Council’s Tax Rate Comes With Uncertainty

Council’s Tax Rate Comes With Uncertainty

Risky is an appropriate way to describe the Ocean City Mayor and Council’s unanimous decision to set the town’s property tax rate at 39.5 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.Last month, after a number of significant rounds of cuts, City Manager Dennis Dare presented a roughly $80 million budget, suggesting the council increase the town’s… Read more »

OC Wise To Limit Boardwalk Performers

OC Wise To Limit Boardwalk Performers

The so-called street performers now know their place in Ocean City.The Ocean City Mayor and Council seemed unified this week as it passed a new ordinance refining the rules governing these performers. The main change restricts where these performers, also known as peddlers, can do their thing. The ordinance reads, “It shall be unlawful for… Read more »

Waiver Decision Raises Fairness Question

Waiver Decision Raises Fairness Question

The County Commissioners decided last week to rescind a request to the state’s Department of Education for a Maintenance of Effort waiver that would have allowed the county to fund the local school system below a level mandated by state law. We think this was a questionable decision, the timing of which seems to be… Read more »

A Difficult Balancing Act With Budget

A Difficult Balancing Act With Budget

With little fanfare this week, City Manager Dennis Dare presented his proposed $80 million budget to his boss, the Ocean City Mayor and Council. Although little was said at this week’s meeting, the budget will now go under the microscope as the town’s elected officials hear the details of each department’s spending plan over the… Read more »

A Chance For Change

A Chance For Change

Ocean City has begun a search to replace current Tourism Department and Roland E. Convention Center Director Mike Noah, who is “moving on” after 13 years with the town. We see this opening as a chance for the town to take these key departments in a new direction and at least consider and debate some… Read more »

What Others Are Saying

What Others Are Saying

Relay Holds SpecialMeaning For SurvivorEditor:Letters to the editors are usually complaints, opinions and complements. In this case, I want to write a letter of thanks.The American Cancer Society (ACS), Relay for Life has helped me in my fight to overcome cancer. The Relay represents the hope that those lost to cancer will never be forgotten,… Read more »

Boardwalk Bike Change A Bad Idea

Boardwalk Bike Change A Bad Idea

The Ocean City Mayor and Council heard a proposal this week to expand the hours bikes can legally be on the Boardwalk. In a shocking 6-0 vote, the council voted to approve the change. That was a mistake.The key issue here is whether it’s okay for bikers to legally be on the boards till 11… Read more »

Proposed Booze Hike Too Much Too Fast

Proposed Booze Hike Too Much Too Fast

In an effort to find money to save programs and help with a huge budget deficit, Maryland legislators are currently considering a wealth of bills, some aimed at increasing fees and at least one targeting a tax increase.House Bill 791 and Senate Bill 729 call for sweeping increases in the state’s alcohol excise taxes. The… Read more »

Where Will New Cuts Come From?

Where Will New Cuts Come From?

The county’s budget problems took a turn for the worst this week as it appears the county’s 3-percent mandated cuts will not include public education.In a choreographed sequence of events at school board headquarters in Newark on Tuesday, Worcester County Board of Education did not approve a budget for the next fiscal year as was… Read more »

Officials Opt For Wise Horse Course

Faced with natural concerns associated with the wild horse population on Assateague Island, federal officials opted for the logical alternative. Going with what is essentially a slightly more aggressive version of the status quo was a wise decision. The millions who visit Assateague Island each year find the wild horses to be quite charming and there… Read more »