Advocate of Property Tax Reform to Speak in Cambridge

LeRoy Whiteley of Marylanders for Fair Property Taxation will be guest speaker at the December 14 meeting of the Mid-Shore Chapter of Americans for Prosperity in Cambridge. Whitely will discuss MFPT's proposed legislation to bring about property tax reform through changes in the assessment and appeal process, caps on tax rates, and taxpayer education. He will also give an overview of the appeal process describing what actually takes place in the three levels of appealing and give tips on preparing for the appeal. "The property tax assessment procedures and appeals process are in desperate need of change," said Whiteley.

The topic of property tax reform is a follow-up to Mid-Shore AFP's previous meeting in which a representative of the Maryland Dept. of Assessments and Taxation provided information to property owners about Maryland's current assessment, taxation, and appeal process.

"Maryland will begin its July 2010 Fiscal Year with a shortfall of two billion dollars or more in the budget, thus counties and municipalities will receive less money from revenue sharing. It is speculated that counties will make up the shortfall in revenue from another tax source, most likely higher property taxes or some new tax," said Maureen Harper, Co-Chair of Mid-Shore AFP. "At a time of double-digit unemployment rates, increases or new taxes of any kind would be a catastrophic burden to residents and businesses."

The meeting will be held on Monday, December 14, 6:30 p.m., in the meeting room of the Dorchester County Library in Cambridge and is open to the public. For information, visit www.afpmaryland.com or call 410-221-7933.