A new county tax database makes public a wide new array of information but could conflict with state confidentiality guidelines.
Recently, the Harford County government unveiled its online Inquiry Service, which allows users to search properties by property tax ID, street address, water and sewer account number or bay restoration fund account number.
The new database, available at www.harfordcountymd.gov/payments, is an updated version of the county government’s existing database, which allowed users to search by street address or other account identifiers. Each address in the system included assessed value and sale history.
The new system has that same information, but also shows the amount of the tax bills including a detailed breakdown, whether or not those bills have been paid and any credits the property owner receives.
According to the county Treasury Department’s Bureau of Revenue Collections, the new system “was created at the request of the ...Continue Reading
The following letter was received from Barbara Kreamer:
Aberdeen, Maryland: The two incumbent candidates ignored the people’s memo: lower the taxes. The taxpayers of Aberdeen were hit with at least a fifty-five percent increase in the tax bill in the Simmons administration, and the current government has increased the property tax burden. While the rate has gone down three cents over the past two years, rising assessments have more than offset that. This Council with the votes of the incumbent candidates could not even stick to a Constant Yield rate in a year of fiscal hardship for families in Aberdeen. The people of Aberdeen need someone who will stand up for their best civic interests and protect their financial resources. That is why I filed my candidacy yesterday for Mayor of Aberdeen.
The entire Aberdeen government is up for a vote on Tuesday, November 3, 2009 – and not a moment ...Continue Reading
Patrick McGrady filed the required forms to run for Maryland State Delegate in District 34A today. In Annapolis Patrick will refuse to raise taxes on the citizens of District 34A, fight to eliminate crime and gang violence in our communities, and stand up for open and honest government in Maryland. Patrick plans to promote and defend the great American principles of individual liberty, constitutional government, and free markets.
Patrick is a life-long resident of Aberdeen and is employed as a Property Manager for Holly Circle Townhouses LLC, a local real estate company. He graduated from the Pennsylvania State University with a B.S in Finance and a B.A. in Economics. McGrady serves as a chief organizer for the Harford Property Tax Revolt, a grassroots citizens’ coalition dedicated to protecting private property owners and renters from out-of-control tax increases. He is also a member of the Harford County Campaign for Liberty, a ...Continue Reading
(Bel Air, MD – March 31, 2009) – - Harford County Executive David R. Craig unveiled his proposed budget for FY 2010 today, which includes the sharpest cuts in the General Fund in more than 25 years. The proposed budget includes a $23 million reduction to the General Fund and a cut of $37 million in the Capital Budget as compared with FY 09.
“Developing the proposed FY 2010 Operating and Capital Budget has been a truly daunting task,” County Executive Craig stated. “However, throughout this process we have kept the public’s needs and concerns foremost in our thoughts, as we strive to maintain services, especially in the areas of public safety and public education,” the county executive stated.
The proposed FY 2010 budget although lean, does not include any increase in taxes for the citizens of Harford County.
Wal-Mart Foundation-funded Mobile Tax Center Van Available to Help Local Taxpayers Claim Tax Credits and Save on Preparation Fees
Los Angeles (March 23, 2009) – One Economy, a global nonprofit organization that helps low-income Americans enter the economic mainstream will bring free tax preparation and online filing services to taxpayers in Harford County.
“One Economy created an online tax filing platform to make it easier for low- and moderate-income Americans to get the credits and refunds they deserve,” said Rey Ramsey, CEO of One Economy. “Through the Wal-Mart Foundation’s support, we are able to take our digital tools and resources directly into our community, to provide local taxpayers with the knowledge and confidence to file online themselves.”
IRS-certified tax professionals will be on hand to help deliver One Economy’s online filing technology to eligible taxpayers – those earning less than $56,000 per year – according to the following schedule:
(Bel Air, MD – October 29, 2008) – - In a dramatic move today, Harford County Executive David R. Craig announced reductions in the FY 09 budget for all county departments and independent agencies of the county. The budget reductions were made necessary due to a projected shortfall in the income tax, recordation taxes and transfer fees the county will receive.
“Today we are taking steps to insure county government lives within its means,” stated County Executive Craig. “Difficult fiscal times call for tough decisions, and we have acted responsibly to reduce spending in government in an effort to maintain a balanced budget,” Craig remarked.
The Maryland Taxpayer’s Association presented Delegate Pat McDonough with The Taxpayer Advocate Award “in recognition of his unwavering efforts on behalf of freestate taxpayers.” Dee Hodges, the President of the Maryland Taxpayer’s Association, presented the award at a recent reception held for Delegate McDonough. Michael Steele, Maryland’s former Lt. Governor and public affairs analyst on national television, along with a few hundred guests, were present at the event.
Delegate McDonough was an outspoken leader in opposition to the largest tax increase in the history of Maryland proposed by Governor O’Malley during the special session in November, 2007. Mr. McDonough referred to that session as “Taxilla and the Spendaholics.”
Mr. McDonough maintained “Maryland does not have a deficit problem; it has a spending problem.” The 1.5 billion tax increase was accompanied by a 1.5 billion new spending increase at the special session.
(Annapolis, MD) – Harford County State Senator Barry Glassman, R-35, has rolled out his own proposal to bring relief to Harford County and Maryland homeowners during the current economic downturn. Glassman found as home values continue to plummet his constituents have increased their appeals of local property tax assessments. Many of these assessments were done at the peak of the housing boom over the last three years and inflated the value of residential properties.
Glassman’s proposal calls on the State Department of Assessments and Taxation to freeze current re-assessments and begin to back track and re-adjust jurisdictions completed during the past five years.
“This is a way we can bring some mortgage relief to homeowners through lower escrow payments for local property taxes and to senior citizens who own their homes and pay their local property taxes directly.” stated Glassman.
The government has now approved a record $700 billion plan to try to stabilize US–and world–financial markets. The plan is not a total bailout as the media describes it; it is more of a government purchase of the stock of failing companies. The government is expecting a return on it’s investment, and, who knows, perhaps Uncle Sam will actually make money on this “deal.”
Of course, the government is doing the negotiating, so instead of using leverage to buy anything worthwhile, such as the senior preferred stock that Warren Buffet gets when he takes over a company (senior preferred stock gets paid first when dividends are awarded) the feds are getting non-voting stock. There is also no mandate that the stock be bought back, which means that a portion of the $700 billion will go to lobbyists maneuvering to have the stock perpetually “floating” so that it’s never ...Continue Reading
(Bel Air, MD – October 6, 2008) – - Harford County Executive David R. Craig has announced the recommendations from the Commission on Efficiency and Economy in Government. The Commission was established in November of 2007 in response to the fiscal crisis of the State of Maryland.
The county executive formed the Commission pursuant to Article IV, Section 412 of the Harford County Charter and charged the Commission to make recommendations with respect to how county government could be more efficient and save taxpayers money.
The Commission conducted more than a dozen meetings over the course of eight months in studying current operations and practices of Harford County Government for the purpose of identifying opportunities for improvement and seeking ways to maximize existing resources.
The bi-partisan Commission was comprised of 11 members who were well versed in government, business and law. The Commission was chaired by Scott T. Gibson, ...Continue Reading
