I find it hard to believe, in light of how this City spends taxpayer money, that some people are seriously entertaining this proposal. Yes I want to see our roads repaired. Yes there are places where flooding persists (if it hasn’t gotten worse). A big part of the former problem is that road openings aren’t being properly patched. Prohibition against opening City streets soon after they’re paved isn’t enforced. There is no independent check of the work. A big part of the later problem seems to be with check valves that aren’t working properly. Some of it is undoubtedly caused by building up one area which only subjects another to water pooling. In a nut shell the work we did pay for wasn’t done properly and the City isn’t overseeing the quality of the work. But the biggest reason I’m against this initiative is because there IS money in the budget to do it. We have to get in control of our spending. We spend close to 40% more in salary costs than most other municipalities and it’s a big chunk of the budget. To come to the taxpayer to request higher taxes when so much taxpayer money is being squandered is incomprehensible to me. I agree with the Mayor. Work at getting our house in order before levying additional taxes.

How about a proposal that includes all residents and taxpayers.....there are countless residents that DON'T pay taxes yet use the City streets daily. Don't drive a car you say? Do you ride a bicycle? Take a taxi? Ride a bus? Heck, do you walk for that matter? Do you buy goods in town? Does your newspaper get delivered to the nearest box or to your home? EVERYONE uses the City streets and to ask only TAXPAYERS......countless of whom contribute to the City's economy without a VOTE is just unfair. If everyone who sleeps in Ocean City and calls it their residence over the age of 18 were asked to contribute we would have far more opportunity at a lower cost per person while also including property owners/taxpayers from out of state. How about working on enforcing merchantile licenses for businesses operated in the City illegally such as rental properties that are owner rented and never inspected nor do they pay for a license. Some of these property owners abuse this year round and others for the summer rental season. Surely everyone of these "business" owners reaps a benefit far exceeding the cost of a bi-annual inspection. Surely, the business owners on Asbury Avenue and the boardwalk are not the only ones who should be paying this City imposed fee/inspeciton. It is most unfortunate that the meeting is scheduled on a day with so much going on in town. I hope that the information relayed at the meeting will then be publicly shared by the media.

the 900 block of 2nd st was repaved last year. it was already reopened twice this year for the construction of 4 new units. city council is in favor of adding an addition fee to our tax bills for results like this? once again they are going for the fluff instant of the substance proving that they really don't understand what is going on in ocean city.

Yet, we are willing to have the City buy and construct a Marina ??? For whose benefit will that be ??? How about putting that $$$$ to better use for the greater good.

Like Eric said......there is money in the budget that WE HAVE ALREADY PAID IN TAXES to do this IF council priorities. Stop spending OUR money on parking spaces and other nonsense but for the love of God, do not try to supplement the city's prior misuse of funds with MORE OF OUR MONEY. We don't need a referendum, we are already saying NO.