The Anne Arundel County Council voted Monday to allow the creation of special taxation districts to pay for the construction of sewers and roads in new subdivisions.
The legislation allows developers to shift the cost of building such improvements from themselves to future homeowners, who have liens placed on their homes and must pay monthly fees.
County officials argued that the districts will make it easier for middle-class families to buy homes by removing the cost of such improvements from the selling price, thus lowering the amount needed for a down payment.
The County Council voted 6-1 in favor of the proposal, with County Council Chairwoman Diane Evans opposing it.
Evans said she did not see much of an advantage to homebuyers, who she said would have to pay for the improvements one way or another.
The only people to clearly benefit from the measure are developers, who no longer have to borrow money to build the roads and sewers for their projects, Evans said.
Pub Date: 8/20/97
