Whiteley: Poor Turnout at Committee Hearing on Property Tax Assessment Legislation

From Roy Whiteley, Founder, Marylanders for Fair Property Taxation:

SB 553 Internet Access to Worksheets – Hearing Report

On February 19, 2014 we attended the Budget and Taxation Committee hearing on this bill that if passed will allow taxpayers to access any residential property worksheet WITHOUT first filing an assessment appeal as is required under existing regulations. Unfortunately, Senator Barry Glassman, our advocate and supporter, and I were ALONE. Obviously, without your support this bill is likely to fail. We saw no backup from the thousands of contacts we made to those on our mailing list. Evidently, few, or more likely, none of you have been interested enough in your own relief from the oppressive requirements of the Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) to take a few moments to copy facts we have provided and convey them with your thoughts to your General Assembly representatives or the hearing committee members. We saw no evidence of copies in the member’s bill packets from the public either for or against the bill. SDAT obviously saw the same and felt so confident that they had nothing to fear that they did not even testify or submit any written opposition.

We need your involvement and support if we are to make this useful tool in the appeals process happen. Fortunately, we have another chance. This same bill labeled as HB 1041 has been cross-filed in the House by Delegate Susan McComas. The hearing is scheduled for March 6, 2014 at 1:00 PM in the Ways and Means Committee. We urge you to write or email your representatives and the Ways and Means Committee to support passage of this bill. Please send confirmation copies to the Senator (Barry.Glassman@senate.state.md.us) and to us.

Contact Ways and Means Committee e-mail addresses using this format followed by @house.state.md.us

sheila.hixson
kathy.afzali
kumar.barve
joseph.boteler
talmadge.branch
jon.cardin
mark.fisher
bill.frick
ron.george
nina.harper
carolyn.howard
jolene.ivey
anne.kaiser
eric.luedtke
aruna.miller
leroy.myers
justin.ross
andrew.serafini
melvin.stukes
michael.summers
frank.turner
jay.walker
alonzo.washington

Remember Nothing Happens Unless We Make It Happen!!!!!

Please pass on to your friends with a request to help.

Thanks, Roy Whiteley, Founder