Corridor, Inc Poll

Corridor, Inc

Will Rogers November 4, 1879 – August 15, 1935

Today marks the 71st anniversary of Will Roger’s tragic death.

From Wikipedia

An avid booster of aviation, Rogers undertook a ’round-the world’ flight with a fellow Oklahoman, world-renowed aviator Wiley Post, in the summer of 1935. Post’s plane, an experimental and top-heavy hybrid of Lockheed Explorer and Orion parts, crashed near Point Barrow, Alaska, on 15 August 1935, killing both men.

Most memorable quote

“I’m not a member of any organized political party, I’m a Democrat!”

Some things never change.

Fox and Merdon: Two Great Ideas that can come together

Yesterday Chris Merdon and Charlie Feaga proposed a property tax reduction of 25 percent for those 70 or older with incomes of under $75,000 a year.  This is great and is a direct result of the HB288 legislation passed by the General Assembly this year.

I agree with Chris Merdon that it is a good way to manage growth in our school system, and it provides a cost savings to the county to enable our seniors to remain in the county.

The Baltimore Examiner quoted Greg Fox, who attended the press conference , “…the council should work with the state delegation to address the needs of those between 65 and 70 years old.”

Wayne Livesay attended too and is quoted in the Baltimore Sun article in reference to the need for this type of legislation citing the experience of his 73 year old mother.

In my last post I suggested the Chris Merdon and Greg Fox should collaborate on developing legislation that would also enable seniors to downsize their homes, move to senior housing in the county, and retain the same benefit.  In other words, make it portable.  With Charlie in the mix I think Greg, Chris and Charlie could come up with even more meaningful legislation.  Portability is an issue that Greg Fox brought up earlier in the year.  If it was necessary to work with our State legislators to enable portability (as some have suggested) Greg Fox is the person.  Greg Fox has a tremendous relationship with, and the endorsement of, Schrader, Kittleman, and Miller.  He is in a great position to advocate on behalf of the county citizens and the next county executive.  Greg has commented that HB288 may already provide that flexibility and is already discussing it with Schrader.

By working on this idea and fleshing it out even further than what HB288 envisioned Greg and Chris can provide a real boost to our senior citizens.

I understand that some people might think this is politically motivated or that they were not included in the initial discussions – ‘tis the season.  Even if it is politically motivated at least it is meaningful and actually accomplishes something.

Hayduke asked about circuit breaker (Homestead) tax options.  Good question.  I looked into it.  These are opt-in tax breaks that most seniors don’t know about and are not applying for.  We should not make our seniors apply for a tax break when the County has the ability to cut their taxes with simple legislation.

Additional options are for seniors to defer tax increases on their homes and pay them when the property is inherited upon their death or when the sell.  This requires that the county place a tax lien on the property.  That is an idea that many seniors don’t like.

Shane Pendergrass’ website discusses the latest updates to Homestead legislation.

Homestead Act — The House voted to expand the Homeowners’ Property Tax Credit (Circuit Breaker).  HB 5 proposes doubling the maximum assessed value of a property exemption from $150K to $300K, and exempting 401K and other retirement income from the net worth limitation.  This action would provide a greater benefit to homeowners currently in the program and would draw additional homeowners into the program. The Circuit Breaker was last reviewed in 1989 — since that time, residential assessments have risen at a rate far greater than household income levels.   This legislation will help longtime residents of neighborhoods stay in the communities they helped to build.  Coupled with the Aging in Place legislation passed last year by the County Council of Howard County, retired citizens on fixed incomes will find it easier to remain in the homes they have lived in for many years

Here is more information on “Circuit Breaker” tax credits.  http://www.itepnet.org/pb10cb.pdf