Annapolis Mayor Ellen Moyer said in a City Council address Monday night that Annapolis is Anne Arundel County?s main attraction ? and it?s time for the state and county to pitch in for the city?s maintenance.
The county currently brings in $1.5 billion in visitor money for the state yearly, according to the state Department of Business and Economic Development.
Moyer told The Examiner Tuesday that Annapolis is the reason why.
“We are internationally known ? we are nationally known because we are a historic landmark, and we?re a state landmark,” Moyer said.
Moyer called on the state?s Finance Department Monday night to investigate exactly how much of the visitor money generated in Anne Arundel County comes from Annapolis. She says she suspects it?s a high amount.
“We want to establish what our value is,” Moyer said.
Moyer said having this knowledge puts Annapolis in a better spot to lobby for money from the state, the county and other entities.
“We would use it legislatively in trying to boost the support that we get from the state,” Moyer said.
In her address Monday night, Moyer said the costs of hosting the 4 million visitors the city gets annually is borne by the residents of Annapolis, and that some of the city?s costs should be shared “among all those who benefit from them.”
The city specifically wants to share the costs of street cleanup, shuttle services and sidewalk improvement.
Those pitching in could include the county or institutions in the city, such as St. John?s University.
Since much of the property in Annapolis is tax-exempt, the city instead gets grants from the state. According to estimates from the mayor?s office, Annapolis currently gets about $367,000 from the state in lieu of taxes, but Moyer says this amount is well below the cost of services.
