(May 5, 2016) The Snow Hill council discussed two items to be included on future agendas during a work session on Tuesday — hiking the town’s amusement tax and limiting the time a candidate has to file as a write-in option during an election.
The proposed amusement tax increase from two to five percent, which matches the rate in Pocomoke City, isn’t a huge moneymaker for the town as it stands.
Mayor Charlie Dorman said revenues in past years failed to exceed $100 from the tax. There had been years, Dorman said, when the town generated nothing from it.
However, calling it “good planning,” in anticipation of selling excursion train tickets, the council is moving towards adopting a rate increase.
The council is waiting for legal advice on the measure, so it might not hit the council’s agenda until the June 14 open meeting.
With the cancellation of this year’s election because there were no contested seats, the council is taking on an adjustment to the municipal charter concerning write-in candidates.
Previously, Dorman said, the code had been adjusted to allow elections to be cancelled because no candidates filed in opposition to the incumbents, but the section concerning write-in candidates was overlooked.
The existing code allows citizens who want to mount a write-in candidacy for office to register one week before the election date.
Calling it a move to save money, since elections need to be advertised and prepared for, Dorman said the write-in change is a bringing the town code in line with the charter.
Councilman Michael Pruitt expressed some discomfort with the idea of limiting elections in such a way, fearing it was “undermining democracy,” but said he was unlikely to vote against the plan.
According to the town, this measure was first proposed last year, but fell by the wayside. Not willing to let the contradictory codes stand, Dorman said it was time to complete the process of changing the charter.
This matter is likely to be discussed at next week’s open meeting, May 10, at the train station on Belt Street.
The proposed amusement tax increase from two to five percent, which matches the rate in Pocomoke City, isn’t a huge moneymaker for the town as it stands.
Mayor Charlie Dorman said revenues in past years failed to exceed $100 from the tax. There had been years, Dorman said, when the town generated nothing from it.
However, calling it “good planning,” in anticipation of selling excursion train tickets, the council is moving towards adopting a rate increase.
The council is waiting for legal advice on the measure, so it might not hit the council’s agenda until the June 14 open meeting.
With the cancellation of this year’s election because there were no contested seats, the council is taking on an adjustment to the municipal charter concerning write-in candidates.
Previously, Dorman said, the code had been adjusted to allow elections to be cancelled because no candidates filed in opposition to the incumbents, but the section concerning write-in candidates was overlooked.
The existing code allows citizens who want to mount a write-in candidacy for office to register one week before the election date.
Calling it a move to save money, since elections need to be advertised and prepared for, Dorman said the write-in change is a bringing the town code in line with the charter.
Councilman Michael Pruitt expressed some discomfort with the idea of limiting elections in such a way, fearing it was “undermining democracy,” but said he was unlikely to vote against the plan.
According to the town, this measure was first proposed last year, but fell by the wayside. Not willing to let the contradictory codes stand, Dorman said it was time to complete the process of changing the charter.
This matter is likely to be discussed at next week’s open meeting, May 10, at the train station on Belt Street.