Thursday, May 23, 2013
The timing of a bill that reduces fees for developers comes as an August deadline looms for more than a dozen projects.
The Baltimore County Council Thursday is scheduled to vote on a bill that would lower the rates charged to developers who would rather pay a fee in lieu of setting aside a portion of a proposed development as open space. Michael Harrison, a lobbyist for the Home Builders Association of Maryland, said his group asked for the rates to be updated last November—the first such change in seven years. "The fees were set at the peak of the market and developers could afford those prices," Harrison said, adding that later it became apparent that a number of developers were in danger of losing their ability to move forward because they had not yet paid the waiver fees. If the council adopts the new fee schedule, developers would pay rates equivalent…
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Baltimore City has proposed a 15 percent increase beginning in July.
Water service for county residents will not likely cost more despite a proposal by Baltimore City to raise rates by 15 percent. At least not this year. The increase proposed by city Department of Public Works would increase water bills by nearly $24 per quarter for the typical city water customers. The system supplies water to 1.8 million residents in Baltimore City and Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll and Howard Counties. Baltimore County absorbs some costs of the system through a complex agreement with the city. Other costs are paid for through the Metropolitan District Fund that is assessed as a line item on county property tax bills. "Given [the agreement] and the metropolitan fund balance, there was no need to pass this increase on to…
Monday, May 20, 2013
Tuition rates and fees for In-county, out-of-county and out-of-state students will all go up next semester.
Students attending the Community College of Baltimore County will have to dig a little deeper next semester. The college will increase fees across the board by 3 percent. Currently, in-county students pay $106 per credit. Out-of-county and out-of-state students pay $202 and $303 respectively. Under the new tuition rates, those costs will increase to $109, $208 and $312 respectively. General services fees will also increase across the board. Currently, in-county students pay $9 per credit. Out-of-county and out-of-state students pay $18 and $27 respectively. The new increases will bring those fees to $10.50, $20.50 and $30.50 respectively. Registration fees will increase from $40 to $50. Graduation fees will increase from $50 to $75. …
Residency requirements could thwart Timothy Tenne's efforts to get his name on the 2014 ballot
Timothy Tenne has lived in Baltimore County nearly all his life except for the time he spent in the Air Force. The retired Lt. Colonel and commercial airline pilot wants to be Baltimore County Executive but he may need a little help to meet the residency requirements. "There is going to have to be some kind of an opinion from the Attorney General or we're going to need a Charter change," Tenne said speaking of his eligibility. Tenne filed earlier this year and is listed on the Maryland State Board of Elections website as a provisional candidate. "He is provisional until he satisfies his residency requirement of 5 years living in Baltimore County," wrote Katie Brown, director of elections for the Baltimore County Board of Elections. The …
Amber Triplett's photo-manipulation won the Second Congressional District's annual student art contest.
There are art galleries and then there are art galleries. Patapsco High School and Center for the Arts junior Amber Triplett has just landed a piece of wall space in one of the grandest art galleries in the land—the U.S. Capitol. Triplett's photo-manipulation titled "Self Portrait" was named the first-place winner in U.S. Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger's annual Second Congressional District student art contest. Her work of art bested 35 other entries submitted by high school students from across the district to win the right to hang in the Capitol for the next year. Winning art from all congressional districts across the country will be displayed in the collection. Patapsco senior Safiya Brown won second place for her oil painting titled "A…
Former Baltimore County Recreation and Parks Director John Weber tells County Executive Kevin Kamenetz selling parkland is a bad move.
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Monday, May 20
Dundalk Patch received a copy of the following letter sent from former Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks Director John F. Weber to Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz: Dear Kevin: I grew up in Dundalk and began my career in recreation, parks and conservation with the Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks. My career took me to Harford County, MD and Los Angeles, California. I came home to Baltimore County in 1995 as the Director of Recreation and Parks. Throughout my career, I worked with staff, elected officials, volunteers and numerous citizen organizations in the purchase and development of neighborhood, community and regional parks and do not understand how our current Baltimore County Government…
Sunday, May 19, 2013
What advice did the first lady give graduates? Will electricity rates go up - again? Get all the Maryland news with one click on Patch.
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Sunday, May 19
By Patch Staff It was a big news week in Maryland last week, with a visit by the first lady, a commuter nightmare in Montgomery and a heads up for a sixth casino in the state. All the headlines from 48 Patch sites across Maryland: Berliner Calls for Better Electricity Service with 'Utility 2.0' Montgomery County Council Member Roger Berliner asked the Maryland Public Service Commission to require that substantial changes be made to electricity services in the state. Meanwhile, Pepco is asking for permission to raise rates. Michelle Obama to Bowie State Grads: It's Time to Feel Hungry Again In a speech rich with historical references, the first lady reminded the BSU class of 2013 why education is important. Report: Quince Orchard Students…
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Council correction of a $100,000 math error represents the smallest budget reduction in the last three years.
The Baltimore County Council Thursday took a little off the top of County Executive Kevin Kamenetz's third budget. The council cut just $100,000 from Kamenetz's proposed $2.8 billion spending plan for the budget year that begins July 1. That plan includes nearly $1.7 billion in general fund spending paid for with county property and piggyback income taxes. "It's a fiscally prudent budget," Council Chairman Tom Quirk, a Catonsville Democrat, said, explaining that the small reduction taken by the council was a reflection of the weakened economy and sluggish property tax receipts. "There really wasn't a lot to trim," Quirk said. "It's all muscle and bone." The proposed budget contains no furloughs or layoffs and no property or income tax …
The deadline to apply for the Homestead Tax Credit has been extended to Dec. 30.
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 required to confirm their eligibility for the Homestead Tax Credit program in order to continue receiving the benefit. While I did all I could to help …
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
The New England College poll previewing the 2016 Presidential primary shows Hillary Clinton with a commanding lead.
Gov. Martin O'Malley finished last among a field of 2016 Democratic Presidential hopefuls, according to a poll released by New England College. The poll released Tuesday by the New Hampshire-based college found that former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton led the field with 65 percent of those surveyed saying they would vote for her in 2016. O'Malley finished last among the field of six with zero percent saying they would vote for the two-term Democratic Maryland governor. Rounding out the field is Vice President Joseph Biden with 10 percent, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren with 5 percent, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo with 4 percent and Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick with 3 percent. The college surveyed 314 New Hampshire Democratic …
Sanchez
10:52 am on Wednesday, May 22, 2013
For the past few years anyone filling taxes could take one of 2 different education tax credits. One year at least it was a dollar for dollar credit. If you spent $1000 on qualifying education you took a $1000 tax credit. then on top of that they will get some or all of their loans forgiven. Double dipping on the taxpayers! more ›