No break in city property taxes
No new tax decreases: John Fritze reports today that Mayor Sheila Dixon "is abandoning a long-standing plan to cut 2 cents this year from Baltimore's highest-in-the-state property tax rate." Her administration blames the worsening economic situation, which hurts revenue collections.
According to the story:
The annual cut - which has been made each of the past three years - was supposed to knock 10 cents off the tax rate over a five-year period. The reductions have become a primary means to provide tax relief to city property owners.Baltimore's property tax rate is by far the highest in Maryland - more than twice Baltimore County's - and a broad spectrum of city officials have acknowledged that the tax may be stifling growth and threatening homeowners on fixed incomes.
Opinions? Rants? Suggestions?
And yes, it was just a few hours ago that I got the time to look at my own paper's front page to see this story. Good grief, it's been a busy day.
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Comments
Seriously, wasn't it Mayor Dixon, during her initial pre-elected period as Mayor, that wanted to spend some of the then surplus on a statue celebrating Clarence "Du" Burns? I agree he was great for the City, but would he want us to save the money for such extras from rainy days like we are seeing today? What we really need is a Blue Ribbon Commission to focus on eliminating excessive costs from our City government. For example, how many "commuinty liaisons" does the City have and at what cost? I agree this position is helpful, but can we use the extra fund more? I say we could!
Posted by: Anonymous | April 23, 2008 9:15 PM
Cut frivolous spending and non functioning programs instead.
That might be too much to ask for.
And saying they are stopping the program because of "worsening economic situation" could not be more vague.
Details, Details....we need details if you make a move like this.
Posted by: N. Stephen Schatz | April 23, 2008 10:04 PM
The problem with the city tax structure is that it is so skewed. Only a handful of neighborhoods actually pay taxes in the city, and for the most part those neighbohoods don't really use the most expensive of government services: police and public education.
Posted by: Robert of Cross Keys | April 23, 2008 10:29 PM