Need help with HB 1552

[dcfirefighter]

Which allows and requires Baltimore City to establish separate rates of taxation for the two classifications ('land' & 'improvements') of real property, such that the rate for 'land' is higher than the rate for 'improvements'.

Full text of bill: http://mlis.state.md.us/2006rs/billfile/HB1552.htm

Sponsor, Clarence Davis MD-45 (Baltimore) http://www.mdarchives.state.md.us/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa12207.html

Why?
Because people make 'improvements', which require labor inputs (jobs, wages) and investment. Taxing 'improvements' reduces jobs, wages, and investment. This allows taxes against 'improvements' to be reduced in relation to taxes against 'land'.

No one makes 'land'. Taxing land does not reduce jobs, wages, or investment. It makes land use more efficeint by taking some of the speculative value of land away and using it for the public good. With the speculative value of land removed, land becomes more valuable as a home, business, or public place (and slightly easier to acquire).

In the places such a tax has been implemented, buildings have been replaced and renovated faster than comparable places without such a tax. This would be good for Baltimore, specifically, and Maryland, in general - fewer state funds would have to be spent in Baltimore.

Furthermore, increasing the efficiency of land use in Baltimore City reduces sprawl in neighboring counties: Baltimore Co, A.A. Co, Harford Co, Howard Co. etc.; reducing sprawl effects, among other things, the health of the Chesapeake Bay.

Please contact your state legislator and urge them to support HB 1552 "Land Value Taxation - Local Option for Baltimore City"

Find your state legislators here: http://mdelect.net/electedofficials/