City Manager & Staff Blog posts are generated directly by the City Manager or staff with editorial oversight from the City Manager, Deputy City Manager and Media Specialist.
From Lucy Neher, Safe Routes to School Coordinator
Helmets, bike bells, spoke lights had been delivered to Piney Branch ES, Takoma Park Middle School, East Silver Spring ES and Rolling Terrace ES. Parents and school staff got the word out that students should ride to school on May 4, Bike to School Day. The Takoma Park Police Department was on board to help keep riders safe. The weather was checked obsessively.
Bike to School Day 2016 in Takoma Park was a huge success!
And then then the email came:
Subject line: Biking tomorrow. Message: “Assuming the weather holds, Lev will be there with his bike and t-shirt. He remembers you saying he’d ride in it…”
LEV! Lev from the iCan Shine Bike Camp wanted to ride to Piney Branch with me on Bike to School Day!
Lev, a student on the Autism Spectrum at Piney Branch, was a rider at the Safe Routes to School hosted iCan Shine Bike Camp in the summer of 2015. Lev worked hard for five days on specially adapted bikes to learn how to ride independently. His Mom bought him a super cool white and neon green cruiser bike of his very own. By the last day of the camp, he graduated to his own bike and earned his day-glo iCan Bike t-shirt. I invited him to ride with me on Bike to School Day the following spring.
Safe Routes to School Coordinator Lucy Neher & iCan Bike Graduate Lev pose for the camera
…and Lev remembered. His Mom contacted me. I arranged for a bike to ride myself. She shared that he was on the phone telling his aunt about it before bedtime. “This is the first year I’ve been a good enough biker to ride in it. I’ve been a good biker for, oh, ten months now.” So Lev showed up at the meeting point, just like the other kids, and Lev set out on his own steam, just like the other kids and Lev rode up Maple Avenue to school, just like the 70 other kids from Piney Branch. Lev and I rode together. “We’re riding to school together,” I shouted. “I’m trying as hard as I can,” he yelled back.
The iCan Shine Bike Camp will be June 27 – July 1, 2016. Registration open for riders and volunteers. Once again, Takoma Park will host the iCan Shine Bike Camp for students with special needs. Maryland residents between the ages of 8 and 14 are invited to participate free of charge. The camp will be held at Takoma Academy, 8120 Carroll Avenue, Takoma Park, June 27 – July 1, 2016. Volunteers must be at least 16 years of age.
From Erkin Ozberk, Senior Planner in the Housing and Community Development Department
Takoma Park has many bicycle friendly ammenities like this repair station located where the Sligo Creek trail intersects with New Hampshire Avenue!
You may have noticed more people riding bikes in Takoma Park lately. That’s not just due to the warmer weather but because more people are biking in the Washington area, and in Takoma Park, for commuting, errands, visiting friends, exercise, and just for fun. But don’t just take my word for it, the American Community Survey administered by the Census Bureau reports that commuting by bicycle in the 20912 ZIP code (most of Takoma Park) increased 183% between 2011 and 2014.
While traditionally people biked as a greener way to travel, these days people are turning to two wheels because it is a cheaper, healthier, more enjoyable, and sometimes faster, more convenient way to get around. Not to mention, increased biking has been shown to support local economies, as cyclists spend more dollars closer to home. With May being Bike Month, two great ways to celebrate biking is through Bike To School Day on May 4 and Bike To Work Day on May 20. Both are free community events that attract hundreds of local participants every year, ranging from everyday bike commuters to those who have been saying that this is the year to get back in the saddle.
