From Harford County Campaign for Liberty:
Patriot,
UPDATE: Delegates Glen Glass (R – District 34A) and Mary Dulany-James (D – District 34A) continue to REFUSE to withdraw their tax increase bill, HB-1395.
We need to turn up the heat and call these legislators immediately, this bill will be heard this Thursday, March 14th, in the House Ways and Means Committee unless we act now.
Please call Delegate Glass and Delegate Dulany-James right now, time is running out:
Delegate Glen Glass 410-841-3280
Delegate Mary Dulany-James 410-841-3331
Tell them to withdraw their new hotel tax increase bill, HB-1395, immediately.
In case you missed our last e-mail on this bad bill, please read below:
Delegate Glen Glass (R – District 34A) and Mary Dulany-James (D – District 34A) are tag-teaming in a bi-partisan fashion to hit Harford County hotels with a new tax. That’s right, these two delegates recently filed House Bill 1395, which will slap a 6% hotel rental tax on all hotel owners in Harford County.
In this economy, our elected representatives should be making it easier to run a business, not harder. Delegate Glass and Delegate Dulany-James should be working to make Harford County more attractive to consumers, not less attractive. Do these delegates understand that hotels create jobs in Harford County?
Do these delegates understand that new taxes create higher prices for consumers when they get a hotel room in Harford County?
Local businesses should not be looked at as sources of endless tax revenue. Instead they should be valued as job creators and productive units of our economy. Delegate Glass and Delegate Dulany-James should immediately withdraw this anti-job, anti-business bill.
Our children deserve a future of job opportunity and economic prosperity. Delegate Glass and Delegate Dulany-James are letting our children down with House Bill 1395. State legislators have no authority to target a certain type of business just to generate extra tax revenue for new government programs.
What’s next, an ice cream shop tax? A hardware store tax? A beauty salon tax? Should entrepreneurs be targeted based on what type of business they choose to pursue?
This hotel tax proposal is nothing more than a short-sighted money grab supported by two politicians that stand to benefit from having more money in the government coffers in Annapolis.
I need your help to kill this bill. Please call Delegate Glass and Delegate Dulany-James as soon as possible:
Delegate Glen Glass 410-841-3280
Delegate Mary Dulany-James 410-841-3331
Delegate Glass and Delegate Dulany-James are the only two legislators sponsoring this bill.
Tell these two delegates to immediately withdraw this bill.
Tell them to protect jobs and support local businesses in Harford County.
Let them know that we did not send them to Annapolis to raise taxes and grow government.
In Liberty,
Christina Trotta
Steering Committee Member
Harford County Campaign for Liberty
P.S. Harford County Campaign for Liberty needs your grassroots pressure to prevent HB-1395 from seeing the light of day.
Delegate Glass and Delegate Dulany-James plan to push this bill through as soon as they can, so it’s up to us to stop this bill right now.
We need to immediately demand that Delegate Glass and Delegate Dulany-James withdraw this bill. Please call them today:
Delegate Glen Glass 410-841-3280
Delegate Mary Dulany-James 410-841-3331
Ms Trotta, I don’t know any other way to say this except “YOU ARE AN IDIOT” Quit trying to scare people with bold faced lies!!!!
What a jerkface. Do you work for the County Exec, or for another big-government stooge?
The facts behind the bill would make this article easier to read. If you are a resident of Harford County this is a tax you are already paying when you visit other cities, and will in fact not affect residents of Harford County. It is controversial, however if the funds are returned to tourism endeavors it is a worthwhile investment.
If you are hard pressed to look out for hoteliers and the challenges that are placed on them…..take a peek at the “rebates” hotels are forced to pay on the heads of guests visiting Cedar Lane Regional Park.
Are those kickbacks a result of County action, or the organizers of private events held at the park?
All for the tax if it goes to toursim marketing for Harford County and it’s tourism businesses. Unfortunately most of the funds raised by this tax will not go to marketing but to fund the 60 million dollar Cultural Arts Center on Route 24 south of the festival. Which will include 1,200-seat theater, a 400-seat theater, an education wing, rehearsal space, meeting and event space, and parking for 500 cars. That neighborhood doesn’t want a Walmart imagine 1,200 people trying to get to a 7 o’clock cultural event at the same time.
Items of fact:
The Cultural Arts Center has no set budget for the project. The plans are thoughtfully designed to be modified to fit whatever funds end up being available. The land on which the Cultural Arts Center sits is designated to be developed into hundreds of town homes if the trustee that handles the donation feels that the Cultural Arts Center will not be funded or built to the estates expectations. We have about 3 years left before that happens. I am sure the local residents would prefer a park and Cultural Arts Center to hundreds of town homes. As a last thought – the economic impact studies show tremendous positive impact on our local economy – in part from drawing dollars from outside the county when events and performances occur – thus the plan is part and parcel of a holistic Tourism policy.
