Please consider me for Town Mayor on May 5th 2009.

Does Sykesville need a BailOut?

Maybe just a new major! Hi, my name is Michael Miller and I’m running for the position of Town Mayor. In 2006 I formed the citizens group, the Sykesville Action Committee (SAC), when the Mayor and Town Council approved a property tax rate increase. The group obtained nearly 500 petition signatures and the ordinance was revoked, no tax increase. In 2007 the SAC helped select and campaign for Town Council candidates of the “Upward Sykesville” ticket [Roberts, Sanzone, Keenan]. These candidates defeated the incumbents in the 2007 election. Great success stories, but much more needs to be done.

Currently the Town debt is 1.7 Million dollars. Sykesville has the highest tax rate among all the small Towns in Carroll County yet the Mayor and Council continually make unwise decisions with respect to how this money is spent. Tax increases, outrageous salary increases for appointed Town positions, spending on unnecessary projects, expansions into Warfield and Howard County, fees for Trash service etc. When the Town cannot afford to provide residents with the Basic Services, without borrowing money or additional fees and taxes, then we need new direction. As currently evident in our economy, this spend and borrow mentality can lead to financial crisis. The Town needs leadership to get Sykesville back on the road to financial health.

Council Candidates

I strongly support the following candidates for Town council:

- Ian Shaw
- Robert Willey

Decrese the Town Debt of 1.7 Million dollars

The Town Council continues to spend money on unnecessary projects while not being able to sustain the basic services the Town needs (e.g. trash pickup). In 2006 the Mayor and Council passed an ordinance to increase the property tax rate from 33 to 36 cents per $100 of assessed value. This ordinance was petitioned by a citizens group and revoked. In 2009 the Council attempted to enact an ordinance for residents to pay fees for trash removal, this ordinance was not passed, BUT the Town manager has stated that this issue will be brought up again. Shouldn’t the basic services that residents need (police, trash removal, street maintenance etc.) be considered before unnecessary capital improvement projects? My philosophy is “Basic Services first, additional spending if money is left”. No more borrowing. The budget process also needs to change.

Reduce Town Expansion Efforts

The Town has put much time and interest into expansions into the areas of Warfield and Howard County. While some may feel that these efforts are worth while, they will involve expenditures of Town funds and increased management and maintenance. Revenue from these projects are speculative at best. The Town should not be in the Real Estate development business, trying to manage properties, leases, etc. I believe we should place our focus on getting the Town finances in order and concentrating on the basic services that residents want, before attempting to expand into other areas. We need to get our Town in order First.

No Additional Fees for Trash Collection

There is absolutely no reason the Town should expect residents to pay additional fees based on the amount of trash produced per household. This is a basic service that is required by all residents. If the Town cannot pay for this basic service then we certainly cannot afford other unnecessary projects. Basic Services first.

Reduce Taxes

The Town of Sykesville has the highest tax rate of any Town in Carroll County (excluding Westminster), currently .33 per $100 of assessed value. In 2006 the Mayor and Town Council voted to approve an increase to .36. This action was resisted by Town residents and revoked. The Mayor has encouraged this Tax and Spend philosophy along with the Town Manger and other Council members. If the Town does not adopt a financially conservative attitude, the Debt and Spending will continue and eventually lead to tax rate increases. I do not, and will not support any tax rate increase. I would like the Town to get to a point where we could decrease the tax rate to mirror other Towns our size in the county (Mt. Airy for example).

Increase Town Resident Input

Your input is important to me. I would support online polling for important Town issues and informal sessions with the public. It’s all about “What Town residents Want”, not what any individual wants.

Name: Mike Miller

Age: 45

Resident of Sykesville: 13 years

Education:Bachelors degree, UMBC Masters degree, Johns Hopkins University

Occupation: Information Technology Field

Mike lives in the Hawk Ridge Farms development with his wife and 3 children.

Your input is important to me. Please contact me via email at sykesvilleaction@yahoo.com for comments, support or other Town issues you would like me to consider.