MD news
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Maryland only generates about 30% of its own electrical energy and is also in the process of closing down old coal plants, all at a time when the demand for electricity is increasing. This means it has to purchase power from other states like Pennsylvania and Ohio and is causing the outlook for electricity prices to be headed strongly higher.
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Maryland Comptroller Liermann shared the results of various reports her office has issued (such as on MD’s lagging labor force participation) and outreaches her office has done. One tip: Her office has partnered with the IRS to offer an integrated FREE federal - state tax preparation software for this coming season called DirectFile, so be on the lookout for that come January.
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State Delegate Barnes, State Senator Augustine, and Governor Moore’s legislative aid Luedtke shared about the upcoming ~$2 billion state budget crunch expected to be a huge issue this coming MD legislative session - Deficits arising from spending commitments made the last few years are anticipated to reach $4 billion and grow to $8 billion in the coming years as well without changes. An implication for Laurel: “bond bill” initiatives and Highway User Revenues (both of which contribute funding to cities like Laurel) are potentially in the crosshairs.
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The Laurel Independent voting guide, including guide for judge elections (often harder information for voters to come by).
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Early voting started Oct 24 and ends this Thursday, Oct 31. The closest early voting site to Laurel is the Laurel-Beltsville Senior Center at 7120 Contee Road, open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. those days.
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You’ve probably already received your Sample Ballot in the mail, but you can also download a copy from the PG County Board of Elections page, which also includes other useful resources like ballot drop boxes and voter registration lookups.
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Election Day is Tuesday, Nov 5 and polls will be open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. that day – Identify your polling place to cast your vote using the Maryland Election Board lookup tool which also has a number of great references and resources. (Note: Your General Election polling place is most like not the same place you cast votes for the City of Laurel elections last year – so be sure to double-check if you’re unsure.)
- 2:22 a.m. at 12705 Laurel-Bowie Road, Laurel
- 3:25 a.m. at Konterra Drive & Sweitzer Lane, Laurel
- Aug 5 in Germantown from 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
- Aug 13 in Rockville from 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
- Aug 29 in Silver Spring from 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
My Visit to the Maryland General Assembly yesterday
Yesterday, I put on my “CPA hat” and had the pleasure of visiting the Maryland General Assembly to advocate with our State legislators for a positive regulatory and tax environment for accountants and the small businesses and individuals we serve.
And I had a wonderful experience meeting another CPA from District 21 who lives right here in Laurel! – Maxene Bardwell. Not only is she President-Elect for the Maryland Association of CPAs, she also volunteers as a member of the Laurel Ethics Commission. We have so many talented and giving members of the Laurel community who are making a difference across our state and meeting Ms. Bardwell was such a great testament to that!
We had an opportunity to sit down with the offices of Delegate Joseline Pena-Melnyk and Delegate Mary Lehman. And while Delegate Benjamin Barnes and Senator James Rosapepe weren’t available at the time we stopped by, we were able to share with them many of the key issues identified by the Association.
As I shared in last week’s City Council Meeting, this year’s Maryland legislative session will have a number of important things that will affect citizens across the state and I encourage residents to stay tuned in to Annapolis this year – For example, Governor Moore introduced his proposed budget on Wednesday and there are significant changes to the income tax rates and fees for Marylanders. Some of them will help middle- and low-income residents (like a small reduction in income tax rates) and others cost more (like increasing emission test from $14 to $30 and a $0.75 charge on online delivery orders). Nothing is passed yet as the budget must be approved by both houses in Annapolis, but as plans unfold, it’s a good idea to let your voice be heard by staying in touch with our District 21 representatives.
Thank you again Maxene for our great conversation as we tromped up and down the halls of the House and Senate buildings, it made for a great morning! :)
MD Real Estate Tax Assessments up 21+%
Each year, the MD State Department of Assessments and Taxation re-values a third of the roughly 2 million properties in the state, a figure that is then used to calculate County and City property taxes. The report just released puts the average residential property valuation increase at 21.1%.
For residential properties in the Central Maryland area (which Laurel is in), the increase averaged 22.6%. And certain properties experienced north of a 30% increase. (Last year’s re-valuations averaged ~25%.)
Factors at play likely include housing supply shortages (also impacting housing affordability) as well as wider economic forces (like interest rates, employment levels, construction environment, etc.)
For owners that use the property as their primary residence, they can qualify for the Homestead Tax Credit which limits any one year’s increase to no more than 10% (but will experience the full effect within 2-3 year window).
In other related news, a recent WSJ study showed that 32% of the average single-family mortgage payment went to property taxes and home insurance - a combo effect, also reflecting shake ups happening within the insurance industry.