To address the growing demand for better bikeways, the City of Takoma Park and Montgomery County are working to provide safer and more comfortable opportunities to travel by bike in both the short and long term. In the last year, bike parking at City buildings nearly doubled and Takoma Park’s first bike repair stands were installed at the Police Station and on Sligo Creek Trail. Over the next year, expect to see Capital Bikeshare expanded in the city, with two new stations at the Recreation Center on New Hampshire Avenue and at the Takoma/Langley Crossroads. Plans are being developed in both Montgomery County and the District of Columbia to complete the long-awaited Metropolitan Branch Trail along the Red Line Metro tracks, and the City is applying for grant funding to install lights to improve safety and comfort on our section of the trail. Meanwhile, the Montgomery County Planning Department is working on a Bicycle Master Plan, a longer-term vision with the goal of being the best suburban bicycle plan in the nation.
You can learn more about City’s plans and projects on the Bikeways Program page, as well as how the Takoma Park Safe Routes To School program is teaching safe and confident riding skills to students at local elementary and middle schools.
Takoma Park is working with Montgomery County and the State of Maryland to combat the spread of Zika and monitor areas where the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes are found.
Takoma Park is coordinating with Montgomery County departments on a regional response to the Zika viruis. Photo courtesy of the CDC.
From Ron Hardy, the City of Takoma Park’s Emergency Preparedness Manager:
Dear Takoma Park Residents,
Mosquito season is upon us. The Zika virus is a major concern of many who travel to current areas where the Zika virus can be found and to areas of the United States where the mosquito breeds that could potentially spread the Zika virus. Montgomery County has a website with additional information and direction on the Zika virus and mosquito control at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/mosquito.
How can the Zika virus be spread?
There are several ways the Zika can be spread.
Most common is being bitten by an infected mosquito
A mosquito biting an infected person and carrying the virus to another human
Sex with an infected male partner
From a pregnant mother to the fetus (will cause development problems in the child).
What is Takoma Park doing to prevent the spread of Zika?
Takoma Park has contacted the MD Department of Agriculture to request that we be added to the larval testing program. We will be making site visits to all public bio-retention areas to ensure they are functioning as designed and not holding water for more than 24 hours. We will identify a contractor able to provide treatment for aquatic mosquito larvae. We will develop a list of known inlets or catch basins that store water and will consider treatment if necessary. We will review the MD Department of Agriculture website and additional information for best practices and treatment options to limit or eradicate mosquitoes that could be harmful to human health.
What can you do to eliminate standing water in and around your home?
Once a week:
Empty and scrub, turn over, cover, or throw out items that hold water, such as tires, buckets, planters, toys, pools, birdbaths, flowerpots, or trash containers
Clean rain gutters to allow water to flow freely.
Store plastic wading pools inside or turn them upside down when not in use.
Turn over or remove clay pots and plastic containers.
Dispose of all empty beverage containers, plastic wrappers, discarded toys, etc.
Check for trapped water in plastic or canvas tarps used to cover boats, pools, etc. Arrange the tarp to drain the water.
Replace water in bird baths at least twice a week.
Remove pet food and water dishes that are not being used.
Containers without lids, use wire mesh with holes smaller than an adult mosquito.
Tightly cover water storage containers (buckets, cisterns, rain barrels) so that mosquitoes cannot get inside to lay eggs.
Turn wheelbarrows upside down when stored outside
What can you do to keep mosquitoes out of your home?
Use screens on windows and doors.
Repair holes in screens.
Use air conditioning when available.
Use an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellent with one of the following active ingredients: DEET, picaridin, IR3535, OLE, or PMD. All EPA-registered insect repellents are evaluated to make sure they are safe and effective.
The effectiveness of non-EPA registered insect repellents, including some natural repellents, is not known. For more information: www2.epa.gov/insect-repellents
What can parents do to protect their children?
To protect your child from mosquito bites:
Dress your child in clothing that covers arms and legs.
Cover crib, stroller, and baby carrier with mosquito netting.
Do not use insect repellent on babies under 2 months of age.
Do not use products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus or para-menthane-diol on children younger than 3 years old.
In children older than 2 months, do not apply insect repellent onto a child’s hands, eyes, mouth, or to irritated or broken skin.
