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JANUARY 11, 2019
SERVING NORTHERN WORCESTER COUNTY
BUSINESS
RESTAURANT WK IN BERLIN
More than a dozen eateries participating in the promotion which runs until Sunday – Page 22
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Coast Guard waits to see if it will get paid Caught in shutdown, it still must operate regardless By Morgan Pilz Staff Writer (Jan. 11, 2019) As the partial government shutdown grows closer to becoming one of the longest in U.S. history, Ocean City Coast Guard personnel continue to work without knowing if they will be paid next week. The Coast Guard is the only branch of the United States military not getting paid because of the partial shutdown. Coast Guard service members are paid every two weeks, with the next paycheck scheduled for Jan. 15. That means that while approximately 42,000 active-duty, reservist and civilian personnel continue to work to ensure the maritime safety, security and stewardship of the nation, they are not getting paid for it, See COAST GUARD Page 7
GREG ELLISON/OCEAN CITY TODAY
PAWS THAT REFRESHES Arya, a 9-month-old mix breed, and Luke Dunlevy, 11, of Fruitland, soak up some wintertime sunshine Sunday on the beach near Division Street.
Heiser sworn in as county’s Room tax hike gets closer look at tourism commission state’s atty. By Morgan Pilz Staff Writer (Jan. 11, 2019) The Worcester County Circuit Court in Snow Hill was packed with commissioners, board of education members, a retired judge, the sheriff, several police officers and multiple attorneys on Monday. Not for a trial, but for the swearing in ceremony of newly elected State’s Attorney Kristin Heiser. Heiser, who has been a prosecutor for the past decade, officially accepted her position the first See HEISER Page 5
Need for more revenue has city looking to find a way
MORGAN PILZ/OCEAN CITY TODAY
Worcester County’s newly elected State’s Attorney Kristin Heiser poses with her husband, Jeff, during her swearing in ceremony.
By Greg Ellison Staff Writer (Jan. 11, 2019) With expenses outpacing revenue over the last decade, Ocean City government is considering increasing room tax rates a half cent to net an estimated $1.7 million in new income annually. Budget Manager Jennie Knapp provided expense and revenue data comparing fiscal years 2008 and 2018 as part of a room tax ordinance discussion during the Tourism Commission meeting last Thursday. Knapp and City Manager Doug
Miller had discussed a proposal to bump room tax rates for hotels, motels and rentals from 4.5 to 5 percent as part of a fiscal policy presentation during an Ocean City Council work session in late November. The resort began collecting room taxes in 1998 and last increased rates from 4 to 4.5 percent in 2008 as part of an agreement with the lodging industry to spend a portion of that on resort marketing. Although the Worcester County Commissioners would need to approve the change, the city has the ability to raise room tax rates to 5 percent without state authorization. See ROOM Page 8