What price CHARM?…aka “the mail is here”
The other day our tax bill arrived in the mail…after looking over the Town’s portion (nearly 2 1/2 times that of the State/County) and considering the household budget, I finally got to thinking about the price of Charm. You can’t eat it, wear it or fill your fuel tank with it. What’s the real cost? Don’t misunderstand, each and every time I re-enter this town called Berlin Maryland – I get a rush. It’s home, it charming and I always think how fortunate we are to be living here – but viewing that dratted tax bill brings it back to the question of “at what price?”
My spouse and I try to attend most every public meeting whether it be the Mayor and Council, Planning and Zoning, the BUC or the Historic Commission, held within Town Hall. Yep, these meetings are sometimes dull, sometimes issue-packed but always “Berlin”. For some time now there have been various contingents of folks fighting to manage Berlin and others to not only have Berlin remain essentially the same but also to go the extra steps and make what doesn’t currently fit with ‘old town’ appear to be old – and charming. Not a bad idea yet while listening, many times my thoughts often intrude asking “at what price?” even more, at what price to all the people of Berlin? The current cost of management is reflected in your tax bill. We must ask ourselves how much am I getting for paying for the privilege to live in this town?
From what I can see the current “solvency” enjoyed by the Berlin treasury is almost entirely due to recent growth (change) – the increased tax base from and fees paid by new developments such as Centex (Decatur Farms) and Monogram (Franklin Knolls) and others – Henry’s Mill and Henry’s Green. Many have said these developments; that development doesn’t fit…their town image. (Has anyone asked the folks living in these homes and who pay considerable taxes how they feel?) So now I’m paying for image? Yet, keep in mind this development is necessary…for instance to pay for how the new wastewater treatment plant will be managed…furthermore what kind of image does poor management leave?
Additionally, I can reckon that we are really paying for a Town Police Department and trash collection, street lights, street cleaning and town parks and a portion of the cost to maintain the Berlin Fire and Emergency Services Department. The various other utilities we enjoy are, or should be, paid for by our ratepayer fees. Area schools and our local library are supported through the County portion of our bill.
This all leads back to my current quandary…the present state of the world economy, which eventually leads to government and personal debt load which leads all the way back to the question, here in Berlin – “what price Charm?”