Never spray insect repellent directly on a child’s face. Instead, spray it on your hands and then apply sparingly, taking care to avoid the eyes and mouth.
If your child has symptoms, take him or her to see a health care provider.
For children with Zika symptoms of fever, rash, joint pain, or red eyes who have traveled to or resided in an affected area, contact your child’s health care provider and describe where you have traveled. Note that fever(≥100.4° F) in a baby less than 2 months old always requires evaluation by a medical professional. If your baby is less than 2 months old and has a fever, call your health care provider or get medical care.
How do I protect myself from mosquito bites?
Wear insect repellent: Yes! It is safe. When used as directed, insect repellent is the BEST way to protect yourself from mosquito bites—even children and pregnant women should protect themselves. Higher percentages of active ingredient provide longer lasting protection.
DEET: Products containing DEET include Cutter, OFF!, Skintastic.
Picaridin (also known as KBR 3023, Bayrepel, and icaridin): Products containing picaridin include Cutter Advanced, Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus, and Autan outside the United States).
Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or PMD: Repel contains OLE.
IR3535: Products containing IR3535 include Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus Expedition and SkinSmart.
Cover up: When weather permits, wear long-sleeved shirts and pants.
Keep mosquitoes outside: Use air conditioning and make sure that you repair and use window/door screens.
If you have to work outside: wear long-sleeved shirts and pants and make use of work gloves. Spray exposed areas of your body with insect repellant and spray your clothes with a product that is used for clothing to repel insects.
About Outbreaks Spread by Mosquitoes
Many areas in the United States have the type of mosquitoes that can become infected with and spread Zika, chikungunya, and dengue viruses.
Recent outbreaks in the continental United States of chikungunya and dengue, which are spread by the same type of mosquito, have been relatively small and limited to a small area.
The Center for Disease Control is not able to predict if Zika virus will spread in the continental United States. However, areas with past outbreaks of chikungunya and dengue are considered at higher risk for Zika. These include U.S. territories like Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam. Local outbreaks have also been reported in parts of Hawaii, Florida, and Texas.
For Aedes aegypti or Aedes albopictus mosquitoes to cause an outbreak in the continental United States, all of the following must happen:
People infected with a virus (like Zika, dengue, or chikungunya) must enter the United States.
An Aedes aegypti or Aedes albopictus mosquito in the United States bites an infected person during the first week of infection when the virus can be found in the person’s blood.
The infected mosquito lives long enough for the virus to multiply and for the mosquito to bite another person.
The cycle continues multiple times to start an outbreak.
Takoma Park is coordinating with Montgomery County departments on a regional response to the Zika viruis. Photo courtesy of the CDC.
From Ron Hardy, the City of Takoma Park’s Emergency Preparedness Manager:
With the start of mosquito season only a few weeks away and the nationwide concern about the spread of the Zika virus, Takoma Park has been working with Montgomery County, the District of Columbia, and other municipalities to develop strategies to combat its potential spread in our area. In my role as Emergency Preparedness Manager I’d like to share with you how Takoma Park is involved in the regional response to the Zika virus.
Zika virus disease (Zika) is a disease caused by the Zika virus that is most commonly spread to people through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito. The most common symptoms of Zika are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes). The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting for several days to a week after being bitten by an infected mosquito. People usually don’t get sick enough to go to the hospital, and they very rarely die of Zika. For this reason, many people might not realize they have been infected. Once a person has been infected, he or she is likely to be protected from future infections.
About Takoma Park’s Response to Zika
On April 6, 2016, I represented the City at a meeting hosted by Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (OEMHS) to discuss the best methods to keep residents informed on the dangers of the Zika virus. Representatives from the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection, Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services as well as other departments discussed best practices for protecting yourself and your family, how to report potential breeding sites you may become aware of and what agencies will be able to do to assist communities. The creation of a website dedicated to keeping residents in the county informed is under development with input from both county departments and municipalities like Takoma Park.