Head Outdoors for a First Day Hike on Jan 1
An emerging tradition on New Year’s Day are “First Day Hikes”, a chance to get outside, get some fresh air, and start the year off on a great foot!
From Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources:
First Day Hikes are part of a nationwide initiative led by America’s State Parks that encourages all 50 states to offer outdoor hiking opportunities on the first day of the new year! Join us in Maryland on January 1st for a hike at a state park near you.
For 2025, there will be three types of hikes available:
Ranger-led hikes: These hikes will be led by a Park Ranger, have specific start times, and many require pre-registration. Please read the details provided below carefully.
Self-guided hikes: These hikes will be available throughout the weekend on well-marked trails. Park staff and volunteers may be available to get you started but will not be joining you on the hike itself. Please read the details provided below carefully.
AllTrails-Guided: Maryland DNR has partnered with the AllTrails Public Lands Program to help Marylanders discover and navigate trails across our parks. Use AllTrails to navigate your hike and easily share your adventure on social!
First Day Hike “I Hiked” Stickers will be available at select locations while supplies last!
And of course, First Day Hikes can be taken wherever you preferred outdoor spot is as well. :)
You can check out Maryland DNR First Day Hike page for additional info and have some fun outdoors on January 1!
Maryland's Budget Outlook Worst Seen in 20 Years
I’ve been sharing about this topic over most of this year, and the latest news doesn’t hold any improvements – The State of Maryland is expecting about a $1 billion deficit in the current year, it’s expected to grow to $2.7 billion the next two years, and continues on a pace all the way to $5.9 billion by 2030 (only six years away). Those numbers are per year, so they stack on top of each other the more time goes by.
The main squeeze comes from spending commitments made the last couple years combined with revenue stagnation – As reports from the Maryland Comptroller’s Office have revealed, the wage income, business income, and sales tax income have not been strong, and Maryland is lagging behind many other states in its exit from COVID-era disruptions. Here’s a Maryland growth outlook chart I picked up from Maryland’s Director of Bureau of Revenue Estimates, Mr. Robert J. Rehrmman at the Maryland Municipal League Fall Conference:
As you can see, Maryland is limping along at somewhere between 2-3% growth, and the component from Personal Income Tax (darker blue) is shrinking. This is nowhere near what’s needed to fund spending commitments, and is even further compounded by Maryland’s dependence on the federal sector as the specter of looming federal layoffs and cutbacks in federal contractor spending will drive a further stake in Maryland revenue sources.
Of course, my focus as a Councilman is on the impacts to Laurel, and as a City, we’re currently beginning our annual budgeting process headed up by the Mayor’s Office and driven by the Budget & Personnel Department. The City team is assessing risk exposure, stress testing funding, and evaluating spending priorities. And as a Councilman, my focus is to help contribute to the team conversation with the aim that we don’t find ourselves in a situation similar to the State. The full numbers aren’t yet available for Council review, but know that it is definitely top of mind. And please feel free to share your thoughts, questions, and observations into the process.
My Learnings from Maryland Municipal League Fall Conference
The week before last, I attended the Maryland Municipal League’s (MML) fall conference - Titled “Excellence in Leadership”, it was held in Cambridge, Maryland Nov 6-8 and was a great opportunity to: (a) further equip in my role as Councilman, (b) be briefed on the latest updates happening in our state, and (c) connect with hundreds of municipal leaders from around Maryland.
I enrolled in the Academy for Excellence certification program and over the course of the three days took classes including: Structures of Municipal Government; MD State Budget Outlook; Rising costs of electricity & how to support residents; and more. Some takeaways to pass on:
I also connected with Mayors, Councilmembers, and Staff from municipalities including Cambridge, Mount Airy, Greenbelt, Takoma Park, Denton, Forest Heights, Berwyn Heigts, Union Bridge, Eagle Harbor, Frederick, La Plata, Taneytown, Leonardtown, Hagerstown, and more. It was helpful to hear what other cities are doing, to make connections, to share knowledge and resources, and more.
A big memory for me was also the ability to visit the Harriet Tubman (Ross) museum, hear local Cambridge resident and historian share about his life experience growing up in Cambridge (which was sadly marred by prejudice), and about the life of the tenacious Harriet Ross who led so many of her family to freedom in the North. Myself and fellow members of Laurel City Council (Councilmembers Clark and Mills) were also able to take a picture in front of the new and now famous mural, “Take My Hand” (pictured below).
The MML Fall Conference was packed full of information and connections and I greatly appreciated the opportunity to join with other municipal leaders as we all strive to help our city’s flourish in the years to come!
