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Maryland counties warn budget shifts would force property tax hikes; Mako opposes solar bill as drafted
Summary
The Maryland Association of Counties told Eastern Shore lawmakers that proposed budget reconciliation changes would shift roughly a quarter-billion dollars in costs to counties and that current solar siting legislation raises safety, tax and livability concerns for local governments.
The Maryland Association of Counties told the Eastern Shore delegation on Tuesday that the governor’s budget reconciliation proposal and related amendments would shift hundreds of millions in costs onto counties, forcing local property tax increases and cuts to services. The association also said it opposes the current draft of House Bill 1036 and Senate Bill 931 on solar siting and battery facilities.
The association’s executive director, Michael Sanderson, and legislative director, Kevin Kennelly, said counties face a mix of “cuts and cost shifts” that would land directly on local budgets. “With the DLS recommendations on top of what the BRFAA is, we’re looking at about a quarter billion dollars in cost shifts and cuts directly onto counties,” Kennelly said.
The association flagged several specific shifts. Kennelly said a proposed transfer of some teacher pension costs to counties…
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