Taxes and Revenues Archives

General Assembly Nixes Outdated, Confusing Constant Yield Tax Law

In a significant win for local governments and taxpayers alike, the Maryland General Assembly approved legislation to eliminate the antiquated, inefficient, and confusing constant yield tax law and instead provide constituents with a more efficient, accurate, and transparent overview of local policy decisions and deliberations. The constant yield concept is that, as assessments rise, the tax rate should drop so that the revenue derived from the property tax stays constant from one year to the…

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April 11, 2023

County News / Feature / General Assembly News / News You Can Use / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Taxes and Revenues

General Assembly Passes County-Friendly Budget

The Maryland General Assembly passed a $63 billion fiscal 2024 budget, which provides $11.5 billion in aid to local governments — more than $1 billion over fiscal 2023. The funding increase is driven primarily by an additional $811 million for K-12 education/libraries. The budget does not shift any costs to county governments. It fully funds all state-mandated spending formulas, including increases for community colleges, highway user revenues, local health departments, and county disparity grants. Highlights…

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April 4, 2023

Cannabis / Planning and Zoning / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Taxes and Revenues

Cannabis Bills Moving – Local Revenue Share Remains Smallest in Nation

Both the House and Senate have advanced a version of the broad Cannabis Reform legislation anticipated to pass this session - and while different, both bills would provide far less revenue to support local government implementation than any other State that has followed the path of state-level legalization for adult use cannabis. Two bills were cross-filed to effect Cannabis Reform - and both have advanced through their initial committees, representing two differing views on licensing,…

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March 30, 2023

County Budgets / County News / Education / Feature / General Assembly News / News You Can Use / Taxes and Revenues

Conduit Street Podcast — County Budgets: The Annapolis Effects

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March 24, 2023

Education / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Taxes and Revenues

Supplemental Budget Proposed: Funds Disparity Grants, Updates Education Funding

Governor Moore has introduced a first Supplemental budget for FY24 - notably recognizing updated information on taxable income by county, which drives multiple funding formulas affecting counties and school systems. Supplemental Budget #1 was introduced Friday, March 3 - and is the first adjustment to the Governor's proposed budget. Under Maryland law, the Governor may revise the proposed budget through this supplemental process, as many times as desired, but the General Assembly must receive and…

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March 8, 2023

News You Can Use / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Taxes and Revenues

This Week: Board of Revenue Estimates to Vote on Revised Fiscal Forecast

The Board of Revenue Estimates (BRE) will hold a virtual meeting on Thursday, March 9, to vote on the revised general fund revenue estimates for fiscal years 2023 and 2024. The three-member panel, which includes Comptroller Brooke Lierman, State Treasurer Dereck Davis, and Secretary of Budget and Management Helene Grady, is responsible for estimating state revenues to manage the State’s budget. The forecasts for the current fiscal year and the one that begins in July…

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March 7, 2023

MACo Testimony / Taxes and Revenues

Counties Urge Fair, Equitable Taxation for Home Amenity Rentals

On March 2, 2023, MACo Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally testified before the House Ways and Means Committee in support of HB 1064 - Home Amenity Rentals - Sales and Use Tax Imposed and Local Tax Authorized with amendments. This bill requires "home amenity rental intermediaries" or "home amenity rental platforms" – facilitators coordinating the sale or use of a home amenity between guests and hosts – to collect and remit specified state and local taxes.…

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March 2, 2023

General Assembly News / MACo Testimony / Taxes and Revenues

MACo Supports Bill to Deter Baseless Commercial, Industrial Property Tax Appeals

On February 28, 2023, MACo Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally testified before the House Ways and Means Committee in support of HB 896 - Property Tax Appeals - Commercial and Industrial Property - Fees. This bill applies reasonable fees for commercial and industrial property tax appeals under specified circumstances. This bill makes meaningful progress toward eliminating a means of tax evasion that benefits commercial and industrial property owners at the expense of other property owners and…

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March 1, 2023

General Assembly News / MACo Testimony / Taxes and Revenues

Counties Support Expanding Access to Property Tax Relief

On February 28, 2023, MACo Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally testified before the House Ways and Means Committee in support of HB 898 - Property Tax - Renters' Property Tax Relief and Homeowners' Property Tax Credit Programs - Eligibility and Credit Amount. This bill expands eligibility for specified property tax relief programs by increasing income thresholds used to determine eligibility for the property tax credits. The bill also requires the Maryland State Department of Assessments and…

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March 1, 2023

General Assembly News / MACo Testimony / Taxes and Revenues

MACo Supports Flexibility for SDAT, Urges Proper Guardrails

On February 28, 2023, MACo Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally testified before the House Ways and Means Committee to support HB 1095 - Property Tax - Supervisors of Assessments - Alterations with amendments. This bill authorizes the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) to appoint a supervisor of assessments to oversee multiple counties. As current law requires a supervisor for each county, MACo urges amendments to require each affected county's governing body to sign off…

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March 1, 2023