The St. Mary’s County Commissioners will present a ten-item legislative package to the county’s state delegation when they meet in December. The package was unveiled at Tuesday’s commissioner meeting by County Attorney George Sparling and Deputy Assistant County Attorney David Weiskopf.
Sparling presented seven of the items, several suggested by him and others from one or more unidentified county commissioner. Two of the items could potentially have a negative impact on county tax revenue.
One proposal would give the commissioners authority to give a property tax credit to partially disabled veterans rated at 30 percent disability or greater. Currently only 100 percent disabled veterans are eligible for the tax credit. Sparling said the potential loss of property tax revenue was 41.8 million yearly.
The second proposal would “reduce the taxable income of a physician with military experience who relocates to St. Mary’s County and treats honorably discharged veterans and their families.” Sparling noted the potential fiscal impact would be 4105 annually per physician.
Commissioner Daniel Morris (R: 2nd) has been an advocate for veterans and has previously mentioned both revenue proposals. The discussion about retired military physicians came up during a discussion of the doctor and nurses shortage with St. Mary’s Hospital officials.
At Tuesday’s meeting Morris noted that the commissioners could implement any aspect of the partially-disabled veteran tax credit so the fiscal impact could be less. And, Commissioner Cynthia Jones (R: 1st) said the disability threshold could be higher than 30 percent.
One legislative proposal, which has been previously suggested by Commissioner Todd Morgan (R: 4th) would generate more revenue by increasing the ceiling on the county’s public accommodations tax from five percent to seven-and-a-half percent. That could add $375,000 yearly to the county coffers.
Another proposal would allow the county to levy a sales and use tax for short-term vehicle rentals. Sparling says there is no available data to calculate the potential revenue of that proposal.
Three of the ten proposals come from Donna Sasscer, manager of agriculture/seafood with the Department of Economic and Community Development and were presented by Weiskopf. One would seek a $323,513 bond bill for improvements to the county’s Home Grown Farm Market in Hermanville.
Another proposal from Sasscer would permit wine tasting and wine sales at Maryland Department of Agriculture permitted farmers’ markets in the county. Commissioner Larry Jarboe (R: 3rd) asked if there were any in the county. Department of Economic and Community Development Director Dr. Robert Schaller said knew for sure about the ones at the Charlotte Hall Library and the BAE Systems parking lot, but wasn’t sure about the new one in Hermanville or the commercial Charlotte Hall Farmers Market.
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