5:07 PM
  • Wow Brad, first they get usually fair minded Rudy Keller to drag Purcell through the mud, now all of a sudden YOU have a hankering to do some real hard nose reporting? This from the guy that usually writes such about such hard hitting subjects as the Reeses Peanut Butter Egg and people that take too long in the bank drive through?

    -- Posted by mobushwhacker on Thu, Jul 30, 2009, at 5:27 PM
  • Brad, I had mixed emotions about the threads and the article about Purcell. I felt sorry for him but I have every since he was 'targeted'. I initially thought that is terrible but after contemplating the issue for awhile I think once you put yourself in the public eye you have to be willing to take the scrutiny for your choices. We as citizens expect the same treatment our officials receive as well as the accountability. As Purcell pointed out himself, he was glad it came to light, he was tired of being 'threatened' about it. I hope it all works out for him and his family. btw, if you can't afford to pay your taxes then perhaps you should liquidate some of your assets. IMO.

    -- Posted by Turnip on Thu, Jul 30, 2009, at 7:24 PM
  • Alderman MoBushWacker, while I have written on some silly subjects in the past and will do so in the future, that doesn't mean I'm a silly person or do not think about serious topics. I find that well-crafted humor can get a serious point across better than some dry diatribe.

    In this case, based on the facts that have been reported, this blog is my opinion and I gave the reasons why. You may have noticed that I never even brought up any of the other allegations and rumors that have been lodged against Mr. Purcell. At this point, they are just that -- allegations.

    -- Posted by Brad_Hollerbach on Thu, Jul 30, 2009, at 8:45 PM
  • Mr. Hollerbach,

    First of all Thank You for having respect enough to refer to me as "Alderman" , however; the way in which you addressed me as "Alderman MoBushwhacker" seemed to be in a manner as if you were attempting to expose my "real" identity".

    For the record, I am not hiding from anyone. Everyone on here knows that I am Alderman Clint E. Lacy.

    And yes you can check my taxes, their paid up, but there have been years when they have been paid late.

    The fact is many people have to pay their taxes late because we as citizens are taxed to death.

    I feel as if I need to get straight to the point though. Mr. Rust supported Rock Finch, endorsed him in your paper as a matter of fact, so Rudy Keller's article on Purcell comes as no surprise, neither does your blog post for that matter.

    While you correctly state that it is based on your "opinion" the "FACT" is that you actively campaigned for Finch as well.

    Where is the objectivity in the Missourian?

    -- Posted by mobushwhacker on Fri, Jul 31, 2009, at 11:13 AM
  • OH GIVE ME A BREAK! $63,000 is more than what most folks make in Cape County. Considering the Hogwash that two of the commissioners have put us through, they are OVER PAID! Howdy_doody, you're either a commissioner or up one of their rears. Please, stop defending these blokes. It raises too many questions about your affiliation.

    -- Posted by Grandpa_Sassy on Fri, Jul 31, 2009, at 3:52 PM
  • Marble Hill Alderman Lacy,

    "Actively campaigning for Finch?" I guess if you consider gathering a handful of signatures for his write-in candidacy to oppose Purcell in 2008 "active" I suppose you are correct. I didn't donate money to Finch or even put a sign up for him in my yard.

    My reason for "campaigning" (I think I gathered 6 or 7 signatures) had nothing to do with the Missourian. Contrary to your perception, the newspaper doesn't have any meetings -- clandestine or otherwise -- to discuss how we can further the goals of the "good ol' boy networks" in either Cape or Bollinger County.

    There were two reasons I was such the "active campaigner" for Mr. Finch.

    First of all, I personally didn't like how Mr Purcell managed the whole secret taping situation of meetings involving the other two commissioners. How convenient that he revealed his taping efforts to the public after the open primary date was past and no one could easily run against him. For me, his timing looked a little too deliberate. And the whole "suing yourself" and wasting our taxpayer dollars annoyed -- and annoys -- the hell out of me.

    The second reason I "campaigned" against Mr. Purcell is because of a situation that occurred a year or so prior. Mr. Purcell was attempting to acquire the house cattycorner to his property at the corner of Louisiana and William. He had not bought it yet, but had requested a variance from the zoning commission to erect a fence like the one at his house at 141 S. Louisiana.

    This zoning request concerned my octogenarian neighbors who shared a boundary with the property in question. They wanted to know exactly where the fence was going to go. At the time, the property appeared to have a spacious driveway off of Louisiana, when in fact it was an alleyway that the city did not maintain, but it also had not decommissioned.

