Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout970514 May 14, 1997 Hagerstown, Maryland PUBLIC HEARING - PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 1998 BUDGET AND CONSTANT YIELD TAX RATE The public hearing to consider the proposed Fiscal Year 1998 budget for Washington County and the property tax rate was called to order at 7:00 p.m. at the Kepler Theater at Hagerstown Junior College by the President, Gregory I. Snook, with the following members present: Vice President John S. Shank and Commissioners Ronald L. Bowers, R. Lee Downey and James R. Wade. Rodney Shoop, County Administrator, announced that this public hearing is being held to permit the residents of Washington County to comment on the  Commissioners intention to increase the current property tax rate of $2.21 to to $2.31 per $100 of assessed valuation for the fiscal year of 1998 as Sections 2-205 and 6-308, Tax-Property Article, Annotated Code of required by Maryland, to consider a proposed increase in the County income tax rate (piggyback tax) from 50% of the State income tax for an individual to 54%, effective January 1, 1998, and to review the proposed Fiscal Year 1998 budget as advertised. Mr. Shoop also stated that the Commissioners have adopted an interest earning rate of 6% with regard to service charges associated with the semi-annual tax payments. Mr. Shoop reviewed the proposed General Fund budget which totals $98,612,344; the Capital Improvement Projects budget in the amount of $14,396,824, and the Public Safety budget in the amount of $6,862,102. Mr. Shoop also provided a detailed presentation of the projected revenues for Washington County for the next fiscal year. Mr. Shoop announced that over the next ten days, the citizens of Washington County can submit written comments to the Board of County Commissioners at 100 West Washington Street and that, in accordance with provisions of the Tax Property Article, the Board of County Commissioners will adopt the tax rate for Fiscal Year 1998 and an interest rate of 6% with regard to service charges associated with semi-annual tax payments on Tuesday,  May 27, 1997, in the Commissioners meeting room in the County Administration Building. The hearing was then opened for public testimony. After all testimony was given, Commissioner Snook adjourned the hearing at 10:45 p.m. County Administrator County Attorney , Clerk