Additional Taxes

From: Mary McNally RoseAnnapolisOn Jan. 30, I spoke before a joint session of the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee and the House Committee on Ways and Means. I did so because I believe we still have fat in the bureaucracy that needs to be cut and we do not need additional taxes.The Republican proposal for a balanced budget without additional taxes is both realistic and viable. Maryland taxpayers cannot withstand additional taxes, particularly during these difficult times of recession.

With Sunday's historic vote in the House of Representatives, the Democrats have succeeded in making serfs of us all. Having added $2 trillion to the debt in a single year, the administration pushed through a massive new entitlement program that undoubtedly will add trillions more. Just as the medieval population labored to support their feudal masters, so too we increasingly labor to support an all-encompassing federal government. The size of the new federal entitlement and its implications for fiscal policy will have significant ramifications.

If Baltimore imposes extra taxes on the Orioles and Ravens to balance its budget, the state of Maryland, not the teams, would likely end up paying the new levy.Under the leases both teams have with the Maryland Stadium Authority, the state agency would have to essentially reduce its admissions tax on the teams to make up for what the teams would have to pay the city.City leaders, facing an expected budget shortfall beginning next fiscal year, have suggested a number of possible remedies, including an increase in admission taxes for Oriole and Ravens games.

Dear Mr. Azrael: My husband and I purchased a home in November 2002 in Baltimore City. The previous owners were given a real property tax exemption because one of them was blind. We were not informed of this exemption at settlement and received a bill from Baltimore City for additional real estate taxes. The city tax office informed me that the exemption was listed on the lien sheet and that someone should have looked into the exemption. Do my husband and I have any legal recourse? We paid for title insurance.

Dear Mr. Azrael: My husband and I purchased a home in November 2002 in Baltimore City. The previous owners were given a real property tax exemption because one of them was blind. We were not informed of this exemption at settlement and received a bill from Baltimore City for additional real estate taxes. The city tax office informed me that the exemption was listed on the lien sheet and that someone should have looked into the exemption. Do my husband and I have any legal recourse? We paid for title insurance.

While other county residents sign petitions to cap their property taxes, some homeowners in Pasadena actually want to dig deeper in their pockets next year.The community associations for Sun Valley and Cedarwood Grove, two housing developments off Mountain Road, are considering creating special taxing districts to offset the cost of maintaining their private roads and parks.Leaders for both communities suggested seeking additional property taxes to fairly divide the upkeep among all homeowners, instead of burdening association members with higher dues.

WASHINGTON -- A majority of the Maryland delegation in the House endorsed the Democratic deficit-reduction package last night, with some saying that the plan to raise income taxes on the wealthy and reduce Medicare premium increases was the most fair.Representatives Benjamin L. Cardin, D-Md.-3rd; Tom McMillen, D-Md.-4th; Steny H. Hoyer, D-Md.-5th; Beverly B. Byron, D-Md.-6th; Kweisi Mfume, D-Md.-7th; and Constance A. Morella, R-Md.-8th, voted for the plan, which President Bush threatened to veto.

With Sunday's historic vote in the House of Representatives, the Democrats have succeeded in making serfs of us all. Having added $2 trillion to the debt in a single year, the administration pushed through a massive new entitlement program that undoubtedly will add trillions more. Just as the medieval population labored to support their feudal masters, so too we increasingly labor to support an all-encompassing federal government. The size of the new federal entitlement and its implications for fiscal policy will have significant ramifications.

WASHINGTON -- If anyone knows how to take advantage of wrinkles in the tax rules, it is the bean counters at the IRS. So it should come as no surprise that they have figured out how the top officials at the agency can avoid paying hundreds of dollars in extra taxes this year to cover the value of parking free in the IRS garage.To do so, the agency had to violate principles it laid down eight years ago on how the value of taxable fringe benefits should be calculated. It wrote a one-year grace period into the enforcement rules of a new law and then figured the worth of IRS parking in such a favorable way that the executives who use it owe no additional taxes.

It's done.The Maryland General Assembly finally closed its firstextended session in 76 years and what do we have to show for it?A $420 million increase in taxes for the residents of the state.For those of us who thought we were a tax hell a few years ago, we've learned we were merely biding our time in tax purgatory.What exactly does all of this mean to Carroll County taxpayers?It means that even with all the tax increases and fee enhancers, we will experience a $7.5 million cut in state aid. The legislature also enacteda measure that will enable Carroll to raise its piggyback tax rate from 50 percent of the state income tax bill to 60 percent.

