The Homestead Property Tax Credit was created to help homeowners deal with large assessment increases on their principal residence. The program caps yearly increases to 10% or less each year for Maryland property taxes, and to no more than a 4% annual increase in Baltimore County. Because of the program, homeowners pay no property taxes when market value increases make home values worth more than the limits imposed by the program—saving taxpayers millions of dollars annually. A few months ago, I reached out to constituents to inform them of a very important deadline by which they would be …

Every year, I am honored to join my colleagues from the sixth legislative district in attending the award ceremonies for the graduating seniors in our local high schools.  While there, we join scores of community and civic organizations from around the district to distribute scholarships in support of our students planning to pursue higher education. It is especially rewarding to be able to support the hopes and dreams of some of the best and brightest we have.   In fact, this is one of the most exciting times for me as your Delegate, as I have the opportunity to meet so many successful …

With the 2013 Legislative Session now officially drawn to a close, I am pleased to provide you with my End of Session Report. This overview covers some of the major developments of the session, though space considerations prevent it from covering every issue discussed. As always, my office would be happy to review the issues covered here in further detail, or to discuss any other piece of legislation that you may have an interest in. Please do not hesitate to contact me anytime at my district office (410-282-1733), Annapolis office (410-841-3458), or by email at delegateolszewski@gmail.com.…

The 2013 legislative session is rushing to its conclusion at a feverish pace. Just in the past week, the Senate (by one vote) recommitted the HOME Act to committee and effectively ended debate on the issue. The state operating and capital budgets have been unveiled and passed both respective chambers. And unfortunately, a massive gas tax increase has already passed both the House and Senate and will soon become law. I strongly opposed and voted against this ill-advised piece of legislation. Without question, there are pressing transportation needs around the state, but we should have been …

The House of Delegates recently voted on legislation allowing for the development of offshore wind farms. I supported this legislation for several reasons: to provide for stable energy pricing; improved health, climate and national security outcomes; and most importantly for jobs and growing the economy. Coming as a follow-up to the update I provided last week about workforce training legislation, the EARN (Employment Advancement Right Now) Act, the Maryland Offshore Wind Energy legislation is a fitting complement. Officials are quick to say that they support the growth of new jobs, but not …

It was not too long ago that our national economy suffered from the greatest recession since the Great Depression.  While I have always been mindful about ways in which the state can play a role in sustaining and growing jobs, the need to focus in this area has been especially acute in this time of recovery. That is precisely why I am so happy to report that Gov. O’Malley has formally decided to make a proposal that I helped create a part of his 2013 legislative agenda.  The legislation, which I crafted with the help of Sen. Kathy Klausmeier following a conference we attended on helping …

The 2013 session of the Maryland General Assembly was called to order on Wednesday, Jan. 9. During the 90 days ahead, the legislature is set to tackle a wide range of issues important to residents of the 6th district and all of Maryland. I am hopeful that this legislative update will help to serve as a broad overview of what residents can expect to be some of the big issues of the session, with more detailed discussions of some of these issues to be given as our time in Annapolis continues. For the first time since I have been in office, it appears as if higher than expected corporate and …

The Baltimore County administration recently announced that it will be issuing an SFP—solicitation for proposals—that would sell the North Point Government Center and transfer the police station to where the Eastwood School is currently located, with proceeds from a sale being used to fund air conditioning in area schools. There are also two other parcels in other parts of Baltimore County that would be sold. These include a fire station in Towson and a police sub-station in Randallstown. While I have long been a supporter of additional funding for air conditioning in our schools, there are …

With the calendar quickly marching toward the end of the year, we know that we will soon be in full blown holiday mode. In the hustle and bustle that lies ahead, there is an important deadline to which I would like all of the homeowners in District 6 to be aware.Beginning on December 31, 2012, homeowners will no longer have the opportunity to verify they are eligible for the Homestead Property Tax Credit. This credit was created to help homeowners deal with large assessment increases on their principal residence. The program caps yearly increases to 10% or less each year for Maryland property…

Recent discussion about the Catholic Charities of Baltimore’s proposal to co-locate housing for the homeless alongside the preschool and senior housing complex near St. Luke’s Church in Edgemere has again brought the issue of homelessness in Eastern Baltimore County into focus. While we should be able to agree that the issue merits our attention, we should also agree to approach the challenge in a thoughtful and comprehensive way. I do not support what has become an ad hoc way of placing social services. That is why I formally developed and submitted a plan to the Baltimore County …