The website is expected to go live on May 1, 2016. The website will include links to other state and federal agencies which residents can go to get the latest information on the Zika virus and mosquito control in our area. Once the website is up a link will be featured prominently here on takomparkmd.gov.
Please join the Friends’ “Big Book” group on Thursday night, April 7, at 7:30 p.m. at Historic Takoma (7328 Carroll Ave.) for a special event.
Dr. Adam Wood, Chair of the English Department at Salisbury University, will introduce a series of discussions on Theodore Dreiser’s “An American Tragedy,” with a lecture on this widely acclaimed novel, followed by a reception with refreshments.
“ “An American Tragedy” is one of the greatest ‘social novels’ produced in America, one that paints the fullest and deepest picture of American society. It is a novel about a murder that not only illuminates the dark regions of the criminal mind, but plays a searchlight across the landscape of American society…Dreiser’s power originates in such raw, sincere eloquence; in his great humanity and deep sympathy with the lowly, and in his patient accretion of facts – and not only the facts themselves but the psychological resonances behind them.” [Richard Lingeman]
This book caused a sensation when it appeared in 1925. Many scholars consider it the defining work of American naturalism. In 2005 it appeared on Time Magazine’s top 100 novels written in English since 1923.
All are welcome at this event, whether or not they have read or plan to read the book. Further discussions will be held in the Takoma Park Community Center on April 20, May 4 and May 18. The Big Book club and the Bi-monthly Book club are sponsored by the Friends of the Takoma Park Maryland Library.
A small storm will be hitting our area late tonight and through the day on Tuesday. While it’s nothing like receiving 18+ inches of snow, we all know that even a small event can cause transportation havoc.
We will have crews treating the roadways tonight. Trash, recycling and food waste collection may begin earlier than usual Tuesday morning and, depending on Wednesday’s weather, may or may not take place on Wednesday. Please check the City’s website for updates on the collection schedule.
If there is an accumulation of snow, our Code Enforcement staff will be inspecting sidewalks for adherence to the City’s sidewalk clearing regulations. Please be a good neighbor and clear snow from your sidewalks promptly. For more info visit the Snow Removal Information page.
This morning, following the lead of the Federal Government, the City of Takoma Park opened on time. Exactly one week ago, we were preparing for the blizzard and administrative staff were heading out at noon to be sure they could get home before the snow started making travel difficult.
Over the week, our Public Works crews, Police officers, Dispatch staff, Emergency Manager, and Communications staff did their jobs well. Snow Angels, Councilmembers, volunteers and neighbors pulled together to help each other and the community. We are tired, a little sore from shoveling, but mostly pleased with the result of handling the storm well.
There’s still some shoveling to do. If you can clear out around a bus stop or shovel a snow pile from the road onto an adjacent lawn, it will really help. And, you can report properties where the snow wasn’t shoveled off the sidewalks through our My TKPK reporting system (http://takomaparkmd.gov/services/my-tkpk/). If the shoveling and melting continue, we’ll put the snow behind us quickly!
In the next couple of weeks, we will do an after action assessment of how we handled the storm to see what we can do better next time. We will also begin assembling the documentation for the 75% reimbursement from the federal government of the extra expenses that were required to address the storm, because the storm likely qualifies for the funds.
Please send me an email, with the subject line “Storm Response Comment,” to let me know what you think we did well, what you think we did not do well, and any suggestions you may have. We will look at these comments when doing our storm response assessment.
Now, we return our attention to all of the other work we do every day. There are major issues and big opportunities facing Takoma Park in the coming year. Two that I would like to see a lot of resident involvement in over the few weeks are the Library Renovation/Expansion proposal and the Community Conversation on Affordable Housing.
On the Library, the Council wants to use the next two months to learn more, and hear from the community more, on if and how library renovation and expansion should occur. We will be gathering more information to share with the public so that you can weigh in on this important issue. Stay tuned!
