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Garrett County schedules March 9 hearing after homestead tax briefing
Summary
County staff told commissioners the Homestead Tax Credit at the current 3% rate defers $2.7 million in revenue; the Board set a special public meeting for March 9 to solicit comments on lowering the rate before the March 15 state submission deadline.
Garrett County commissioners on March 2 reviewed the county’s Homestead Tax Credit and scheduled a special public meeting for March 9 to gather public comment on a possible rate change.
Scott Weeks, director of the Garrett County Department of Financial Services, briefed the Board on the homestead tax. Staff reported that at the current 3% homestead tax rate the county is deferring $2.7 million in revenue. Staff materials and the minutes state that lowering the rate to 2% "would equate to an additional $115,000" and lowering to 1% "would be an additional $231,000." The Board indicated no opposition to exploring a lower rate.
County staff noted that any change to the homestead tax rate must be submitted to the State of Maryland by March 15, 2026. Because of that reporting deadline, the Board set a Special Public Meeting for Monday, March 9, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. to solicit public comments on adjusting the Garrett County Homestead Tax Rate.
The meeting minutes do not record a vote on a specific rate change at this session; the March 9 meeting will be the next procedural step for public input.
