On February 14, 2023, MACo Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally testified before the House Ways and Means Committee in support of HB 0508 – Property Tax Credit – Disabled Law Enforcement Officers and Rescue Workers – Definition and Eligibility.
The bill alters the eligibility criteria of an existing local option property tax credit by requiring local governments to define, by law, who is a law enforcement officer or rescue worker for the purpose of the credit.
MACo generally supports legislation that provides broad authority to enact tax incentives for revitalization and tax relief purposes and welcomes the opportunity to work with state policymakers to develop flexible and optional tools to create broad or targeted tax incentives. Counties prefer the approach offered by HB 508 as it provides local autonomy to determine the best way to provide these incentives rather than those that mandate reductions in local revenue sources.
From the MACo Testimony:
Current law enables local governments to grant a property tax credit for an eligible disabled law enforcement officer or rescue worker, surviving spouse, or a cohabitant. Additionally, local governments may provide, by law, for the amount and duration of the credit and, if necessary, additional eligibility criteria. By granting counties full flexibility to determine eligibility for the credit, HB 508 will allow each jurisdiction that chooses to enact the credit to tailor it to their specific community needs. Additionally, it gives each county broad discretion to determine how much revenue it is willing to forego to provide the desirable benefits enabled by the bill.
The Senate Budget and Taxation Committee will consider the bill’s cross-file, SB 0435, on February 22.
More on MACo’s Advocacy:
Learn more about MACo’s 2023 Legislative Initiatives
Read more General Assembly News on MACo’s Conduit Street blog