LEONARDTOWN, Md. – St. Mary’s County Commissioners held a joint public meeting with Maryland State Delegates Matt Morgan and Jerry Clark and Senator Jack Bailey on Tuesday night.

They met to discuss 13 legislative proposals the county would like to see go before state legislature. Important items on the agenda included a proposed excise tax for new construction and a repeal of St. Mary’s County’s open meeting laws.

Questions About New Taxes

The proposed excise tax would replace a development fee on new residential construction with a tax on both residential and commercial construction. 

The commissioners noted the new legislation would offer greater flexibility on how the money was spent. 

Delegate Morgan expressed concern that now was not a good time to add an additional tax on commercial development. “I think this is a bad time to look at raising taxes on commercial with COVID and everything. Some of those projects are a little strapped and they’re looking at canceling.  What I would suggest is putting it some time out in the future, to 2022 or 2023, if that works.”

Morgan said he would also like to see a schedule of proposed fees. Delegate Clark asked if the county intended to spend the money on roads, schools, solid waste, and water and sewer infrastructure.

Senator Bailey questioned a proposed hike in the county’s accommodation tax. “Why raise taxes during a pandemic? Are the hotels in St. Mary’s County full now?”

Open Meeting Law Repeal

Delegate Morgan also had concerns about a plan to repeal St. Mary’s County’s open meeting law and instead abide by the state law.

St. Mary’s County Attorney David A. Weiskopf explained that following both the county and state open meeting laws can make simple matters more complicated. St. Mary’s County passed the first open meeting law in the state back in 1976. The Maryland open meeting law was not passed until the following year.

Morgan said he was apprehensive about the move. “I’m very conscious of the historical precedence.  I realize it might be cumbersome and some of the motions you have to go through.” He said he feared that the state might make changes to their open meeting law and he preferred the security of knowing the county had measures in place to protect transparency.

Bond Authority

The delegates and the senator also questioned the proposal to give the county an additional $34.7 million in bonding authority.  Delegate Clark pointed out that the county already had $99 million in bonding authority approved for other projects that have not yet been realized.

Golf Cart Rules

A proposal to permit golf carts on Old Horse Landing Road in Mechanicsville drew the most public comment for the night, all of it positive. 

While Delegate Mason was supportive of the idea, he thought a better approach might be to give the county authority to make decisions about golf carts without the need to consult the state legislature. 

Little Public Interest

The public meeting drew few comments from the public. People could attend in person, comment over the phone, or submit a video clip.

No one submitted a video and there were only two phone calls. Both calls expressed support of the golf cart proposal. 

Three citizens spoke in person. The matter most concerning to them was the possible repeal of the open meeting law. None of them thought it was a good idea.

Difficult Year in Annapolis

Delegates Matt Morgan and Jerry Clark and Senator Jack Bailey cautioned the commissioners that it would be a difficult year in Annapolis.

Morgan said, “I’m not sure how this is going to function under COVID. They are significantly backed up.  We’ve been directed many times they only want to take apart the necessary legislation.”

Bailey agreed. “As we get to Annapolis this year, things aren’t going to be the same as they were in the past.  You’re going to have to bear with it. We don’t even know if we’re going to have bond initiatives. It’s all going to be a work in progress.”

You can view the entire meeting by clicking here.