The Community Conversation on Affordable Housing scheduled for Saturday, February 6, is the first of several “conversations” to take place over the coming year. Check the information on the website to learn more. Agendas and background materials will be added soon. You can even send in your comments in advance. Go to http://takomaparkmd.gov/initiatives/community-conversations/ As we return to normalcy, please continue to contact me with your questions, concerns or comments about City services. Your emails help me learn what is working and what we can improve upon, and they help me get to know you.
I drove around Takoma Park this morning and saw tremendous progress in getting Takoma Park back to normal. Thanks to all of you who have helped clear snow from sidewalks, from between cars, from bus stops and from sidewalk ramps. We have more to do, but those areas yet to be done are obvious and countable.
I stopped by Public Works today and the employees are very tired – many have worked for ten straight days so far – but they also feel good about the progress that has been made. They really appreciate the nice things people have said to them while they’ve been out clearing roads and sidewalks.
During the day today, please try to continue to clear sidewalks. A good amount of melting is going on, which is helping, but there will be a hard freeze tonight, some freezing Thursday night, and a hard freeze on Friday night. Ice will be a problem in the mornings. Do not use rock salt on sidewalks, use sand or sidewalk-safe de-icer instead.
Tomorrow we begin trash/recycling/food waste collection and enforcement of the City’s sidewalk clearing laws. Thanks to everyone for your patience as we get back to normal!
Updated Storm Recovery Information
Regular collection of trash, recycling and food waste of Thursday routes will be attempted on Thursday, January 28, starting a little later in the morning than normal. Crews will attempt collection, but not all streets may be accessible and not all containers may be able to be collected. Residents are advised to use caution when placing their containers near the curbside. Given the limited space, please keep them out of the street. Where possible place them in a driveway opening or tree lawn areas that have been shoveled down and are level. The same information applies to the collection of Friday’s route on Friday.
Traffic restrictions put in place for the duration of the storm will continue through Sunday, January 3.
No payment is needed at the City’s Takoma Junction parking lot on Carroll Avenue or at parking meters through Sunday, January 31.
Enforcement WILL take place regarding non-monetary parking restrictions such as residential permit parking, handicap parking, no parking in loading areas etc.
Enforcement of the City’s sidewalk clearing laws begins on Thursday for sidewalks along commercial, institutional and multi-family properties. Enforcement begins on Friday for sidewalks along single-family residential property. For more information, see www.takomaparkmd.gov/snow . Enforcement officers will be lenient with properties that had snow plowed onto sidewalks from street crews.
Takoma Park Rocks!
Suzanne Ludlow City Manager Email: SuzanneL@takomaparkmd.gov Phone: 301-891-7229
We are beginning to receive information about plans for governmental and transportation closings for this weekend. Here is what I anticipate for the City of Takoma Park:
City offices open Friday morning, closing by mid-afternoon.
City offices and facilities closed Saturday and Sunday, except for emergency services.
On Saturday, Public Works crews will focus on road clearing and responding to emergency situations. The only clearing of public sidewalks and property will be to maintain access to and from the Police station on the lower level of the Community Center.
On Sunday, Public Works crews will begin digging out, just as the rest of the community will be.
I plan to provide updates a couple of times per day, as new information becomes available.
Original Message:
From Suzanne Ludlow, City Manager of Takoma Park
Dear Takoma Park Residents,
Well, winter is here!
The timing of last night’s light snow caused serious road icing and caught us off guard. I hope you and your family were able to travel safely last night if you were out at that time. Because we are still treating the roads, today’s trash and recycling collection will begin after 10 AM today.
The large storm coming tomorrow has been talked about for several days, so won’t be a surprise, but it will be remarkably difficult.
Prepare today to be snowed in for several days, possibly with power outages. Predictions are for 18+ inches of snow and 40+ mph winds.
