The County Commissioners of Somerset County this year were teetering on whether or not to reduce the property tax rate. This was coming on the heels of a .10 property tax increase by the city of Princess Anne. Area citizens decided not to take a chance and rallied outside of the County Commissioners meeting. The Commissioners promptly, without discussion, voted for the .02 reduction in the property tax rate.
During the public comments exchange we had a verbal promise by the Commissioners that they would be seeking constant yield for Somerset. Constant yield is the concept that the tax rate adjusts with assessments such that the total amount of money received to the County (or whatever level of govt.) stays the same. If property assessments go up, the tax rate should decrease. As assessments decrease, tax rates should go up.
Unfortunately the State of Maryland controls the assessment rates. There lies the problem of local and county municipalities having the opportunity to take advantage of tax payers as they don’t adjust the tax rate. They claim they are not raising taxes. It’s a back door tax and elected officials are wrong for using a smokescreen.
This is nothing more than the typical tax and spend by local “big government”. With the status of the economy, both nationally and locally, people cannot afford these increased loads on their backs. Tax payers have bills upon bills to pay and are many are trying just to get by.
Remedying the situation requires all taxpayers watch carefully what your local elected officials do and to let the State know that property assessments need to be fair. It does not help anyone when the State gives out unfair assessments to increase revenue. Appealing your assessment is a process that most often results in little or no change to your assessed property value.
Americans for Prosperity Maryland applauds the Somerset Commissioners for helping to stop the bleeding and pledging their support to work towards a fair constant yield rate. Our local chapter in Somerset looks forward to working with the Commissioners to improve Somerset County.
Property Tax Assessment information can be found -http://www.dat.state.md.us/sdatweb/taxassess.html
Nick Loffer
Nick is the Field Director for Maryland and a current resident of Princess Anne and can be reached at nick@afpmaryland.com www.afpmaryland.com
Americans for Prosperity Maryland is a non partisan and non-profit free market and limited government advocacy group.
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
9 comments:
Seeking constant yield? How about a promise to maintain or lower constant yield rate. With 4 of the 5 commissioners being democrats, I doubt this will happen. It's time for a party change in Somerset.
Somerset purchased a marina with tax $$$$.
Somerset purchased a park in the country for an agricultural rural county with tax $$$$$$$.
Somerset is planning to build a museum to house ag artifacts with tax $$$$$$$$$.
Somerset certainly doesn't need another park or ball field. Certainly not one that is too far for kids from either Crisfield or PA to reach by bikes.
Fiscal responsibility?
lift the revenue tax in wico and it will happen to us! Taxes will sky rocket due to unnecessary spending!
The park is in a bad location if it was meant for kids to use.Not only is it too far from PA or Crisfield for kids to get to,there is alot of heavy traffic on Route 413 in that corrider-they should have invested in existing locations like the Youth Club in Crisfield or Hayward Park in PA.
Sorry blutojthetotmon, but maybe they shouldn't be "investing" in anything. Haven't you heard the country, state, county, and cities are broke! Investment to me is making money. Government buying real estate is wasting tax payers dollars. No taxes will ever be collected on the lands purchased by the government. It's a total waste and the sooner the taxpayers realize this the better off they will be. Demand no more wastefull spending on anything.
Stop spending and there will be no need to raise taxes. Citizens should be holding politicians accountable and demand lower taxes. I agree the democrats are spending us into oblivion. Every one from Obama to O'Malley to the local commissioners are spending money like there is no tomorrow. This must stop 'now'. Next election is near and change is in the wind.
They will NEVER stop spending....not even to responsible limits. Their all like headstrong teens...take their money away if they wont listen, stop paying taxes immediately, they cant lock every one up!
The new county ballfields are on Long family property, so draw your own conclusions about that. As for the taxes and tax rate, watch what you wish for. Somerset County gets a few million dollars through a state disparity grant, which if Somerset didn't get it, the taxes would be significantly more. Remember there are a lot of state woods and wetlands around the county that don't pay a penny in taxes, so the local tax base would be squeezed hard if it wasn't for the disparity grant. If you really want to complain about taxes, start at Princess Anne town hall. Tax bills there are higher than the county's.
Taxation is nothing less than theft!
Get rid of the corruption, theft, graft, and political patronage and you could reduce taxes by half!
Make them open the books for DETAILED public review!
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