The MACo staff gave testimony this week on the following bills:

February 12, 2013:

• SB 302: Environment – Water Pollution Control – Reporting and Penalties testimony

• SB 289: Environment – Water Pollution Control – Penalty testimony

MACo and MML opposed these two bills, citing concerns that increased fines and penalties against wastewater system operators mainly serves to deplete resources that could otherwise be directed toward needed remediation or repairs.

February 13, 2013

• SB 227: Tax Sales – Redemption of Property – Taxes, Interest, and Penalties testimony

MACo opposed legislation that could undermine the effectiveness of the tax sale process, and hold no party responsible for ongoing taxes after a tax sale certificate has been sold.

• HB 293: Construction Contracts Awarded by Public Bodies – Retention of Percentage as Security testimony

Counties raised concerns that reduced retainage limits on public projects could weaken counties’ position ensuring that taxpayer funded projects are completed thoroughly and effectively.

• HB 484: Maryland Open Meetings Act – Enforcement Authority testimony

MACo opposed heightened sanctions against public bodies for even technical violations of the state’s open meetings act.

• SB 251: Personal Property Tax – Depreciation of Assessed Value testimony

MACo cited massive fiscal effects arising from the proposed statutorily-mandated depreciation schedule for personal property.

• SB 202: Recordation and Transfer Taxes – Transfer of Property Between Related Entities – Exemption testimony

MACo raised concerns with the broad bill that could allow corporate-owned properties to become isolated into less structured entities, raising concerns about the validity of land use records and an opening for tax avoidance techniques.

• HB 229: State Aid for Public Education – Certification of Net Taxable Income testimony

MACo supported legislation to phase in a more accurate date of finality for calculating county wealth, affecting state education formulas.

February 14, 2013

• HB 419: Personal Property Tax – Liens for Unpaid Tax testimony

MACo opposed legislation that would eliminate the priority status of tax liens against property – reducing the likelihood of tax repayment occurring if places behind claims of other creditors or lienholders.

• HB 128: Homestead Tax Credit – Eligibility Verification and Application – Extension testimony

MACo recommended that an extension to the Homestead Credit application process for one year would avoid troubling administrative consequences on both counties and the state assessment offices. The one year extension should allow the Department to resolve its many late applications, and avoid undue burdens on homeowners properly receiving this credit.

• HB 372: Recordation and Transfer Taxes – Transfer of Property Between Related Entities – Exemption testimony

MACo raised concerns with the broad bill that could allow corporate-owned properties to become isolated into less structured entities, raising concerns about the validity of land use records and an opening for tax avoidance techniques.

• HB 1223: Homestead Property Tax Credit – Eligibility Verification and Application – Extension and Notice testimony

MACo supported a one year extension of the Homestead application, see HB 128 above.

To see online versions of MACo’s written testimony from the 2013 legislative session, click here.