June 6th, 2018 by WCBC Radio
The Cumberland Mayor and City Council last evening voted to keep the property tax rate at 1.0595 per $100 of assessed value.
Four members of council voted in favor of the rate, with Councilman Eugene Frazier abstaining.
First readings were held on budget related ordinances which would raise refuse and water rates by 5% in the coming year.
Council also approved a new three year collective bargaining agreement with the union representing police officers.
The agreement includes 2% raises in years one and two, with an reopening agreement to determine salaries in year three. There is also a provision to have police work 12 hour fixed shifts.
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June 06, 2018 at 9:13 am, Bob said:
Here is a note from three years ago. A 71% increase did not satisfy Grim for long and last year’s increase in taxes will be dwarfed by his next one after the election. Note the editorial below is from a few months after his last reelection. More Grim times ahead!
Grim Times
For Cumberland
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June 8, 2015
Mayor and Council Raise Sewer Rates 71.6%
For the third time in its administration, the Grim government is raising our sewer rates. Cumberland sewer rates are currently more than twice Washington, DC’s rate of $ 0.0474 per cubic foot of water used and they are going up some more. In recent years, the administration has raised sewer rates first by 30%, then by another 20% and will now be raising them another 10%. As these increases have been compounded, the total increase is 71.6%.
( $100 + 30% = $130, $130 + 20% = $156, $156 + 10% = $171.60 )
These massive increases to the already high rates are being imposed on citizens while the city government provides millions of gallons of water and sewer services for free to their chosen organizations, such as the YMCA, which use huge amounts. As the rates are increased to make fewer and fewer paying customers support the whole water and sewer service, those left paying the bills are forced to support organizations favored by the Mayor and Council. This is charity demanded by government using the threat of property seizure. Clearly, anyone left in Cumberland is considered a sucker.