On February 11, Director of Intergovernmental Relations Dominic Butchko testified before the Environment and Transportation Committee in support of HB 698 – Local Government – Development Impact Fees, Surcharges, and Excise Taxes – Reporting with amendments.
This bill requires counties to report certain data on the collection and use of impact fees. MACo amendments seek to make the requirements implementable across all 24 counties.
Counties recognize the intent of HB 698 in the interests of both transparency and good governance. The core concern is that counties do not track impact fees by “legislative, councilmanic, or commissioner district.”
Unlike in states such as California, Maryland counties must go through an analysis to determine appropriate levels of fees and these decisions are subject to judicial review. Additionally, counties are required to use the revenue generated in the impacted geographic area.
HB 698’s cross-file, SB 814, was heard on March 4 in the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee. Dominic Butchko testified in support of this bill with amendments.
SB 814 was heard in the opposite chamber, the Environment and Transportation Committee, on March 25. MACo submitted written testimony in support of this bill with amendments.
HB 698 was heard in the opposite chamber, the Budget and Taxation Committee, on March 27. MACo submitted written testimony in support of this bill with amendments.
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