Charter Amendment

The Howard County Council's two Republicans voted last night to kill their tax-limiting charter amendment after the three majority Democrats amended it with what one GOP member called a "poison pill." "I'm really frustrated to work so long on something and have it amended so I can't vote for it," western county Republican Allan H. Kittleman said. Proposals to change the county charter require support from four of the five council members to be placed on the November election ballot. The charter amendment sponsored by Kittleman and fellow Republican Christopher J. Merdon of Ellicott City would require that a super-majority of four of the five council members pre-approve any request for an income or property tax increase from the county executive -- an idea Democrats have opposed.

A rally supporting a proposed city charter amendment to lower the minimum age for City Council members to 18 kicked off a four-month campaign yesterday that proponents hope will increase youth voter turnout in the November elections. Last month, the council voted to put the question on the fall ballot. Currently, the charter requires council members to be at least 21 years old. Although supporters of the charter amendment don't have a specific youth candidate in mind should voters approve the amendment, a coalition of City Council members and youth organizations hopes to make youth more aware of their political options.

The discussion was cordial yesterday and the political jabs were delivered with laughter and smiles, but chances for a unanimous Howard County Council vote Tuesday on a charter amendment that would make it harder to raise taxes remained slim at best. "It's more of a philosophical difference" separating the council's two Republicans from the three Democrats, western county Republican Allan H. Kittleman said at the council's late-afternoon work session in Ellicott City. The minority Republicans want less spending and the ability to block tax increases, while the Democrats say government flexibility and quality of life are more important.

As they gear up for an election referendum campaign to limit tax increases, Howard County Republicans have chosen Howard Rensin, a 60-year old Glenwood resident and party activist, to replace Louis M. Pope as party chairman. The party is mailing about 7,000 letters this week seeking support for the independently sponsored signature drive to place on the November ballot a charter amendment that would make it harder for county government to raise income or property taxes. The measure would require four of the five County Council members to approve any increase and also would force the county executive to get approval from the council before submitting an increase.

The Howard County Council tabled the most politically explosive issue on the agenda at last night's meeting - but not without a bit of rhetorical fire and smoke. The council's majority of three Democrats delayed a vote on whether to place before county voters a Republican-sponsored charter amendment that would limit the county executive's ability to raise taxes. They said they want to consider possible amendments and vote on the measure next month along with 16 other proposed charter changes suggested by a citizens commission.

Echoes of last year's battle that resulted in a countywide tax increase drew nearly all of the speakers at last night's monthly County Council public hearing. This time the tax fight is over a proposed charter amendment that would - if approved by county voters - make it harder for an executive to raise income taxes or property taxes. County Executive James N. Robey, a Democrat, pushed through a 30 percent income tax rate increase last spring, with support from the council's three Democrats.

Howard County's Republicans are eagerly backing a petition to limit the county executive's ability to raise taxes via a charter referendum, but the party's two most prominent elder statesmen oppose the idea. Charles I. Ecker, a two-term county executive, and Charles C. Feaga, a three-term councilman and a county executive candidate in 1998, said changing the structure of government because of one tax increase is not wise. Both men opposed the 30 percent income tax increase pushed through last year by Democrat County Executive James N. Robey.

As Howard County's Democrats and Republicans gather this week for annual party fund-raising dinners charged with election-year presidential politics, a local fight over tax increases is emerging as a rival for attention. U.S. Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski was the keynote speaker for the Democrats last night at Ten Oaks Ballroom in Clarksville, and Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. is the Republicans' big gun tomorrow night at Turf Valley, where the party plans to help launch a petition drive to make county tax increases more difficult.

In addition to casting ballots in federal, state and local races, Anne Arundel County voters will decide the fate of eight amendments to the county charter Tuesday. The County Council placed the amendments on the ballot based on the recommendations of a charter review commission. Voters consider charter amendments every 10 years. Here are the questions: Hearings on amended ordinances: Would remove the requirement that hearings and proceedings on an amended ordinance be held in the same manner as for a new ordinance.

After months of review and debate, Anne Arundel County Council members have sent a list of proposed charter amendments, including a hotly contested measure to allow an outside arbitrator to settle labor disputes, to voters for a referendum in November. Council members added an eighth and final charter revision concerning bidding practices to the list at a meeting Monday. Councilman Daniel E. Klosterman Jr. withdrew a resolution to enlarge the county Ethics Commission because of a lack of input from commission members.