@Tobias – I hope the enabling legislation passes, the fight for the funds will be a the County Council level. As far as facts are concerned Ms. Graham’s will clearly stated that the land be used for the public good — she refused offers for development so please do not make this about a cultural arts center and park vs townhomes. My issue is with the government picking and choosing projects to fund with taxpayer (regardless of the fact that they live in Harford County or are visitors) funds. Look at the TIFs for James Run and Beechcreek.
Thank you for your thoughtful comments, however you are incorrect the public record shows In conversation with the representative of the Charitable Trust, it was confirmed that if the County does not demonstrate its commitment to the 41 acre gift of $6 million of real estate by construction of an arts center, the land will revert to the Estate and the land will be developed, in accordance with the fiduciary responsibilities of the Charitable Estate. The land is currently zoned for 200 – 410 residences. If the land reverts back to the Charitable Trust, the Trust is not bound to keep the land in public use. The trustee has stated the land will be developed.
@Tobias you are obviously very connected to the Cultural Arts Center, it is my understanding that the land was transfered to Harford County back in April 2012 and if the Center is not built by 2018 it reverts back to the trust and that the attorney for the trust is hopeful the Center is built since it honors his client’s wishes. Did the attorney for the trust specifically say “townhomes” or just developed? I am tired of being told by if we don’t do this something much worse can happen – not sure what is worse for the community a Cultural Arts Center that doesnt pay property taxes or townhomes in 2018 with taxpayers. The real question is without this legislation can the Center become a reality?
Confused:
Here is a long winded attempt to lay all the misinformation being passed around to rest.
The Decision by the Superior Court of New Jersey on July 19, 2010 states that the 69 acre parcel is to be used “to create a park to be named for Emily Bayless Graham” and the 41 acre parcel used “to erect a performing arts center for use by the people of Harford County”.
A Memorandum of Understanding between Harford County Government and the Emily Bayless Graham Charitable Trust was signed on August 12, 2011. In this document Harford County Government agreed that the 69 acre parcel “shall be preserved and utilized as a nature park and historic site” and that the 41 acre parcel “shall be utilized for the creation of a facility that will serve as the Harford County Center for the Visual and Performing Arts”. A condition of the transfer of title to the County was that Harford County and the Center for the arts execute an agreement providing for the construction of the facility on the parcel. A Memorandum of Understanding between Harford County Government and the Center for the Visual and Performing Arts, Inc. (Center for the Arts) “to govern financing, construction and operation of a public center for the visual, literary and performing arts” on the 41 acre parcel was signed on October 24, 2011.
However, as noted in the August 12, 2011 MOU between Harford County and the Charitable Trust, the Deed transferring the 41 acre parcel contained provisions that specified that the conveyance is be subject to a right of reversion back to the Charitable Trust in the event that timely progress in the construction of the facility within seven years fails. “Harford County and/or the Center for the Arts shall have a seven (7) year period within which to complete construction of the Facility.”
“The Trustee shall have the right to extend the compliance period for a period of not to exceed three (3) additional years in the event the Facility is not completed but he is satisfied that appropriate progress has been made toward construction of the Facility.”
The clock for the seven year reversionary period started in February 2012 and expires in February 2019 at which time the facility must be completed or appropriate progress made to warrant a three year extension.
“In the event that construction of the Facility is not completed within seven (7) years (or ten (10) years if an extension is granted), title to (the 41 acre parcel) shall revert automatically to and become vested in the Charitable Trust and the previous Deed of conveyance to Harford County shall thereupon become null and void.”
The document provides for use of the facility (as an arts center) for 30 years or else title reverts to the Charitable Trust. After 30 years the parcel may be used for any public purpose in perpetuity but in no event may the County sell or otherwise transfer title to a private owner. If the public use ceases the land reverts to the Charitable Trust.
In conversation with the representative of the Charitable Trust, it was confirmed that if the County does not demonstrate its commitment to the 41 acre gift of $6 million of real estate by construction of an arts center, the land will revert to the Estate and the land will be developed, in accordance with the fiduciary responsibilities of the Charitable Estate. The land is currently zoned for 200 – 410 residences. If the land reverts back to the Charitable Trust, the Trust is not bound to keep the land in public use.
