La Plata, MD – Charles County will have a transfer tax beginning in August.

The Charles County Commissioners voted 3-2 Wednesday, June 24 to impose a transfer tax of one-half of one percent on homeowners who sell their property.

County leaders who voted for the measure said it was necessary to balance the budget.

The decision came after two hours of contentious, at times raucous imploring on the part of the real estate community to not impose what they say would be an extra burden on homeowners who want to sell their homes.

Some said it gives the county the appearance of being business unfriendly. Others proffered that it represents an anti-growth initiative. Others were just plain angry.

“Forty-five percent of homeowners walked away from their home because they couldn’t afford to sell it,” claimed one realtor, noting that the transfer tax would be an added burden people just can’t pay.

Tom Ernest of La Plata called the proposal a “narrow tax.”

“Only property owners and their buyers will pay this tax,” he said. “When is enough enough? Where is the common sense in raising the highest taxes in the state even higher?”

Doug Meeker of Charlotte Hall called it, “an unstable and unpredictable funding source.”

Brenda Dyer, also of Charlotte Hall and representing the Maryland Land Title Association, said the new tax would force homeowners out of the county.

“I didn’t vote for any of you,” Carl Brown of Welcome told the commissioners. “The Democrats are the party of tax and spend. If your residents leave Maryland and go to another state, how many tax dollars will Charles get?”

“This bill will be catastrophic,” said Shauna Smallwood of Waldorf.

Adrian Broadnax told the commissioners she would love to stay in La Plata.

“I would love to stay in Charles County, but I can’t afford to,” she said.

“It boggles my mind that you could even contemplate another tax,” said Tom Desalba, who ran against Commissioner President Peter Murphy in the November election. “It blows me away. Tax and spend, that’s all you have. We can’t stand another tax. You need to step up and say no for once.”

“You’re not only living beyond your means, you’re living beyond our means,” Ken Hastings from the Charles County side of Mechanicsville stated.

“We’re real people with real lives,” said Jackie Alexander of La Plata. “It’s totally unfair.”

Once public comment was done, however, roll call was made of each commissioner as they voted. Commissioners Debra Davis and Bobby Rucci voted against the measure, while Murphy, Commissioner Vice President Ken Robinson and Commissioner Amanda Stewart all voted in favor.

Rucci asked after the vote if the language in the bill could be changed to 120 days and allow first-time homebuyers to be exempt, but County Administrator Michael Mallinoff told the board the motion would have to be made by someone who voted in the majority.

Robinson offered to delay the start until Oct. 1, but Rucci said, “That wouldn’t do any good,” so the measure stood, passed by the 3-2 vote. It goes into effect Aug. 7.

Contact Joseph Norris at joe.norris@thebaynet.com