Homestead cap projects residents

Editor,

Your article “Local Property Assessments Jump” in the January 10 edition left out a very important piece of information.

The statewide Homestead Tax exemption credit allows both counties and cities to adopt a lower ceiling for the exemption than the state standard of 10%. The exemption applies only if the property is the primary residence of the owner. I believe that Worcester County uses 3% and Ocean City actually uses 0%.

When the budget is being considered in open meetings in other jurisdictions, you will see many homeowners testify asking the politicians to hold the line on property tax increases. In Worcester County and Ocean City, about all you hear are requests for more funding.

The reason is the owner occupied properties have a cap of 3% per year in Worcester County taxes and are capped at 0% for Ocean City taxes.

The result is that all the voters either pay no property tax because they are renters or are shielded from any significant property tax increase.

The bottom line is no one is trying to put a lid on spending in the county or city because voters are largely unaffected by any property tax increase.

Jim Thomas
Silver Spring