On the heels of the Baltimore City Council?s decision not to cut the city?s tax rate for the recent 2009 budget, the Special Committee for Property Tax Relief is being created by City Council President Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and is charged with finding new ways to cut the region?s highest property taxes in preparation for next year.
“This has been a challenge for decades, but the key question is how can we make the city affordable now,” said Ryan O?Doherty, spokesman for Rawlings-Blake.
“It?s something the council needs to tackle now.”
The new committee?s chairman, City Councilman William Cole IV, said he would be studying both new sources of revenues and cutting expenses.
“I believe that there are ample opportunities for cost savings,” he said and added the committee would seek new sources of revenue without raising taxes.
“We need to examine our fee structure and see if we?re charging the same as other jurisdictions for permits,” he said, adding he also would examine property owners who rent and do not qualify for a homestead property tax cap.
“The most frequent calls I get are people who say, ?My next-door neighborhood is renting and getting the benefit of the property tax credit.? ”
Last year Mayor Sheila Dixon impaneled a blue ribbon tax commission to find ways to cut the city?s property tax rate. Among the group?s proposals were a regional sales tax, a commuter tax, and raising the homestead property tax cap from 4 percent to 10 percent.
O?Doherty said one of the council committee?s goals would be to work on the blue ribbon panel?s proposals.”
“It was a tremendous step in the right direction, and the committee will turn some of the panel?s ideas into concrete legislation.”
