Pugh forms commission to study property tax cuts
State Sen. Catherine Pugh, a candidate for mayor, announced this morning that she was forming a commission to study how to cut the city's property tax rate in half over four years, but did not detail specific steps to reduce the rate.
"I'm saying to the people of Baltimore that this property tax reduction is going to take place in my first four years in office, and if it doesn't, don't re-elect me," said Pugh, who spoke in front of a block of abandoned homes on Barclay Street in East Baltimore.
"This is an opportune time for Baltimore to reconfigure itself," said Pugh, adding that residents had told her the high property tax rates were causing them to move out of the city.
Media entrepreneur Dorothy Brunson and Scott Donahoo, the former owner of a chain of car dealerships, will head the commission, Pugh said.
Pugh said she would release some parts of a plan to lower property taxes in the coming week, but that the total plan would likely not be completed before the September primary.
Pugh is the latest challenger to Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake to declare lowering the city's property tax rate -- twice that of surrounding jurisdictions -- a priority. Former city planning director Otis Rolley III, Greater Baltimore Board of Realtors Joseph T. "Jody" Landers and City Councilman Carl Stokes have all stressed that lowering the rate will attract new residents to the city.
Rawlings-Blake has formed a task force to draw up a 10-year financial plan for the city. She has said she hopes to reduce property taxes over time, but characterizes her challengers' promises of immediate property tax reduction as unrealistic.
Donahoo, who had considered a mayoral bid last year, said that he had decided to support Pugh after learning about her goals and plans for the city. Brunson is the former owner of a media company and a longtime Pugh supporter.
After the press conference, one of the block's few remaining residents denounced the Housing Authority of Baltimore City for trying to spur her to move. Willinette Williams said she had rented her home from the HABC for 39 years and raised 11 kids there.
"This is my home. I've been here all my years," said Williams, tears trickling down her cheeks. "It's not fair."
Comments
Yet another democrat who recognizes the need for change on this front.
This is going to be a big issue for Baltimore no matter who gets elected. The only difference will be how big the cuts are and how they are made.
But this will happen. Hopefully.
Posted by: John J. Walters | June 10, 2011 12:06 PM
Another commission? Really?? In 2007 Landers led a commission to do THE SAME THING. We need action not study. At least Landers has a plan, not a plan to make a plan.
Posted by: John Borden | June 10, 2011 12:41 PM
Hmmm..Landers chaired a commission in 2007 regarding cutting property taxes and nothing came of it??? That doesn't say alot about his leadership.
At least Pugh understands that to be an effective mayor she will need to have smart people around her to help her reach her goals. Landers may have a plan, but if he doesn't do anything with it, it doesn't do the people of Baltimore any good.
Posted by: Michael Deleaver | June 10, 2011 1:26 PM
How about we don't elect her in the first place? If she can't detail how she's going to come up with the savings to be able to carry this out, then we shouldn't give her the chance in the first place.
Posted by: IPFrehley | June 10, 2011 2:20 PM
Just get slots up and running and stop trying to rake the developers over the coals and get more revenue flowing.
Posted by: FANN | June 10, 2011 3:26 PM
Landers co-chaired a Commission created by then Mayor Sheila Dixon that came up with a solid plan to reduce property taxes. Such is the nature of commissions, no matter how feasible their plan may be, if the political will is not there to implement it won't happen. There is no doubt in my mind that Landers as Mayor will be a man of action not a man of let's study it just one more time.....
Posted by: Whirled Peas | June 10, 2011 4:46 PM
If she was that into it, wouldn't she have tried to initiate this proposal a while ago? This can't be a "ah-hah" moment for her, could it? She's groping for ideas and votes, pure and simple. She is clueless as to how this would be accomplished, and is about as "refreshing" as a stale piece of bread.
Come on, Cathy, what is your motivation at this moment in time? Had you made a big push for this in the past, it might be believeable as genuine. But at this moment, you are simply grabbing for any ideas for votes, without any ideas in reference to making such a plan doable. If this is your big platform, you're already in trouble.
Posted by: Pierre | June 10, 2011 4:55 PM
Yet another politician making big promises based on pure BS. How on earth will you pay the bills, when you cut the revenue? THAT is the question.
Posted by: Shane | June 10, 2011 5:55 PM
Hire me to do a "study" on anything you want. I'll take a cool million.
What do you want to study to find? I'll say yes or no, it don't matter, just gimmie that consulting pay.
Posted by: Anonymous | June 11, 2011 3:26 PM
Unfortunately all of the proposals I have seen for a reduction in the property tax rate will not help. Ms. Williams or most of the people who live in East Baltimore as the reduction would only apply o home owner occupied properties. As usual the poor end up paying most of the taxes.
Posted by: Michael G | June 11, 2011 11:28 PM