Baker seeks more tools for redevelopment

Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker is asking the Maryland General Assembly for the authority to grant partial property tax breaks to developers, just months after securing a $50 million fund designed to draw business to the county.

The Prince George’s County delegation plans to submit a bill at Baker’s request that will allow county officials to waive some property taxes to developments in an effort to add jobs and grow the county’s tax base. Rather than pay tax on the redeveloped property, developers could agree to pay a smaller sum to the county for up to 25 years, according to Thomas Himler, the county’s deputy chief administrative officer for budget, finance and administration.