I am William J. Skinner, president of the Maryland Taxpayers Association. I live in Montgomery County and I did not have any trouble getting here today by car. The roads were fine. The only trouble I had was finding a place to park in Annapolis.*
As a resident of Maryland since 1971, I was here when all of the politicians in 1991 to 1993 first threatened to take away the social security payments for county teachers, then when things got bad in 1992, they did it. There were solemn promises that when the economy got better, the money would be restored.
One of the ways this money was taken from the counties was by eliminating the property tax grants to the counties from the State that were then in effect. The State said it needed all 21 cents of the State share of property tax. So much for dedicated taxes. So much for all the promises to return it when times are better.
Until Delegate Elliott and his cosponsors put in their bill, H.B. 644, this year, there had been no effort by any of the formerly promising, but now lack luster polticians to return the money.
MTA supports the idea that politicans live up to their promises. MTA supports the idea that this money be returned to the counties. This money once was important for local needs. If it is left in Annapolis, the Governor will add more state employees to the State payroll or spend on other new programs designed to please special interests that are favored from time to time.
This bill is smart. And it makes political promises something to be remembered. Thank you Delegate Elliott for thinking of the Taxpayers.
P.S. The MTA WEB site has moved to <http://www.MDTAXES.ORG> See our statement on the Inheritance Tax, the last two newsletters and some other interesting stuff. Dozens of Taxpayers find it every day. MTAPROPTX.F25
* These comments were made because two days prior, Speaker Taylor and a long line of witnesses made a pitch for $27 Billion to build roads and to pay for public transportation before the Ways & Means Committee. The members of the Appropriations Committee had not heard about this yet. Taylor wants 1% of the sales tax dedicated to transportation at 0.1% per year for 10 years. This means other funds must be found to replace the dedicated sales tax. Usually this means new taxes, since no programs are ever cut.
Prior to this bill being heard, the Committee received information about state personnel and the Department of Management and Budget (DMB). One proposal of the Legislative staff was to withdraw funds from the Council on Productivity and Management and incorporate its functions into the Department of Legislative Services. DMB secretary Fred Puddester pleaded that they keep the Council alive. I recommended that the Committee speak to members of the Council, such as MTA Chairman Emeritus John O’Neill, who has been very disappointed in the Council adopting any of his suggestions.
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