The use of the site for an arts center, even at peak traffic flow, will be less traffic impact than the traffic impact of housing allowed by current zoning. The art center at peak usage will increase the current traffic by 2.3%.
Note: Once the financing is in place, it will take 30 months to complete the construction documents, construction bidding, and other soft cost tasks. It is estimated that construction will then take 24 months to complete, for a total of 4.5 years. This is why financial arrangements are on the shorter timeline.
This legislation is not the make or break, but obviously it would help.
They don’t want the facts presented, it would not be in the best interest of their cause. Simply look at the title of the article: ” Del. Glass and Del. Dulany – James Want To Tax Your Sleep, Too”
How much more misleading can that be!! Unless you spend a lot of time in motel rooms in Harford County for whatever reason you will not be the one paying the tax. If you read the bill there are exceptions and exemptions for certain circumstances. There are a lot of jobs associated with the tourism industry that could be increased with this income as well. So this is a bill designed to help create jobs not deter them. This shouldn’t even require conversation, every other County and Baltimore city have been charging the tax for years, it’s time to put Harford County on the same playing field.
So a visitor to our county should have to pay another tax on money that they have already been taxed on? Very easy to justify taking someone else’s money. Got our president re-elected. Apparently a sound political strategy.
Just the same as you do nearly anyplace else you go in the country.
If this “tax” is such a bad thing and hurts the lodging industry then why isn’t this group insisting that the members of our Delegation that live in Baltimore County and who are elected to represent both Counties equally, move to remove the tax from Baltimore County?? Seems to me whats fair for one is fair for all.
Harford County is the only county in the state that does not have a hotel tax. This is a tax on people passing through the county who use our roads, infrastructure, facilities and pay nothing. Without this tax we as county citizens subsidize those traveling the I 95 corridor to other places. In 2012 Baltimore County gained $8,231,811 in revenue from its hotel tax, while Harford County received nothing. Other counties had similar experiences. We should be asking why our Delegation, which also in some situations represents Baltimore County, is so against this legislation. Their concern should be for the well being of their constituents, not for tourists driving through the county on their way elsewhere. Ask yourself when you have stayed in a hotel that did not have a tax.
Nothing; really? Anybody passing through pays tolls to help cover costs of roadway maintenance. If they stay at a hotel the maintenance is paid for within the private sector. If they visit any sites in and around the area there are entrance fees. If they drive on the road those maintenance costs are largely born by state and federal funds collected from a much larger pot. Almost all of what you’ve listed here is complete fable. What we ought to be asking is where the money goes that is already being collected rather than always seeking other forms of taxation. You know they use transportation dollars for projects that have nothing to do with transportation? Not interesting in yet another slush fund with no oversite…hate to think it ends up subsidizing James Run and the like as we both know it will.
Harford County is at a competitive disadvantage compared to other counties whose hotel tax revenues allow them to be used for marketing and support of tourism. We deserve the same economic opportunity! We are the ONLY county in the state of Maryland that does not tax those who stay overnight in our hotels/motels. I doubt very much all those visiting BRAC folks (who basically have their overnight stays covered by the military-industrial complex) mind very much at all. There are hundreds of “guests” filling most all the rooms at the I-95/Rt. 543 location (6-7 big hotels). Harford County could certainly benefit from the extra funds. Please call or write ALL of the Republican delegates who are AGAINST the extra money and ask them WHY they don’t support House Bill 1395 ?????
Clearly this is a case of “but everybody else does it”. That’s the same argument you hear from 10 year olds when they want to stay out after dark, etc. Without specific instruction and very narrow restrictions on use any hotel taxes end up being just another slush fund used for pet projects around the county. The fact that non-residents pay the fee doesn’t make it any less reprehensible. So the premise goes something like “everybody else is doing it and besides we don’t have to pay for it”. I guess we are supposed not to care about picking the pockets of others because ours get picked. Perfect – helps explain why our culture is declining.
This tax is a positive thing for the Tourism Industry, if directed correctly. Unfortunately, if not this influx of dollars will go to the interest that yells the loudest, and that is currently Center of the Arts.
These dollars should go to promote tourism to our area, and events that attract such….not capital pet projects.
It’s not that everybody else is does it; it’s that everybody else is experiencing measurable benefits to their local economy, as a result of doing it.
This tax will be directed to increasing the budget of the Department of Tourism, which is under the authority of the Office of Economic Development. If I were a hotel owner, I’d choose raising my rates a bit to buy marketing on the internet over raising my rates to cover a county tax that will go toward hiring county employees. Any time you increase government, you increase waste.
Christina Trotta / Harford Campaign for “Liberty” = FOOLS!