Let the voters have their say on any new telephone tax

There is a pretty big debate going on over whether our county government can raise taxes for wireless and landline telephone service without bringing it before the voters in a referendum. In the interest of accountability, I think the voters should have their say in deciding whether to pay this significant increase in their rates.

According to published reports, we have one of the highest tax burdens in the region for wireless and landline phone service. On multiple occasions, voters have put in place laws requiring the county to put new taxes to referendum.

There is a dispute about whether the county can raise this telephone tax without a referendum due to a possible loophole in the laws because this tax originated as a state-approved tax instead of a county tax. However, in recent years, the County Council has raised this tax above and beyond the original levels imposed by the state legislature.

So does the county have to get voter approval for another increase in this tax?

I personally believe the answer is ''Yes."

But even if our county leaders believe they technically don't have to get voter approval, I believe they should still err on the side of following the spirit of the voters' intent and bring the issue before the community in a referendum.

If they make the case that the programs (education, health care, etc.) that this new tax will be used for are worthwhile, our elected officials should trust that our voters will make the right decision.
Mel Franklin, member of the Prince George's County Democratic Central Committee, Legislative District 27A