Barbara Zektick, Author at Conduit Street

Median Home Values Surge Throughout Maryland

Median home values are on the rise - and, in fact, are at their highest levels in 10 years, according to The Daily Record's real estate blog, Ground Up. For counties, which depend on property taxes more than any other revenue stream, this is a big deal. When looking at median sales price increases this July as compared to July 2017, Prince George's County's increased by 1.1 percent, the Baltimore metro area's increased by 2.6 percent, Montgomery's increased…

Comments Off

August 13, 2018

General Assembly News / Government Liability and Courts / Taxes and Revenues

Comptroller Swiftly Proposes Online Sales Tax Regs

Following the Supreme Court's June decision in the Wayfair case allowing states to collect sales and use taxes on purchases made online, the Comptroller's office swiftly submitted draft emergency regulations providing a conceptual framework for what would trigger collection of such taxes here in Maryland. The regulations could take effect as early as the end of this month. The regulations would subject online sales transactions to the State's 6 percent sales and use tax if…

Comments Off

August 10, 2018

Economic Development / Planning and Zoning / Summer Conference

What’s Next for City Dock?

Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley plans to revitalize City Dock - and the editors of the Capital Gazette think it's about time. They point out in an editorial published Wednesday that they have reported on the need for a new vision for City Dock for years. While the nuts and bolts of that vision may have shifted with time, the concept has remained the same: revitalization should both honor Annapolis' rich cultural history while also providing unique open…

Comments Off

August 8, 2018

County News / Elections / Public Safety and Corrections / Taxes and Revenues

When Blue Go Red…

The Baltimore County Council voted on Monday night to table the idea of giving public safety officers a property tax break if they live and work within the county - making the county the first in Maryland to consider, and then reject, authorizing the credit. According to The Baltimore Sun: Council members voted 4-3 along party lines to table the measure, effectively defeating it. [Bill sponsor Council Member Wade] Kach and Republicans voted against tabling the…

Comments Off

August 7, 2018

Public Safety and Corrections / Taxes and Revenues

Baltimore County Considers Granting Public Safety Tax Credit

Baltimore County is the latest of a handful of Maryland counties to consider granting its public safety officers a property tax break if they live within the county, reports The Baltimore Sun. The County Council will consider enacting the tax credit of up to $2,500 for eligible officers on Monday. The County estimates that the credit, if passed, would cost the County approximately $5.3 million annually, once fully phased in. Baltimore City and Howard and Anne…

Comments Off

August 6, 2018

County Budgets / County News / Finance and Procurement / News You Can Use / Taxes and Revenues

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About…

...tax liens! Learn it, right here in Maryland, this fall! The National Tax Lien Association (NTLA) is holding its annual conference for tax collectors, lien purchasers, and mere lien aficionados at the The Gaylord Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor on Wednesday, October 24 and Thursday, October 25, 2018. And, since this target audience likely minds their wallets, there is an early bird discount for those who register before the end of August. Click here…

Comments Off

August 6, 2018

County News / Environment / Finance and Procurement / News You Can Use / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Transportation and Public Works

State Proposes Volkswagen Remediation Spending Plan, $12M for Counties

The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) has a plan to spend an additional $76 million on specific projects to reduce diesel emissions from the transportation sector - and it plans to make about $12 million of those funds available to counties. In 2015, the federal government found Volkswagen AG liable for violations of the Clean Air Act, because from 2009 to 2016, the company sold diesel vehicles with devices installed that allowed for illegal…

Comments Off

August 3, 2018

County News / Economic Development

Harford Gets New BRAC Zone

The Maryland Department of Commerce has designated an 855-acre portion of Harford County, in Edgewood, as a Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Zone - making additional infrastructure funding available to Harford County. The new zone includes the north side of the MARC railroad line bordering Aberdeen Proving Ground South, accessible by Route 755 to the east, U.S. Route 40 to the north, and to the west along Route 24 to Trimble Road and Fulfillment Drive. Harford…

Comments Off

August 3, 2018

County News / Education / Employee Benefits and Relations / Transportation and Public Works

Carroll Concerned Over School Bus Driver Shortage

Carroll County has a shortage of school bus drivers going into the new school year - and the blame is placed on the new sick leave law. Mike Hardesty, director of transportation with Carroll County Public Schools, told the Carroll County Times that the next school year will probably suffer from a shortage of drivers, due to the Maryland Healthy Working Families Act. The contractors who work with the school system have indicated that they…

Comments Off

August 2, 2018

County News / Environment / Health and Human Services / Summer Conference / Transportation and Public Works

Maybe Stay Away From the Bay Today (July 31)…

A little over a hundred years ago, Baltimore City finally completed construction of its wastewater system - and, since it was one of the last East Coast sewer systems to come to fruition, it was one of the most modern of the day. This means that, unlike in other East Coast cities with even older systems, not all of the stormwater gets combined with sewage and dumped into the water. Even so, when the City…

Comments Off

July 31, 2018