If Baltimore imposes extra taxes on the Orioles and Ravens to balance its budget, the state of Maryland, not the teams, would likely end up paying the new levy.Under the leases both teams have with the Maryland Stadium Authority, the state agency would have to essentially reduce its admissions tax on the teams to make up for what the teams would have to pay the city.City leaders, facing an expected budget shortfall beginning next fiscal year, have suggested a number of possible remedies, including an increase in admission taxes for Oriole and Ravens games.

BEFORE LAWMAKERS get too wound up spending every last dollar in surplus that rolls into the U.S treasury in the years ahead, they ought to think about the consequences.In a miraculous reversal of form, Washington is buzzing not about a whopping budget deficit, but a projected surplus. Thanks to budget belt-tightening and a still-booming economy, the Congressional Budget Office now projects a surplus of $32 billion in 2002; private econo- mists say the continuing strength of the economy could means a surplus as early as next year.

Taxes are The Other Certainty. The General Assembly's now taking bows for cutting personal income taxes in Maryland 10 percent over the next five years, but the legislators will make up for it by finding some new, previously unimagined way to put their hands in our pockets.As Franklin P. Adams once wrote:Count that day won whenTurning on its axisThis earth imposesNo additional taxes.Fat chance. Something new is just around the bend, only they'll dress it up with a fancy name, like "revenue enhancer."

Business leaders and residents went to Baltimore City Hall yesterday to oppose several tax proposals that Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke says need to be approved in some combination to cover an expected $4.9 million budget shortfall.Two proposals -- a parking levy and an energy levy -- drew the most opposition as nearly 25 business leaders said businesses will fail or move from the city if more taxes are imposed on them."It would be a mistake to, in the heat of a budget crisis, subject [nonprofit organizations]

WASHINGTON -- If anyone knows how to take advantage of wrinkles in the tax rules, it is the bean counters at the IRS. So it should come as no surprise that they have figured out how the top officials at the agency can avoid paying hundreds of dollars in extra taxes this year to cover the value of parking free in the IRS garage.To do so, the agency had to violate principles it laid down eight years ago on how the value of taxable fringe benefits should be calculated. It wrote a one-year grace period into the enforcement rules of a new law and then figured the worth of IRS parking in such a favorable way that the executives who use it owe no additional taxes.

WASHINGTON -- Attempting to clarify once and for all his plans for reviving the economy, President Bush repackaged his approach yesterday as an updated version of traditional Yankee capitalism, relying heavily on expanded trade, entrepreneurial incentives and down-sized government.But he got stuck in a new snarl over whether or not he has taken another pledge to swear off tax increases.In a midday speech in Detroit and in a five-minute nationally televised political commercial last night, Mr. Bush tried to shed his image as keeper of the status quo and offer a prescription for change.

Business leaders and residents went to Baltimore City Hall yesterday to oppose several tax proposals that Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke says need to be approved in some combination to cover an expected $4.9 million budget shortfall.Two proposals -- a parking levy and an energy levy -- drew the most opposition as nearly 25 business leaders said businesses will fail or move from the city if more taxes are imposed on them."It would be a mistake to, in the heat of a budget crisis, subject [nonprofit organizations]

Editor's note: Rising costs, fewer state and federal dollars and falling county revenue have pushed Carroll's deficit over $5 million. The Budget Office has directed all county agencies to cut their budgetsby 1 percent for fiscal 1991, which ends June 30, and by 2 percent for fiscal 1992. . We have been asking readers where cuts should be made, whether taxes should be increased and related questions. Here aresome of the replies we received:From: Charles LindnerWestminsterI do not support any increase in the tax rate for any reason.

It's done.The Maryland General Assembly finally closed its firstextended session in 76 years and what do we have to show for it?A $420 million increase in taxes for the residents of the state.For those of us who thought we were a tax hell a few years ago, we've learned we were merely biding our time in tax purgatory.What exactly does all of this mean to Carroll County taxpayers?It means that even with all the tax increases and fee enhancers, we will experience a $7.5 million cut in state aid. The legislature also enacteda measure that will enable Carroll to raise its piggyback tax rate from 50 percent of the state income tax bill to 60 percent.

From: Mary McNally RoseAnnapolisOn Jan. 30, I spoke before a joint session of the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee and the House Committee on Ways and Means. I did so because I believe we still have fat in the bureaucracy that needs to be cut and we do not need additional taxes.The Republican proposal for a balanced budget without additional taxes is both realistic and viable. Maryland taxpayers cannot withstand additional taxes, particularly during these difficult times of recession.