With the self-imposed deadline only weeks away, the Charles County Commissioners got to listen to their constituents in regard to the proposed FY2015 budget, and as usual, they got an earful. Citizens apparently disgusted with rising tax rates say people are leaving Charles County for a place “where they can still afford to live.”
The commissioners are considering a proposal from staff to increase the constant yield tax rate from $1.205 per $100 of assessment to $1.221. The commissioners voted to set the date, time and place where they would establish the tax rate and will meet Tuesday, May 20 at 6 p.m. in La Plata to determine whether or not they will raise taxes, not something considered prudent during an election year.
The evening opened with a public hearing on the proposed constant yield tax rate, an event which drew most of the ire of taxpayers.
Collins Bailey, a former candidate for public office, told the commissioners, “Charles County has the highest property tax rate of any county in the state. People in the county are hurting and struggling with the current economy. I would implore you with the current funding problems to not put an additional burden on our citizens and reduce the tax, not raise the tax.”
“You are pricing us out of our homes,” said Barbara Perry. “Do you see all the empty homes in Charles County? You did it to us. People have moved to King George, Virginia, because they can’t afford to live in this county.
“We need to cut back on our spending,” Perry said sternly. “These are hard times. We can’t expect to live in our homes and pass them onto our children, because they won’t be able to pay the taxes. It’s gotta stop. We can’t continue to pay for your wish list with our taxes.”
Tom LeSabla echoed Perry’s statements. “I know you have a projected shortfall,” LeSabla told the commissioners. “Yes, the county is growing, but it’s not growing to the extent that the taxes are growing.”
Beverly Johnson said she and her husband moved to Charles County from New York in 2002. “At that time, the state rate was one-fifth of what we were paying in 2013,” Johnson said. “Property taxes more than doubled in 12 years, far surpassing what we were paying in New York.”
Johnson said she and her husband were considering relocation. “We’re starting to look at where else we can possibly be, because it’s not here,” she said.
“For over 30 years, I’ve been a tax paying citizen of Charles County,” noted Steve Mattingly. “If you move to raise taxes this year like you’re proposing, it will be the fourth time in four years you’ve raised the tax rate on the citizens of Charles County. Who will buy my house when they have to pay 35-40 percent in property taxes? Have the courage to make the hard cuts.”
“Charles County is the highest taxed county in the state,” Jim Crawford reaffirmed. “Surely as commissioners you can figure out some way, instead of taking the baseline budget and just adding more projects every year. Take a good red line pencil and where there is duplication, make the proper decision and get the stigma of being the highest taxed county in the state off my back.”
Finance Director David Eicholtz noted that the constant yield tax rate, “is always a very confusing topi
