A proposal by the Property Owners Association of Chesapeake Ranch Estates (POACRE) Board of Directors to retain the Lusby subdivision’s status as a special taxing district (STD) will be the subject of a public hearing later this spring. The Calvert County Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the request during their Tuesday, March 19 hearing.
According to a memo from County Attorney John Norris, the POACRE board’s petition requests the county’s assistance in raising funds for “community infrastructure” by assessing a special tax upon all CRE properties. The levy, as requested, would be in the amount of $250 per lot, per year for five years.
Norris stated that the county government’s Department of Public Works has reviewed the board of director’s plan for upgrading roads and storm water management components within the large subdivision.
“Out of all the STDs I’ve seen this one is the most comprehensive,” said Commissioner Gerald W. “Jerry” Clark [R], who added CRE leaders have “really got their act together.”
The Department of Finance and Budget reported the county currently holds $4.1 million in the third STD, which the commissioners voted to extend an additional year last June. The new STD is expected to raise almost $5.9 million. According to POACRE’s Board of Directors, over $3 million is expected to be spent over the first three years of the fourth STD. The plan projects a surplus of $1.4 million when the fourth STD expires.
Jay Hopson, CRE’s road engineer, told the commissioners any unexpended funds will be used for road maintenance. Primary roads in CRE, which perhaps is better known as “The Ranch Club,” will be resurfaced with asphalt while crews will use tar and chip on the tertiary roads, Hopson said.
“We need to address the drainage as