    As moral support, I attended the zoning meeting with my neighbors. They really didn't care if Purcell put up a fence, they just didn't want him stealing the alleyway and eliminating access to the back of their property and the house next to them.

    Apparently, Mr. Purcell had not done his homework and did not realize that it was an alley and not a driveway. The zoning commissioners told him so and told him that the City Council could vacate the alley, provided the adjoining two property owners would agree. While trying to convince the commissioners he also stated that the fence on his property cost more than $30,000. I found that admission interesting then, as I do now.

    The meeting ended and I got home about 20 minutes later.

    In that short time frame, Mr. Purcell left 2 messages on my answering machine essentially asking my help in talking the "elderly couple" into agreeing to waive their rights to the alley. I did not call him back. He left me a third message a day or two later.

    My neighbors told me that he also called them several time and they felt he was trying to bully them.

    And THAT Alderman Lacy is why I so "actively campaigned" against Mr. Purcell. I don't like his tactics or what I perceive to be his lack of ethics.

    -- Posted by Brad_Hollerbach on Fri, Jul 31, 2009, at 3:54 PM
  • Brad,

    Becareful, I stated my dismay over the very same things, and received threats, calls at home, and a few other questionable antics. These boys are sewious ya know. Can't have their wittle feelwings hurt and egos bwuised.

    Sounds like you and I need to have a brew sometime and have a laugh.

    Long Live Megalomania!!! *wink*

    -- Posted by Grandpa_Sassy on Fri, Jul 31, 2009, at 4:03 PM
  • Grandpa: Either I did not lay out what I was trying to say or you misinterpreted what i was trying to say. We all think the Commissioners are overpaid for the time they put in. My point was that the Director of the Health Dept has an even much cushier job than the Commissioners. No campaigning just a lot of boot licking with the Commissioners. Never in the office. Doesn't answer to anyone. The Board that oversees the Health Dept doesn't even konw what goes on at that place. Just ask some of the employees.

    -- Posted by howdydoody on Fri, Jul 31, 2009, at 4:18 PM
  • "The fact is many people have to pay their taxes late because we as citizens are taxed to death."

    Mobushwacker,

    I hardly believe this is the reason that the Prince and Princess of downtown real estate, and "baby hughey" Purcell don't pay their taxes on time. It's got nothing to due with overtaxation and government. "Mismanagement" maybe, trying to "work the system" probably.

    -- Posted by Grandpa_Sassy on Fri, Jul 31, 2009, at 5:52 PM
  • "I don't like his tactics or what I perceive to be his lack of ethics."

    I feel the same way about the Missourian, specifically Mr. Rust and yourself.

    -- Posted by mobushwhacker on Fri, Jul 31, 2009, at 9:02 PM
  • Mel,

    Who was starting rumors? You reported the poster whether the statements were true or not? Kinda shallow imo. Ends up, I was correct in my assumptions about JP. lOl

    -- Posted by Grandpa_Sassy on Sat, Aug 1, 2009, at 2:20 AM
  • When I visit a business with my after TAX dollars it is a vote for that business. My vote and future votes will be withdrawn from this business. Next time we have out of town guest and they mention this place I will have to show them some news articles.

    As far as Purcell, I have supported some of his efforts over time on this forum as well to people I associate with. But to be late so many times on paying taxes kinda has me stewed.

    I am sorry to hear about the unfortunate surgery for the wife. That can happen to anyone, but to have a history of not paying on time would lend one to believe that maybe getting rid of some of your asests that are causing you issues would be warranted.

    -- Posted by gman on Sat, Aug 1, 2009, at 8:01 AM
  • enough said, what untrue rumours were there?

    -- Posted by Grandpa_Sassy on Sat, Aug 1, 2009, at 6:13 PM
  • ohh and btw. If "you" don't have personal knowledge if they are facts are not, kinda hard for you to judge...huh?

    -- Posted by Grandpa_Sassy on Sat, Aug 1, 2009, at 6:14 PM
  • we can thank the IRS and our DOR for allowing loopholes for simply starting a new corporation/business, etc.

    -- Posted by insider63785 on Sat, Aug 1, 2009, at 9:36 PM
  • "we can thank the IRS and our DOR for allowing loopholes for simply starting a new corporation/business, etc."

    -- Posted by longtime_cape_resident on Sat, Aug 1, 2009, at 9:36 PM

    Longtime Cape, we actually agree on something. One of the reasons I voted for Huckabee.

    -- Posted by Grandpa_Sassy on Sun, Aug 2, 2009, at 12:02 AM