The Maryland General Assembly recently concluded its special legislative session on the subject of expanded gaming in the state. Along with the rest of your 6th district legislative team, I voted for the bill. My support for the bill was largely based on the bottom line: thousands of more job opportunities and hundreds of millions of dollars in new revenue without taxes. If fully implemented, the changes are expected to create nearly 5,000 new jobs, many related to the construction of a new facility in Prince George’s County in addition to those tied to the implementation of table games at …

It has recently been announced that Governor O’Malley will reconvene the Maryland General Assembly for another special legislative session to begin on August 9. For residents keeping track, this represents the third session outside of our regular time in Annapolis in less than a year-long span. Let me be clear that I believe it is the responsibility of the legislature and ouradministration to do the work we are called to do in the usual order of business; that is, during our regular 90-day session. While there are extraordinary circumstances that are worthy (or, as was the case with …

With the end of the month of August in sight, it seems like summer has beenmoving along at a tremendous clip. It is hard to believe that weeks have already elapsed since the 4th of July and all of the celebrations that are associated with it. As usual, the Dundalk community put on a celebration unlike most others! Along with nearly 60 friends, family, and volunteers, we kicked off ourIndependence Day celebration about a week before the actual 4th by coordinating a roadway cleanup of my adopted street, Wise Avenue. By the time the clean-up had ended, the group saw Councilman John Olszewski, Sr…

It is no secret that all levels of government have been struggling to find a way to pay the ever-increasing costs of providing services people rely on while also struggling with significantly declining revenue resulting from the great recession. Until recently, I have been especially impressed by the ways in which Baltimore County has tackled these challenges. Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz and the County Council planned well for these days, amassing a sizable surplus when times were good. Moreover, they have not been reluctant to make difficult reductions in government, merging …

Once again, the Maryland Transportation Authority seems poised to use its non-elected position to pass along ill-advised toll increases on residents of southeast Baltimore County and the entire Baltimore metropolitan region. This decision comes despite considerable public outcry, suggesting that the members were either not listening or did not care about what local residents had to say.Indeed, plans to raise the basic round-trip rates at all Baltimore-area crossings to $8 (up from the current $4) for a round trip beginning in 2013 remain intact. Meanwhile, the MTA did agree to scale back the …

Sept. 11, 2001 is a date that most people who experienced it will remember for the rest of their lives. I personally will never forget my own experience with that date.   Events like Sept. 11 reshape one’s perspective. For most of my life, it was simply the day after my birthday (Sept. 10) and the date of my parent’s anniversary. Since 2001, however, it has never been the same. After the attacks on 9/11, Americans resolved that we would join in solidarity in protecting ourselves and neighbors against those who bore ill-will towards us.   Our nation now also takes the time annually to remember…

In addition to my priority and focus on the residents of the 6th legislative district in the legislature, I was honored this year to take on new responsibilities on behalf of all residents of Baltimore County as Chairman of the Baltimore County House Delegation.  This session, I was proud of the efforts and accomplishments of the Delegation—especially in the area of education. Indeed, perhaps the largest ongoing issue before the Baltimore County Delegation has been related to the Baltimore County School Board.  In years past, there have been a variety of proposals introduced and considered by…

A committee of the Maryland Transportation Authority recently issued a recommendation that put the issue of toll increases front and center.   Those of us living in close proximity to toll facilities are especially sensitive to toll costs. The full board plans to consider the proposal during its meeting in early June.   In the meantime, I hope you will join me to loudly advocate our opposition. As proposed, the toll increases would come in two phases: Oct. 1 of this year, and then again on July 1, 2013. Users of the harbor crossings—the Fort McHenry and Harbor tunnels and the Key Bridge—…

The Fourth of July will be here before we know it, along with parades, fairs and backyard barbeques. This year, it will also include more expensive adult beverages, as an increase on the state’s alcohol tax is set to take effect just before the holiday weekend, on July 1.   I strongly opposed the tax hike during our most recent legislative session.    At the start of the past session, advocates seeking an alcohol tax increase sought to increase alcohol costs by a “dime a drink, with a link.” The 10 cents per drink increase would have been accomplished by raising the state’s excise tax (at the…

With the 2011 session of the Maryland General Assembly now behind us, I will be using the weeks ahead to provide an overview of what changes to state law you can expect.   Always the center of attention is the state budget. Passing a balanced budget is the legislature’s only constitutionally mandated requirement, and, in the wake of the national recession, Maryland’s budget remains especially difficult to balance. Changes made to the defined benefit retirement system for state employees and teachers were the single greatest budget adjustments this year. Pension costs have been one of the …