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Calvert commissioners approve sending 10 legislative requests to Annapolis, including proposal to authorize a tobacco-barn tax credit
Summary
The board authorized staff to submit a package of state legislation requests covering bond authority, economic incentives, emergency-services funding, LOSAP changes and other items; enabling legislation to allow a county-administered tobacco-barn tax credit was approved after discussion of eligibility safeguards.
The Calvert County Board of County Commissioners on Oct. 28 voted to submit a package of requests for the Maryland General Assembly that would give the county authority on several matters ranging from capital bonding to local tax credits.
County Attorney John Norris presented ten draft requests and asked the board to take positions on items 1–4 and 6–10 and then consider item 5 (a tobacco-barn tax credit). The packet included a request for capital project bond authority (typical Calvert County bond term is 15 years), a proposal to enable local pilot incentives to attract tech investment and job creation, statutory submission of the Compensation Review Board's report, and a measure to create dedicated funding for volunteer emergency services.
Norris said the requests include both enabling legislation—which would give the county the authority to act—and direct statutory changes. "As a form of government, you only have the power and authority that Annapolis gives you," he said, explaining why the county submits enabling-authority bills to the delegation.
After discussion the board voted to approve submission of requests 1–4 and 6–10, with the exact bond amount to be identified through the county budget process.
The meeting then returned to item 5, a tobacco-barn tax-credit proposal that Norris said was prompted in part because certain historic tobacco barns are part of Calvert's rural character and owners had requested a similar benefit that exists in neighboring counties. Under the draft request the state would enact enabling legislation permitting the county to set the credit amount and duration; Norris said the requested bill would include state-mandated caveats that the property must have been subject to the tobacco buyout, must qualify for agricultural use assessment, and the use must be recognized as an approved agricultural activity by the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation.
"For full disclosure for me, the barn tax credit is $110," one commissioner said during discussion; staff did not provide a countywide cost estimate during the meeting.
Two commissioners recused themselves from the tobacco-barn vote because of conflicts; the remaining commissioners voted to submit item 5 to the county's legislative delegation as enabling legislation.
The board may expect further meetings with the county's delegation and public hearings in Annapolis next year if delegates introduce bills. Norris and staff noted the legislative schedule requires committee deadlines early in the session and that the board's delegation typically reviews and prioritizes county requests before submission to the General Assembly.
