On February 26, Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally submitted written testimony to the Ways and Means Committee in opposition to HB 903 – Income Tax – Subtraction Modification – Donations to Food Banks and Other Charitable Entities.
This bill allows Maryland taxpayers to reduce their taxable income by up to $1,000 for donations of food or money made to food banks and other charities.
While counties support the goal of encouraging charitable giving and strengthening food bank partnerships, MACo opposes structuring this relief as a mandatory subtraction modification that reduces local income tax revenues without local approval.
As counties face heightened economic uncertainty, rising costs, and growing concern about federal funding instability that directly affects local budgets and service delivery, MACo urges that State tax incentives should be enacted as “local option” offerings to allow counties maximum flexibility in tailoring local policies to meet local needs and priorities. The State and its local governments already work together here, where the State routinely grants a state-level property tax credit, enabling county governments to enact their own local-option property tax credits.
In general, MACo stands for local self-determination. Counties, led by locally
elected leaders directly accountable within the communities they serve, are best positioned to govern local affairs – ranging from land use to fiscal matters. MACo steadfastly guards local autonomy and consistently opposes one-size-fits-all policies that override local decision-making.
HB 903’s cross-file, SB 935, was heard on March 4 in the Ways and Means Committee. Kevin Kinnally submitted written testimony in opposition to this bill.
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