OC’s Tax Differential Request Rejected Again; City Likely To Consider Legal Options

SNOW HILL – County leaders agreed this week not to grant the Town of Ocean City’s request for a tax differential.

On Tuesday, the Worcester County Commissioners voted 6-1, with Commissioner Joe Mitrecic opposed, to continue the longtime practice of providing Ocean City, and the county’s other municipalities, with an unrestricted grant in the coming fiscal year. The decision came in spite of the Town of Ocean City’s repeated requests for a tax differential, or a tax setoff, to make up for the duplication of services that occurs between the jurisdictions.

“This motion flies in the face of what the Town of Ocean City has tried to do,” said Mitrecic, who represents Ocean City. “I believe this is going to force the Town of Ocean City’s hand in going to court about this.”

According to Harold Higgins, the county’s chief administrative officer, the debate goes back to 1999. Each year Ocean City leaders have asked the county to provide the resort with some sort of tax break to make up for the services the municipality provides its residents.

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