The Cecil County Council voted unanimously to pass the fiscal 2023 budget, including additional cuts to income and property tax rates, benefiting County residents and business owners.
The approved budget delivers tax relief by cutting the real property tax rate to 1.0143 per hundred dollars and the personal property tax rate for businesses to 2.5358 per hundred dollars, representing a reduction of approximately 1.3 percent. In addition, the budget cuts the local income tax rate from 3.0 percent to 2.8 percent.
“I’m proud to announce that my administration was able to cut taxes for two years in a row,” said County Executive Danielle Hornberger. “We worked very hard to cut property taxes and income taxes all while still moving forward with the new North East school complex, investing in our children’s education, expanding library hours, public health and safety, economic development, and other services and projects to meet the growing needs of our citizens. In addition, I’d like to thank the county council for their support and unanimous approval of the FY2023 budget.”
“I was pleased that the Council could come together to support this balanced FY2023 budget. We take the budget process seriously, and I want to commend the Council for their deliberations and support.”, President Meffley.
According to a County press release:
This is the second year in a row that County Executive Danielle Hornberger’s administration has cut the property tax rate and the first time in Cecil County charter government history that the property taxes have been cut two years in a row.
This budget moves the County to the 5th lowest taxed jurisdiction for income tax in the State and the lowest for any Charter government in Maryland. This is the first time in the history of Cecil County charter government that income taxes have been cut.
The following are some highlights from the FY2023 Budget:
- Reduction of the real property tax rate by 1.3% and a decrease in income taxes by 6.7%.
- Cost-of-Living increase for County employees without raising health care premiums.
- Allocating $2 million towards a Public Safety Training Center to support law enforcement employees.
- An additional $300,000 towards the creation of a County-wide Police Accountability Board.
- The construction of a fourth Paramedic Station located north of Elkton.
- Increasing broadband infrastructure availability to over 99%.
- An increase in the overall funding for the Cecil County Library System, including salary increases for employees.
- Providing additional $665,000 towards agricultural land preservation.
- Increasing Public School System funds to $89.2 million.
- Replacing both North East Middle and North East Senior High School with a single complex.
- New secure entrance for Rising Sun Elementary school.
- Elkton Middle School roof replacement.
