Note: This is a SUMMARY of the Commissioners Meeting for the purposes of a Press Release. These are not the official minutes of the meeting.
Review of Actions Taken in the Washington County
Board of County Commissioners Meeting
May 29, 2007
THE BOARD OF county commissioners hELD A jOINT MEETING WITH THE BOARD OF
EDUCATION at the washington county technical high school TO DISCUSS FUNDING
FOR THE BARBARA INGRAM SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS
County Financial
Advisor Lester Guthorn briefed the bodies on financing options available. Following
discussion of a number of issues relating to financing the school and public
fund-raising, the Commissioners reached consensus to support the Board of Education
moving forward with a Lease-Finance funding plan in the most cost-effective
manner.
EXCISE TAX TASK FORCE CANDIDATES
The Board
of County Commissioners held a brief meeting to discuss potential appointments
to a state-mandated Excise Tax Task Force. House Bill 1355, which allowed limitations
on the excise tax cap to be lifted for FY 2008 and allowed excise taxes to be
based on square footage of a proposed dwelling, on a graduated scale, also required
that the Commissioners appoint a task force to make recommendations on the building
tax rate and structure for residential development. Such a body would provide
its recommendations to the Commissioners by September 30th. The Board discussed
makeup of the Task Force, citing need for representation from a broad range
of stakeholders. A 13-member committee would include a County staff person as
Chair, and 1 representative from each of 10 categories of interest, including the
Economic Development Community, Builders, Realtors, Non-Profit Builders, Homeowners,
the Maryland Municipal League local chapter, Lenders, Urban Redevelopers, a
Land Attorney, and a member of the Local; Delegation to the General Assembly.
In addition there would be 2 At-Large members from the citizenry. Staff support
would come from the County departments of Budget and Finance, Permits and Inspections,
Planning and the County Attorney, as well as from the Board of Education. Consensus
was reached to move ahead with advertisement of the need for members, and a
deadline for application. The sign-up information will be posted to the County
website, with the ability to apply on-line. Approval of the Task Force membership
could come as quickly as June 12th, and interested citizens are urged to watch
for further announcements of application availability.