Several weeks ago, Clayton A Mitchell, an attorney from Stevensville, placed an op-ed in the Spy supporting the proposed FASTC Hard Skills Training Center. Two thirds of the letter was spent in explaining how this proposed facility was vital to national defense, and “Queen Anne’s County must ‘step up to the plate’…. with overwhelming support.” Never in any discussion have I heard any person opposed to the facility in QAC say that personnel should not be adequately trained. They simply say that Ruthsburg is a poor choice of location for a military training facility, and also extremely expensive, particularly when the government already owns so much land that could be used for the facility. The last third of the letter describes how life on the Eastern Shore will decay without the facility and “lead to certain…higher tax rates.”
Mr. Mitchell’s economic projections are not supported by any data. In fact, the FASTC team trying to sell the program says that no economic studies have been made, that they are underway, and it will be several weeks before they are complete, and they are unable to say what economic benefit, if any, will come to the County if the Hard Skills facility is installed until these studies are complete.
The proposed hard skills facility hits the county with a triple-whammy for a tax increase. Not only are we taking away 2000 acres of tax positive farmland, we are substituting for it a business which pays zero taxes, and takes even more land for tax negative residential use for employees of that business which pays no taxes. I don’t believe anyone could study the numbers involved without predicting a tax increase for the County. The American Farmland Trust has run over 100 studies of counties and areas like ours, and every single one of them has shown that residential land use cost the county more than it collected in taxes on that land and its improvements. Only by taxing other sectors of the community (industrial, commercial, farmland and open space and forests) more than the cost of services provided to them, is the county able to maintain a balanced budget.
Let’s look at the study made for our neighbor, Kent County Maryland
Residential cost $1,065M more in services than it paid in taxes. Industrial/commercial paid $1.001M more than it costs, and Farm/Open Land paid $1.2M more than it costs in services. Think what would happen to Kent County if they suddenly took away 2000 acres of taxpaying farmland and added additional residential land to support the new people working in that non-taxpaying former agricultural area. Their budget surplus would soon be eaten up, and taxes would have to be increased. One might suggest that the other businesses that would start up, like service stations and plumbing/heating companies, would provide industrial/commercial tax increases to the County. But those tax increases will go to offset the losses on the residences of employees who are employed in those support businesses, plus make up for the taxes lost on the 2000 acres of farmland used by the State Department Facility, plus play for additional expense to the county of having an additional 500 residences in the county.
This proposed training center brings us traffic, noise, pollution, and damage to our agricultural base. This study indicated that it would also bring tax increases to us.
The two studies that support these figures can be found at the following websites:
https://www.farmland.org/programs/states/documents
www.farmlandinfo.org/documents
Bob Simmons
Reed Creek Farm
Centreville, MD
Marty Stetson says
Here is a thought, let’s wait until they do the economic study before we jump to a decision one way or the other.
Brenda says
What should the farmer do who wants to sell his land? What if his kids don’t want to farm and can’t afford to pay taxes for the land to sit? Someone besides the feds needs to buy the land. There is enough opposition to FASTC that a group can probably get together to purchase that land.
Steve Meehan says
Councilman Stetson makes a novel point, but lost on deaf ears. Bob Simmons and fellow zero-growth money men over at Queen Anne’s Conservation Assocation-Citizens for Greater Centreville (QACA-CGC) have no interest in studies or facts. Whether its Bob, Jim Campbell, Sveinn Storm, or their paid lobbyist Jay Falstad, the truth is their greatest enemies. This is the team that ginned up the community alleging that FASTC was a stealth bombs testing facility rather than a training center to better equip the American civilian diplomatic corps and their security personnel to stay safe and sound in foreign capital doing our bidding.
The reality is that zero growth means to them: no new families (kids mean schools), no younger, income earning tax base, and greater burden on the greying community of Queen Anne’s County. My question is to Mr. Simmons is once you have nailed the door shut to new residents and the county ages some more, who is going to be left to pay for roads and emergency services that are to older citizens as schools are to younger citizens.
In life, you either more forward or slide back, you can never stay in one place.
J.B. Estate says
I’m not familiar with how farming works so my question here is genuine. I have a friend that owns farmland near Federalsburg and he purchased the land to build his home so that he would be essentially isolated from neighbors and could live in a quiet peaceful environment. He doesn’t farm his own land because he’s not a farmer. He leases his property to those that do farm. Isn’t that an option for families that don’t want to farm the land anymore? Does anyone know if the Ashley family is the one farming Hunt Ray Farm and Crisner Farm or are they leasing it to others?
