The forecast for Tuesday in Bel Air calls for sunny skies, a high of 86 degrees, and a near-100 percent likelihood of a serious tax revolt.

The Harford County Council is holding a public hearing on the tax assessment cap Tuesday night and a half-dozen tax-reducing, tax-repealing, tax-revolting groups have already mobilized their supporters to show up with signs in hand and revolution in mind.

For those keeping track, the Marylanders for Fair Property Taxation, Taxed Enough Already (TEA) Party, Americans for Prosperity, Campaign for Liberty, and the Institute on the Constitution are each expected to have a significant presence and following at Tuesday’s public hearing.

The tax assessment cap is a complicated issue, so I’ll let those who eat, sleep, and breathe tax revolution tell you what it’s all about.

Here is the call to action from the Marylanders for Fair Property Taxation:

Marylanders for Fair Property Taxation
E-mail mdfairtax@juno.com www.marylandersforfairpropertytaxation.com

Hearing Notice July 14, 2009 7:00 PM
Harford County Council Chambers
212 Bond Street Bel Air, Maryland

On July 14, 2009 the Harford County Council will hold a public hearing on the lowering of the property tax assessment cap from 9% to 5%. This dramatic decrease will save most homeowner taxpayers many property tax dollars. It is an issue our coalition members and we fought hard to achieve. The County Council
met with us, looked us in the eye, stated what they would do for the taxpayers AND DID IT?? To assure passage of this bill we need to get behind President Boniface, Councilmen McMahan and Shodes who strongly supported this measure.

We need to fill the 259 seat Council Chambers as a symbol of our support even to the point of having to turn people away. We cannot let the naysayers point to us as only being “a small group of dissidents” as one Councilmember describes our activities. We need to line the streets before the hearing starting at 6:00 PM as we have in the past. Bring your signs, show your colors, and don’t be
disappointed if you cannot gain admittance or speak during the session. THE IMPORTANT THING IS TO SHOW NUMBERS AND SOLIDARITY??

This is just the beginning of the tax revolt. We must keep up the pressure to let our elected officials know that we are Taxed Enough Already (TEA). Our message continues to be “fair property taxation”. That we can understand and support when our elected officials act with fiscal responsibility and accountability.

Our next efforts will be to achieve changes to the State property
assessment and appeals processes that produce consistent, fair, equitable, uniform, assessments commensurate with current property market values. We will be working with our legislators to accomplish these goals in the 2010 legislative session. JOIN WITH US?? Send us your email address to keep informed.

Remember Nothing Happens Unless We Make It Happen??

See you on July 14th Roy Whiteley

Here is the battlecry from the TEA Party organizers:

My Fellow Patriots,

Today I am calling on you for more action! You have attended previous Tea Party rally’s (or at least heard of them) where we citizens have all stood up and complained about the way that our local, state, and federal governments have been usurping the rights of the people. Now that we have gotten all riled up about, let’s take a stand and show them what we are made of!

On Tuesday July 16, 2009 at 6:00, join me and the rest of the Harford Countians who have had enough at the Council Chambers in downtown Bel Air. The address is 212 S Bond Street. This is the black building across the street from Looney’s pub and our Independence Day Tea Party!

The issue on Tuesday is the Homestead Tax credit. Currently, your taxes in Harford County increase 9% per year, doubling in 8 years. At the Council meeting Tuesday night, the County Council is set to vote on an amendment that will lower this rate to 5%, so your annual property taxes will not be able to increase more than 5% a year. We need to get the message across to the Council that this is a great step in the right direction, and we support the decision to reduce the burden of taxes on the hard-working citizens of Harford County. This amendment may save $30 Million next year! I wrote a post on our website about the property taxes in Maryland at the following link, check it out if you are interested: http://www.harfordpropertytaxrevolt.com/1/post/2009/07/homestead-tax-credit-amendment-and-july-14.html

So join us at 6:00PM on Tuesday with a sign to wave. My sign is going to be about Liberty and Responsible government. A lot of people have been asking me recently about the Tea Party, thinking that it is about tea and crumpets. (Ugh) Your sign will be very visible by passing cars and each other, so think hard about it! Maybe your sign can say “Taxed Enough Already”. For more ideas, visit this web site:

http://lukeamerica2020.wordpress.com/2009/04/03/101-tea-party-sign-slogans/

WHAT: Rally to Support the decision to lower our future taxes!
WHERE: County Council Chambers 212 S Bond Street
WHEN: This Tuesday, July 14, 2009 at 6:00PM, public comment at 7:00PM
WHY: Because 9% annual tax increases are ridiculous, and we aren’t going to take it any more!
WHO: EVERYBODY! Tell your friends and neighbors. This is a family friend event, so all are welcome!

Tell the County Council that you support their decision to cut taxes with an email or a phone call. An easy form to send them a message can be found here: http://www.harfordpropertytaxrevolt.com/contact-county-elected-officials.html

I will see you on Tuesday. There will be lots of good local Liberty-minded groups present and I hope you will seek more information about them. They include Americans for Prosperity, Campaign for Liberty, and The Institute on the Constitution. Click each name for more information.

Thank you for all of the excitement about the Tea Parties and fairer taxes! Let’s take it back!

Patrick McGrady