ANOTHER POSITIVE TRIMPERS NOTE
Glad to see it. Presumably the council has recognized that with the condo market cratering, they need to do something to preserve the few major atractions (other than the beach) that survived the overbuilding.
If Trimper's goes, for us it will be the last straw (after loss of so many favorite attractions and restaurants) and we will sell our condo -- although I figure it could take years given the overbuilding.
This just my opinon and I feel that Trimpers is a plus to the tourist trade,but......
The Trimper family is one of the oldest family in Ocean City and through the years have accumulated millions of dollars in real estate. Now,due to the tax increases we are all supposed to pay our fair share. It's just Trimper share ,because of the amount of land that they own, is more than anyone else.
It's seems people are thinking more with their heats then with their heads.Do you really want to pay more taxes to help out the Trimpers. (you know it'll come from somewhere).
I feel they should be made to grin and bare it like he rest of us down here.:mad:
Beware of the Carona Cat !!!
Bob let me say I always enjoy your local insight advice and your ability to let us all see things through the eyes of a resident of Ocean City. I completly understand your frustration, and if I lived there and paid taxes year round I would probably feel the same way, but I don't - To me OC is a vacation destination for my family. That being said my interest is in the attractions of the resort for that one week a year that vacation there, I like most people really don't focus on fact if the taxing is fair across the board to the residents who choose to live there.
Yes it is a selfish narrow minded view of it all, but I think most would agree w/me as to answer your question with a YES! if it ment Trimpers could stay, they could tax me a percent or 2 extra for the 1 week a year I spend there, because without trimpers and the rides at the end of the peir, the boardwalk would not be the same, and if that changes I will (after 37 yrs) no longer vacation in OC.
Do you really want to pay more taxes to help out the Trimpers. (you know it'll come from somewhere).
I feel they should be made to grin and bare it like he rest of us down here.:mad:
Trimpers Boardwalk Rides Finds A FriendWednesday, February 06, 2008
WBAL Radio as reported by John Patti and Associated PressThe Worcester County Commissioners are on record in support of draft legislation granting tax relief to Trimper's Rides and Amusements, which has operated for generations on the Ocean City boardwalk.
The bill drafted by state lawmakers from the Eastern Shore would designate Trimper's a "historically operated" park. The measure would allow the county and Ocean City to issue tax credits to offset rising tax rates that threaten to close the family-owned business.
The commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to support the bill.
An earlier plan to freeze the property tax assessment at 2004 rates was deemed illegal.
Another resort park, Jolly Roger Amusement Park, has also petitioned for tax relief, but would be ineligible under the current bill. The language says the credit is available to property continuously owned and operated for more than 100 years.
Story link: http://tinyurl.com/yt4dk8
Chris
This is good news. Trimper's has been around almost as long as the Boardwalk.
Hopefully one day, they'll finally go the right thing and make it a historical landmark. I think OC could learn from Baltimore's Fell's Point. Fell's Point's Historical Society is very protective of the character of the town. OC could really use an organization like that.
I really do believe this was a step in the right direction for everyone. Even though you hate to ever see favoritism shown, obviously though when speaking of a resort town, not all attractions are created (or for that matter valued) evenly. Nor do I think they should be. Whenever you have a place that has stood the test of time (like Trimpers) and through its continued sucess has also made it possible for other surounding business to thrive. I think the town and the resort itself needs to reconize that the sucess they are enjoying was (and still is) in great part to the original sucess of Trimpers and the entire boardwalk/carnivale type atmoshere.
I've said it before and it's worth saying again, without the attractions - those over priced condos they are erecting, aren't worth the paper the blueprints were drawn on.....
State OKs Ocean City property tax breaks
Amusement parks have sought reliefBy Rona Kobell
Sun reporter
March 28, 2008
The General Assembly has passed legislation that would let local governments give tax breaks to two Ocean City amusement parks, both of which have been grappling with skyrocketing property tax bills.The bills, which were sponsored by Del. James N. Mathias Jr., could help keep Trimper Rides and Amusements and the Jolly Roger Amusement Park in business. Both resort mainstays have struggled with escalating property taxes because of the real estate boom.
"They're both very vital to the continued success of Ocean City," said Mayor Richard W. Meehan. "I believe the [City] Council will seriously consider providing some kind of relief so that we will continue to be able to offer those types of amenities in Ocean City."
Meehan could not say whether the relief would come this year or next year, or how much it would be. But he said he expected both businesses would come to the council soon with their requests.
The pleas for relief began about a year ago, when Trimper began talking about selling after its property assessment jumped from $24 million in 2004 to $62 million in 2007. The Trimpers, who have owned the business since 1890, appealed to town and county officials for a tax break.
The local governments sympathized. But under state law, they could not help. So the governments and the family turned to Mathias, a former Ocean City mayor, to craft enabling legislation.
A separate bill was drafted to help Jolly Roger, which is owned by longtime Ocean City businessman Charles "Buddy" Jenkins Jr.
Meehan said the town initially wanted the state to pass a tax credit for amusement parks, but that wasn't feasible. So the two bills were the next best choice, he said.
Virgil Shockley, president of the Worcester County Board of Commissioners, said the Trimpers' original request was to roll their taxes back to 2004 levels, so that would be the starting point of the county's negotiations with the family. He said the county was not sure how much it could swing in tight budgetary times but that any relief likely wouldbe on a year-to-year basis and include stipulations that the property remain with the family.
"This bill says, 'Yes, we can talk to you,'" Shockley said. "I don't think you're going to see a deal where we'll say, 'We'll give you a tax break from here to eternity.'"
Copyright © 2008, The Baltimore Sun
Story link: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/easternshore/bal-md.ocean28mar28,0,3679580.story
Chris
This is taken from the "Daily Times" at Delmarva.Com
OCEAN CITY -- Council members voted to support the Trimper family in seeking legislation Tuesday to provide a Historic Amusement Tax District for the properties included on the Trimper's Rides complex.
You should probably go to:
http://www.delmarvanow.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007712120365
to read the entire article but it definately sounds like a step in the right direction toward saving this landmark.