Even though homes in Montgomery County have declined significantly in value since the real estate bubble burst in 2007, homeowners there get no relief under County Executive Ike Leggett's proposed fiscal 2012 budget. On the contrary, Leggett is proposing higher property taxes, not lower. The county executive wants to raise the property tax rate to 71.6 cents per every $100 of assessed valuation, up from the current 69.9 cents, which translates to an $85 tax increase on a typical home valued at $500,000.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Examiner Local Editorial: Leggett targets homeowners but protects his fiery pal
Examiner Local Editorial: Leggett targets homeowners but protects his fiery pal | Examiner Editorial | Local | Washington Examiner
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This is what the teacher's Apple Ballot endorsed and told voters to support.
ReplyDeleteInstead of cutting current spending to eliminate the county government's $300 million deficit, Leggett is trying to squeeze more money out of beleaguered taxpayers. Besides higher property taxes, he literally wants to nickel-and-dime county residents with a new 5-cent tax on paper and plastic bags and a 10-cent increase in the state's gas tax. That's in addition to his proposed 8.5 percent increase in water and sewer fees and $13 more annually for storm water management. But raising taxes just takes money out of the productive private sector, the main source of future county revenue.