Anthony says
Bob,
Economically, even without the forthcoming study from State, it is relatively clear what would happen if Kent Co. were to remove 2000 acres from the tax rolls.
Assuming their taxation for Ag land is similar to QAC, there would be a decrease of approx. $14,000 per year on the tax rolls. Hardly the grand loss you described. Alone the county portion of the hotel tax (5%) for the 25,000 generated hotel nights, based on a $70.00/night government rate at the Hilton Garden Inn in Grasonville, would be $87,500–or 6.25x the amount generated by the farmland. And that neglects to even begin looking at the benefits associated with diffused spending that would generate additional sales taxes from individuals staying and working at the facility.
Scare tactics and fuzzy math where you speculate about how many homes would be built in the area to accommodate any new employees (we have some existing housing stock for sale anyhow) have no place in a real debate. Compare apples to apples…
Kind regards,
Tony
Anthony says
@ JB. I have seen Mr. Ashley running the combine harvesting corn on the Hunt Ray portion of the project site, and he has a resident hand there who also helps out. That leads me to believe he handles all the farming himself. I am not certain about the Crismer Farm.
Additionally, lease agreements for farm land have a generally low profit margin, so the economic viability if someone is looking to retire could be questionable. And in a free-market economy, are you willing to tell someone (imagine if you were the owner) whether or not you can sell your land so you can retire or to divide up the proceeds your kids start their own business?
T
Jay Falstad says
Mr. Meehan’s comment regarding the truth would be humorous if it weren’t so outrageous. I would love to hear the truth…like for example, who is the Eastern Shore Leadership Council and who is funding all of these fallacious mailings that Steve proudly puts out every few weeks.
And I would love to see some reputable economic data as it relates to FASTC, except neither Steve, nor GSA, nor the State Department, nor anyone else has any! Not only do they not have any data, no proper cost benefits analysis has been done to determine whether or not the FASTC program saves scarce taxpayer dollars as we approach a trillion dollar deficit. Steve and his friends continue their high-powered marketing pitch with rose-colored glasses, but with no facts to support it. So, on one hand, they say trust us, and on the other, they continually change the program, telling everyone what they want to hear.
Lastly Steve, where’s your compassion for the people of Ruthsburg, and the surrounding area who will have their lives turned upside down over this mess? Or, in your view of the world, is it all about money?
If we slide backwards, it’ll be because FASTC came to town.
Brenda says
Mr. Falstad and Mr. Simmons,
What can the land owner do so that he can sell his land for a profit and we can avoid FASTC? We need a solution!!! Trying to refute points is not going to get far because there CAN BE an economic benefit to the county if we had savvy local officials but there WILL BE a negative impact to some. After the EA is done, FASTC will be scaled back again. I forsee soft skills and level 1 and 2 hard skills. I don’t want it to get that far because every time they scale back the center gets more support and I simply don’t want it there. The government does this all the time. They put out the worst case senario and scale back so it looks like they are trying to work with the people, but the bottom lines is they were planning soft skills and level 1 and 2 hard skills in the first place.
What do people need to do so that the land can stay productive as a farm and the owner can retire and have something to give to his family BUT we still avoid FASTC? Any solutions so that we can have a win win?
Steve Meehan says
Jay:
My first thoughts are the people of Ruthsburg who have been ginned up for QACA-CGC fear tactics and falsehoods. I fully understand the immediate property owners will experience change. All the more why they need to be engaged instead of following your advice and abandoning their leverage, as Commissioners Wargotz, Ransom, and Fordonski have done. That has not impeded the QA DPW from actively participating in the investigation and planning process.
The scary reality is that Jay, Sveinn, and Dan Worth, part of the QACA-CGC/Wargotz for Senate cabal, all think the government is the enemy. Do they feel that way about the State Department staffers overseas doing our business? As one local resident asked me recently, are our 18 year olds looking for any opportunity for employment the only contribution the Mid-Shore can make to advancing peace abroad?
I strongly urge that the public review the Georgia Tech analysis of the impact of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. The Eastern Shore Leadership Council will launch its website in the next few days and will post the report. Good reading for anyone who wants to seriously engage in the discussion. Despite Jay’s adhominen attacks, ES Leadership’s board and members are local people with a skin in the local game, be it businesses, community responsibilities, and children.
The economic reality is that while the neighbors may experience change, they will benefit most from FASTC, at least financially. While that may not be a priority for them now, it will once they start to realize just how far their property values have skidded in the past few years. They are certainly better off with FASTC than 150 new homes, which will only create a glass ceiling for the existing homes in the area.
