An expected protest against the property tax rate in Baltimore County was instead a quiet, indoor affair at the Towson Courthouse on April 28.

In fact, only two people were seen holding protest posters for the tax issue Tuesday evening in advance of a County Council hearing on the issue.

“It’s not an unruly mob,” said Dee Hodges of Parkville, chairwoman of the Maryland Taxpayers Association and one of the protest organizers.

In the County Council chambers, Hodges, along with a dozen Baltimore County homeowners, attempted to convince the council to lower the county property tax rate by nearly 7 cents to stem the impact of rising assessments.

The county’s residential property tax rate is $1.10 per $100 of the assessed value.

County Executive Jim Smith’s proposed 2010 budget does not call for an increase in that rate. Even so, the county would generate more than $36.1 million in additional property tax revenue because assessments for properties in the county have increased.

“Assessments rise every year,” Hodges said. “If the assessments go up (the county) can keep the property tax rate the same and still get more income.”

Kevin Bruffey, of Cockeysville, was among homeowners who testified Tuesday that an increase is an increase, whether it’s from rising rates or rising assessments.

“For many property owners like myself, property taxes go up every year (because of assessments),” Bruffey said in his testimony.

This year, perhaps more than in the recent past, that fact is frustrating homeowners.
“Many people’s homes … have decreased in value, and the taxes on that property shouldn’t go up,” Hodges said in her testimony.

Diane Mahoney, a Parkville resident, agreed.

“I know darn well my house isn’t worth what it was,” she said.

Roy Wagner, who lives near Glen Arm, told the council, “Gentlemen, this is getting serious.”

“Cut all expenses across the board if need be,” Wagner told the council.

Joe Bateman, of Phoenix, said that when a small business’s revenues are down, the business owner cuts expenses.

“Why should the government be any different?” he asked the council.

Daisy Atkinson, of Reisterstown, had similar ideas.

“You need to live within your means,” she told the council.

Because the hearing was held to get public input, council members did not respond to the testimony.
 
To generate the same property tax revenue as last year, the county would have to lower the property tax rate to $1.046 per $100 of assessed value.

Before the hearing, however, Council Chairman Joseph Bartenfelder said that would be difficult to accommodate.

“Every year is a tough year (to cut property taxes). This year is as tough as any,” Bartenfelder said.

“The county is getting hit with cutbacks from the state this year,” he added. “That has to be absorbed on our budget this year.”

“If there is a silver lining people could look for as far as the county goes, it’s (that) at least there is that 4 percent cap,” Bartenfelder said. “I know it’s not the answer they’re looking for, but it is something.”

The County Council will hold several work sessions over the next two weeks and plans to adopt a budget for 2010 on May 21.

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user comments (1)

user mrjoe says...

Did you really think that Bartenfelder would give any Real answers? He is going to run for county Executive in 2010! Give it up people!

Posted 11:56 AM, 05.01.09

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