County Council members said the countywide tax cap is here to stay, but some members said an increase in impact fees for developers may be one way to raise the necessary funds to make critical infrastructure improvements.
“I think the next county executive and the next council will have to take a serious look at growth management and methodology,”said Council Member Ronald Dillon, whose district includes some of the fastest-growing regions around Baltimore City. “I think the tradeoff for increasing the impact fees is that the developer?s projects don?t get held up because of infrastructure.”
For growth associated with the recent base realignment and closure decisions, the county can apply for financial assistance from the federal government. For other projects, the county is on its own.
Longtime Council Member Bill Burlison said the tax cap would remain in place unless the voters changed their minds.
“If things get bad enough with respect to a shortage of funds for transportation and schools, then ultimately the cap will have to be removed,” he said. “To remove the cap, I think it?ll take a grassroots citizens movement to do that.”
Mike Caruthers, president of Somerset Construction Co., said the county?s rules and regulations for development weren?t an obstacle to construction.
“No matter what the rules are, as long as you know what they are, we can all live with them,” he said.