I will never convince the zero growth lobby, particularly guys who get paid to be zero growth. The QACA-CGC agenda is really too bizarre to explain to outsiders, but what is clear it is anti-local community and anti-family. As Commissioner Carol Fordonski, a QACA-CGC sure vote, explained to me: “Steve, don’t get me wrong, I am for public education, but development brings families, families mean children, children mean schools.”
With over 8,000 out of work on the Mid-Shore, 892 foreclosures on the Shore in 2009, and an $11 million shortfall QAC will have to close in the next few months, it is high time to shift from thinking about ME to thinking about US.
Steve Meehan says
Dave:
The Eastern Shore Leadership Council, inc. is open to membership. We will be holding our Spring Leadership Rountable luncheon on March 8, 2010, NOON, Fisherman’s Inn. If you would like an event flyer and membership information send me an email: [email protected]. In addition to quarterly Leadership Roundtable luncheons that will feature excellent speakers, we are forming work groups in education, transportation, and government finance. If the organization is viable as we head into 2011, we plan to expand the initial board by vote of the members in good standing.
I hope to hear from you. Steve
dgwelsh says
Has everyone forgotten BRAC? Am I missing something?
Nancy L Centofante says
The Green Luddites and Nimbys are in full swing.
Brenda. I agree. Those who want to block the farmer from selling his land for FASTC should buy the land themselves for the same price. They should put their money where their mouth is instead of trying to economically cripple the poor farmer. If you own the property then you own the property rights and have the moral high ground in this argument.
Anthony thanks for your input. You seem to be the only one who knows actual facts and is willing to share the truth.
Personally, I recognize that terrorism is a threat to all Americans and anything we can do to improve our ability to fight it should be supported. If a centralized FASTC facility instead of numerous scattered facilities would improve efficiency and reduce the cost of anti-terrorist training then I am for it. If a FASTC facility in close proximity to our Nation’s Capital will improve mobilization during national security threats then I am for this location. Job creation in an economy where local jobs are scarce is an additional benefit. It is my hope that people who already have homes here will be applying for and getting those jobs.
Gren Whitman says
Info affecting Shore jobs shared with me by inveterate and close reader of Congressional Record. From Feb. 24’s C.R., she discovered subcommittee hearing on classified feasibility study of metric time that conforms to metric systems in most nations where U.S. Foreign Service (i.e., State Department) employees are stationed. Under consideration is metric time system—100 seconds to the minute, 100 minutes to the hour, 20-hour days, and 10-day weeks, with seconds changed to “millidays,” minutes “centidays,” and hours “decidays.” Standard metric week would have seven “decidays,” with three-“decidays” weekends. Government wages/salaries at proposed FASTC to be based on decimal currency, i.e., “cents,” “dimes” and “dollars,” with one hundred decimal “dollars” equivalent to US $100 before devaluation. Annual vacation for salaried employees would be 200 “decidays” over two 10-day periods, but only permitted during International Daylight Savings Time, wage earners laid off during Standard Time extensions (whatever that is!). Since 1986, metric time system reportedly working well in Australia, but as yet no feasibility testing for Northern Hemisphere. See HB 04/01/10. Apparently there’s already a digital 10-hour metric clock on display in State Department main lobby at “Foggy Bottom” in D.C. Can e-mail full Cong. Rec. excerpt to anyone’s e-mail if interested. Contact [email protected]. An interesting, indeed compelling, development for sagging job market on Shore.
walter c says
The company who will be designing and building this facility is AECOM. If you’re not aware of who they are, they have constructed or headed rehab projects for facilities like DIA & NSA Headquarters. AECOM also delivered a broad range of program management support and technical expertise to the renovation and recovery of the Pentagon following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
They also seem to be involved in a lot of other activities like Kellogg, Brown and Root or Dyncorps. http://www.aecom.com/What+We+Do/Government
I’ve also read that Dyncorps, Triple Canopy and Xe Solutions will be working at this facility. Is this true?
Questioning one says
So a State Department empire builder wants to train his (or her) own army. More government jobs, more government power, more armed government drones. Lets have the Federal government trample States rights. Environmental study? We make the rules and they don’t apply to us; only to you! But the people want this health ca…training facility. Hey, and while we’re at it, lets strip from the people of Maryland their rights to own firearms themselves at the Senate hearings on March 11th. Nope, no conspiracy theory fodder here. Nope, none what so ever.