City, county lawmakers divided on tax proposals

Divided over Gov. Martin O?Malley?s proposal to close the state?s $1.7 billion structural deficit, Baltimore?s General Assembly members are meeting in last-ditch attempts to reach consensus before the special session begins next week.

State senators and delegates from the county and city will meet over the rest of this week to unify their stances on a proposed penny increase in Maryland?s sales tax, a restructured income tax, and a yet-to-be-drafted slots bill. Several lawmakers from the county said they will refuse to support any tax increases but are open to the “right” slots bill, while legislators from the city voiced the opposite.