Voting has Started for Nov 5 Elections
A few resources if helpful to you for the current voting season:
Hope that helps and here’s a great letterpress print by the ACPA that I love! :)
“Eric’s ID Law” for Non-apparent Disabilities
Through my work as Chair of the Citizen Advisory Committee for Persons with Disabilities, I’ve been honored to connect with people throughout our area to understand and learn ways we can serve all residents more effectively.
One recent example relates to what’s being called “Eric’s ID Law” – a bill considered by the Maryland General Assembly last session, and expected to be considered again this coming session. It would provide individuals with non-apparent disabilities such as autism, mental health, hearing, and others a way to voluntarily disclose it on their state-issued ID, partly as an aid to law enforcement and other organizations they may come into contact with.
What’s even more inspiring is the story behind it, shared in this video by Eric and his mom, Linda:
Although Eric and Linda live in a different part of Maryland, their story was first brought to my attention by Laurel resident and past Councilman, Mr. Mitchell and his mother, Ms. Ifill. Mr. Mitchell shared about the state legislation at a recent PG County meeting, and the Laurel City Council also presented a unanimously signed statement in support for the legislation. We’ve also extended invitation to Eric and Ms. Linda to join us at our December 4 Work Session to share their story directly with Laurel and are hopeful they’ll be able to join us.
If you feel a particular connection to the cause, I’d encourage you to look for it in the coming Maryland legislative session and to reach out to let our state representatives know of your support. 👍
Maryland Police Task Force busts 11 illegal car rallies
Over the weekend, members of the Maryland State Police Car Rally Task Force broke up 11 illegal car meetups and made seven arrests. Included among the 11 locations were two in Laurel:
The task force has been focused on investigating “exhibition driving events,” also know as “takeovers.” This often involves blocking off roads to perform stunts, disrupting traffic, causing property damage and posing risks to the public.
This has been in part made possible by new state legislation passed by Maryland General Assembly in May, sponsored by Delegate Mary Lehman from our District 21. The law increases penalties from $500 to $1,000 and prohibits actions like skidding, squealing, burning or smoking tires, swerving, or swaying while skidding/ drifting, purposefully revving engines and grinding gears.
I know this has been a start/ stop issue that’s just been growing in recent years (having heard it from my own house in the middle of the night multiple times), and happy to see the state stepping up enforcement. The City’s ability to enforce is partially hampered by the fact that the affected roads are often governed by the State or County and just outside the city limits, so this is good news indeed. And I’ll continue to look forward to quieter and safer nights ahead. 💤
(via Baltimore Sun)
Back-to-school clothing Tax Free from Aug 11-17
Getting geared up for back-to-school is fun, but expensive. 💸 The State of Maryland will help shave off at least a little of that bite if you’re purchasing clothing or backpacks next week during its annual Tax Free Week.
The gist is there’s no 6% Maryland sales tax on clothing under $100 and on the first $40 of any backpack purchase. Check out the graphic below for some common examples and here’s Maryland’s Tax Free Week FAQ for all the details.
Maryland Funds for Maryland Businesses
The MD Comptroller’s Office is hosting a series of lunch-and-learns in August to share with business owners about the tax credits, grants, programs, and funds available to help businesses expand in Maryland. The series is being co-hosted by Montgomery County at locations in Germantown, Rockville, and Silver Spring, but is applicable to all MD-based business and not too far away for those coming from the Laurel area.
Registration is free but limited seated available, so if sounds of any interest to you, be sure to check out:
Maryland Wastewater Showing Spike in Viral Activity
You may have noticed anecdotally that a lot of friends, family, neighbors, and kids seem to be cropping up with variants of fever, body aches, vomiting, and diarrhea – and you wouldn’t be wrong. As of last week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control was showing that Maryland wastewater was showing double the national average of viral activity. And hospitalizations have more than doubled in the past month, from 60 to 135. Thankfully, most activity is not to the level requiring hospitalization, but it is something to be aware of out there and to help take care of yourselves and others.
(via Baltimore Sun)
Gov. Moore proposes cutting state budget $150 million
This week, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore proposed further cutting the state budget by $150 million in what he described as “targeted and strategic spending cuts”. According to the Baltimore Sun,
It also comes as Maryland faces looming multibillion-dollar financial shortfalls, putting at risk the future of government services and expensive, decadeslong plans such as the Red Line transit project in Baltimore and the education-focused Blueprint for Maryland’s Future.
Moore has routinely said he has a “very high bar” for raising taxes as a way to solve deficits. His proposal earlier this year for the current 2025 fiscal year budget was focused on pulling from the state’s “rainy day” fund, borrowing more than usual and cutting back some areas that have grown in recent years, like higher education.
The cuts still need to be approved by the state Board of Public Works, and in Laurel, we’ll be continuing to monitor how the shifts in state spending will affect, if at all, some of our City’s programs. But it is good to be mindful of even resident of the state of Maryland.