Prince Frederick, MD – If a proposal to hike Calvert County’s property tax rate for the first time in over a generation has citizens upset, the citizens are managing their anger well. In a press release dated April 28, county government officials announced “modest increases in the county income tax rate and property tax rate.”
The property tax hike would kick in this July 1, the beginning of fiscal year (FY) 2017. The property tax rate would go from .892 per $100 of assessed value—where it has been since 1987—to .952 per $100 of assessed value. County government officials stated Calvert would still have the ninth-lowest property tax rate in Maryland.
Under the proposal, the local income tax rate would jump from 2.8 percent to 3 percent and would take effect Jan. 1, 2017, meaning it would not impact 2016 income tax returns. Calvert’s income tax rate hasn’t been hiked since 2004. The county government press release stated the rate jump “would place Calvert County near the state average and in line regionally with Charles and St. Mary’s counties.”
County leaders have cited a mounting budget shortfall projected for FY 2017 as the reason the revenue enhancements are needed.
So far, any criticism of the tax increase proposal has been largely confined to social media. During the county commissioners’ Tuesday, May 3 meeting no public comment was offered. At the Tuesday, May 10 meeting the county commissioners actually heard from someone who indicated support for the increases.
“I’m sure you will take some flak for this,” said Port Republic resident Klaus Zwilsky. “As far as I’m concerned I think you did the right thing.” Zwilsky indicated that by avoiding huge cuts in county government services, he saw the rate increases as a way “to preserve the quality of life.”
Calvert Commissioners’ President Evan K. Slaughenhoupt Jr. [R – District 3] reminded Zwilsky and the viewing public that the rate increase proposal was not a done deal. “It’s currently an open topic,” said Slaughenhoupt. “It’s out for public consumption and input.”
The proposal to increase tax rates is likely to be the most provocative issue under discussion Tuesday evening, May 24 when the county commissioners’ proposed FY 2017 budget is presented at a public hearing. The hearing will be held at Calvert Pines Senior Center in Prince Frederick starting at 7 p.m. In early June the board will make a final decision on the next fiscal year’s budget.
During a portion of his weekly report, Commissioner Pat Nutter [R – District 2] (pictured, above) noted the many comments on Facebook about the proposed tax increases. Nutter observed that many posters believe the commissioners should get money in advance from Dominion rather than raise taxes.
As noted in the April 28 press release, “the county looks forward to additional tax revenue from the Dominion Cove Point LNG [Liquefied Natural Gas] liquefaction project. However, revenue from the expansion will not be available until fiscal year 2018.”
“Anything can happen,” said Nutter. “Whether it’s a federal detail or something—I don’t count that [money] in my head. Until it’s there I just don’t count it.”
“You can’t spend potential,” Commissioner Mike Hart [R – District 1] added.
Several locals who have weighed in on the Calvert County Government Facebook page have suggested the commissioners consider cutting spending and increasing the number of businesses instead of raising taxes.
As one St. Leonard resident stated, lower taxes “is one of the primary reasons for people to move here.”
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com
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