City staff are preparing for 24 hour snow plowing and other emergency services. I will be sending out messages periodically and they will be posted on the City’s webpage, www.takomaparkmd.gov.
Besides making sure you have emergency supplies for your family, please take time today to make things easier for our road clearing crews and your neighbors. Please avoid parking on roadways, if at all possible. If cars must be parked on roads, please arrange with your neighbors to park on just one side of the street – the even-numbered side, if possible – so we can get lanes cleared quickly. Do not park close to corners because our snow plows need a lot of room to make the turns.
Snow shoveling requirements will be suspended for the weekend because it will not be possible to do much during the blizzard. Once it is safe to go outside, we need to all work together to dig out and make the sidewalks safe.
What we really need to do is help each other. Check on your neighbors who may need help before the storm to see if they need supplies while it is still possible to get them, and check on them after the storm to make sure they’re okay.
If the storm brings down trees, wires, or causes other unsafe conditions, please call the City of Takoma Park Police Department at 301-270-1100. If you need an ambulance or have a fire, call 911.
If your power goes out, report it to PEPCO at 877-737-2662 or use the PEPCO mobile app.
This will be a very bad storm and we’re all in it together. City staff will be doing all we can to serve and protect you and we know you will pitch in to help. Takoma Park is truly a wonderful place.
If you have any concerns now or through the storm, feel free to contact me via email at suzannel@takomaparkmd.gov .
Happy 2016! I hope the New Year finds you well and, for right now at least, bundled up against the cold.
My letter to the community for January is devoted to the subject of property tax assessments.
Assessment Notices
If you own real property in Takoma Park, you should have recently received an Assessment Notice from the State of Maryland providing information on the value of your land and any buildings on that land for tax purposes. Assessments are done every three years on a rolling basis across the State. All of Takoma Park is done at one time.
Receiving an assessment can often lead to some anxiety and confusion. I am not an assessment expert, but want to give you some general information that may help you understand what this information is and how it is used.
First, the State’s assessment of the market value of your property as of January 1, 2016 is in box 7 on the sheet you should have received in the mail.
Second, the amount you will pay in taxes on the property will be based on the amounts in boxes 1, 2 and 3 (or in box 8) times the associated tax rate set by the State of Maryland, Montgomery County and the City of Takoma Park and less any credits you may be eligible for. The Montgomery County Council and the Takoma Park City Council will vote on the tax rates for the 2017 Fiscal Year (that begins July 1, 2016) in May of 2016.
Market Value Amount
(from box 7)
As you look at the form you received, you may be concerned about the amount of the Market Value shown in box 7. If you feel the assessment is too high for your property, you can appeal it by following the instructions on the back of the form. If you want to see the Property Worksheet or Sales Analysis/Listing the State Assessment Office for Montgomery County used to establish the value of your property, you can request it, also by following the instructions on the back of the form. Go to the State’s Department of Assessment and Taxation website at www.dat.maryland.gov to learn more.
You may also be concerned if the assessment seems low. Generally, people don’t file an appeal for an assessment they feel is low, because they know that the assessment amount will affect the amount of tax owed. However, you may have other reasons for wanting the assessment number to be correct.
I will leave it to others more knowledgeable than I to determine if the State property assessment for a particular property seems accurate. On a personal note, in the past, I have asked a friend who works in a real estate office if the amount for my home was reasonable (she asked a few questions, then said yes). Two years ago, my husband and I had a professional appraisal done of our home as part of a refinancing. In reviewing the assessment notice we just received, I saw that it made sense given the appraisal that had been done. Mistakes can be made, however, so it is good to check.
What Will the Impact be on Taxes?
As noted above, the tax rates for next year will be set in May by the State, Montgomery County Council and Takoma Park City Council. Sometimes tax rates go up, sometimes they go down, and sometimes additional tax credits are authorized that affect a particular property.
There are provisions to help ameliorate the impact of greatly increased assessments on homeowners. The State spreads the increase over the three year period. In Montgomery County, if you have a Homestead Credit and the new Market Value increases more than 10% from your taxable assessment value from the previous year, your taxable assessment for the next year is capped at an increase of 10%.
If you are a homeowner and have lived in your home for at least a year, you should make sure you have, or see if you are eligible for, a Homestead Credit. Go to the State’s website to review the information for this and any other credit you may be eligible for. There is a special credit listed for lower income homeowners called the Homeowners Tax Credit that can reduce the amount you may need to pay in property taxes. (There’s also a Renters Tax Credit for renters, with more stringent eligibility requirements.) In past years, both Montgomery County and the City of Takoma Park have provided additional credits to residents who have the Homeowners Tax Credit. (The Takoma Park supplement to the Homeowners Tax Credit is done automatically, with no additional application required.)
As the City Manager, I am always interested to see the information provided to the City around Valentine’s Day that gives the total assessable base and Constant Yield number for the City of Takoma Park. The total assessable base is the total value of real property in the City to which the tax rate can be applied for the coming year. (This number does not include tax exempt property and it only includes the assessment values shown in box 3 or 8 from the State Assessment forms, less an estimate of the amount that may be reduced because of tax assessment appeals and credits.) A computation is then done that shows what the City’s tax rate would have to be to receive the same amount of real property tax revenue as the City received in the previous Fiscal Year. That tax rate is called the Constant Yield.
If the assessable base has increased from the prior year, the City’s tax rate would have to be decreased to provide the same amount of real property tax revenue. If the assessable base has decreased, the City’s tax rate would have to be increased to provide the same amount of real property tax revenue. While the assessable base usually increases somewhat between assessments, the assessable base went down in Fiscal Year 2014 and Fiscal Year 2016, based on the last property assessment done three years ago. Property values were lower then in Takoma Park because of the impacts of the Recession and Congressional Sequestration.
The City Council sets the real property tax rate, as well as certain tax rates for some businesses. The amount of the real property tax rate depends on how much money is needed to provide the City services at the level that the Council feels is appropriate and maintain an adequate reserve, after estimates for revenues from other sources are considered.
In Maryland, municipalities are very limited in the types of taxes they can authorize. Municipalities get a share of county income tax (but can’t set their own rate), and can’t assess taxes on phones, property transactions, etc. that counties may. We can set user fees (for recreation classes, etc.) and fines (for parking violations, etc.). We also get some revenue from the State (such as Highway User Revenue and Police Aid) and from the County (tax duplication funds – a topic for another day!), as well as from grants that we pursue.
From now through March, City staff and I will be preparing a draft budget for City Council consideration. The proposed budget will be presented to the City Council on April 6, and there will be public hearings and Council work sessions in April and early May, leading to approval of a final budget in mid-May. The Council will want to hear from you on the types and levels of services to be delivered in the coming year and the amount of the real property tax rate to be assessed to help pay for those services.
In past years, the Council has been very concerned about the amounts of property tax assessed on lower and middle-income property owners in Takoma Park. The tax rate has stayed the same or been reduced most years. The one exception is for the current year, when the tax rate was increased from 57 cents per $100 assessed value to 58.5 cents per $100 assessed value to pay for phased-in increases in staff compensation. In addition to being conservative about the tax rate, the City has spent about $160,000 each year to provide a supplement to the State’s Homeowners Tax Credit, benefitting about 150 Takoma Park property owners.
To learn about and voice your opinion about the Montgomery County Budget, you may wish to attend a Budget Forum on January 20 at 7 pm in the Silver Spring Civic Center. To learn about and voice your opinion on the City of Takoma Park budget, watch for the information in the April edition of the Takoma Park Newsletter and share your comments in public or in writing while the Council is considering the budget throughout April.
In the meantime, I am happy to answer your questions about taxes and the City’s budget process. Feel free to contact me at:
