The City Council of the City of Takoma Park proposes to increase real property taxes.

1. For the tax year beginning July 1, 2016, the estimated real property assessable base will increase by 6.0%, from $1,980,734,983 to $2,099,990,347.

2. If the City of Takoma Park maintains the current tax rate of $0.585 per $100 of assessment, real property tax revenues will increase by 6.0% resulting in $697,644 of new real property tax revenues.

3. In order to fully offset the effect of increasing assessments, the real property tax rate should be reduced to $0.5518, the constant yield tax rate.

4. The City of Takoma Park is considering not reducing its real property tax rate enough to fully offset increasing assessments. The City of Takoma Park proposes to adopt a real property tax rate of $0.585 per $100 of assessment. This tax rate is 6.0% higher than the constant yield tax rate and will generate $697,644 in additional property tax revenues.

A public hearing on the proposed real property tax rate increase will be held at 7:30 p.m. on April 27, 2016 at the Takoma Park Community Center Auditorium, 7500 Maple Avenue, Takoma Park, Maryland.

The hearing is open to the public, and public testimony is encouraged. Persons with questions regarding this hearing may call 301-891-7267 for further information.

Wednesday, April 27, 2016
7:30 PM
Takoma Park Community Center – Sam Abbott Citizens’ Center
Auditorium

The City Council will hold a public hearing on the Proposed FY 2017 Budget on Wednesday, April 27, 2016 at 7:30 PM  All interested persons should attend the public hearing and sign up to speak. Written comments may be submitted to the City Clerk, 7500 Maple Avenue, Takoma Park, MD 20912 or by email to clerk@takomaparkmd.gov.

The proposed budget was presented by the City Manager at the April 6, 2016 City Council meeting.

Review the Proposed FY 2017 Budget

Wednesday, April 20, 2016
7:30 PM
Takoma Park Community Center – Sam Abbott Citizens’ Center
Auditorium

The City Council will hold a public hearing on the Draft Streetscape Manual on Wednesday, April 20, 2016 at 7:30 PM  All interested persons should attend the public hearing and sign up to speak. Written comments may be submitted to the City Clerk, 7500 Maple Avenue, Takoma Park, MD 20912 or by email to clerk@takomaparkmd.gov.

The Streetscape Manual is available for review online.

The Manual identifies the specifications (type, size, color, etc.) and locations of all streetscape elements in City’s public right-of-way, including notes on installation and vendor options. The Manual codifies existing policies, decisions, and practices that relate to improving and maintaining streetscape elements. Moving forward, the Streetscape Manual is intended to be updated annually.

Wednesday, April 27, 2016
7:30 PM
Takoma Park Community Center – Sam Abbott Citizens’ Center
Auditorium

The City Council will hold a public hearing on the Proposed FY 2017 Budget on Wednesday, April 27, 2016 at 7:30 PM  All interested persons should attend the public hearing and sign up to speak. Written comments may be submitted to the City Clerk, 7500 Maple Avenue, Takoma Park, MD 20912 or by email to clerk@takomaparkmd.gov.

The proposed budget was presented by the City Manager at the April 6, 2016 City Council meeting.

Review the Proposed FY 2017 Budget

Wednesday, April 13, 2016
7:30 PM
Takoma Park Community Center – Sam Abbott Citizens’ Center
Auditorium

 The City Council will hold a public hearing on a proposed ordinance to amend the Takoma Park Code to restrict the Commercial Use of Plastic Single Use Carryout Bags. The meeting will take place on April 13, 2016 at 7:30 PM.  First reading of the ordinance is scheduled for April 27, 2016. All interested persons should attend the public hearing and sign up to speak. Written comments may be submitted to the City Clerk, 7500 Maple Avenue, Takoma Park, MD 20912 or by email to clerk@takomaparkmd.gov.

Review the Draft Ordinance

Commemoration Commission Public Hearing – Learn about the new programs and comment

The Takoma Park Commemoration Commission will hold a public hearing on January 12, 2016 at 7:30 p.m. in the Community Center Auditorium regarding the Commission’s proposed five personal recognition programs. The Commission proposes to begin accepting applications for these new programs in February 2016. The proposed personal recognition programs include 1) an existing bench and new commemorative plaque program, 2) an existing tree and new commemorative plaque program, 3) a new tree and commemorative plaque program, 4) a new bench and commemorative plaque program, and 5) an honor gift tree program. The eligibility and cost requirements for each program are posted for review:

• Guide to Personal Recognition Program
• Personal Recognition Application

The Commemoration Commission was established in November 2014 by the Takoma Park City Council. The legislation established three recognition levels to be administered by the Commission: 1) a Citywide Recognition program, 2) a Neighborhood/Local Recognition program, and 3) a Personal Recognition program. The January 12 hearing will present the Personal Recognition programs proposed by the Commission. Residents who wish to learn more about the new programs and comment on the programs can sign up to testify at the hearing.

For additional information please contact Jessie Carpenter at 301-891-7267 or at JessieC@takomaparkmd.gov.

The next City of Takoma Park election for mayor and members of the city council will take place on Tuesday, November 3, 2015. There will also be an advisory question on the ballot regarding a change to the date of city elections. Complete election information can be found at elections.takomaparkmd.gov.The material continues to be updated so be sure to check back for new information.

Interested in serving as an election judge or volunteer? Complete our online application as soon as possible.

Any candidate for City office who wishes to have her or his name placed on the ballot for the November 3, 2015 City Election must receive a nomination and a second at the Nominating Caucus. The Nominating Caucus will convene in the Auditorium at 7:30 PM on Tuesday, September 29.

Participants should plan to arrive early to check in to receive credentials to nominate or second the nomination of a candidate. The check-in table will open at 7:00 PM.

Information for Nominating Caucus Participants

• Review the Nominating Caucus agenda.
• To nominate a candidate for City Council or to second a nomination, an individual must be a registered voter in the ward of the candidate.
• To nominate a candidate for Mayor or to second a nomination, an individual must be a registered voter of the City.
• Nominations or seconds are limited to three minutes.
• Candidates must be eligible to hold office in order to have their names placed on the ballot.

The Nominating Caucus will convene at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 29, to accept nominations of candidates for Mayor and Councilmember. The meeting will take place in the Takoma Park Community Center Auditorium, 7500 Maple Avenue, Takoma Park, Maryland. Only registered Takoma Park voters may participate in the Nominating Caucus. Residents may register on site before the meeting is called to order.

Nominations of candidates for Mayor shall be made on motion by any qualified voter of the city, and if such nomination is seconded by a qualified voter of the City, the person so nominated shall be considered a candidate. Nomination of each candidate for Councilmember shall be made on motion of any qualified voter of her/his ward, and if such nomination is seconded by a qualified voter of his/her ward, the person so nominated shall be considered a candidate.

Any nominated candidate may decline a nomination during the nomination meeting. A person may only accept a nomination of one city office. The name of each person nominated for the office of Mayor and Councilmember shall be placed upon the official ballot unless he/she shall file a declination with the City Clerk within three (3) days after his/her nomination.

Any person nominated as a candidate must meet the qualifications of the office for which she/he is nominated.

Link to additional information on nominations of candidates

En Español:

La Reunión Electoral de Nominación de Candidatos se llevará a el Martes, 29 de Septiembre del 2015 a las 7:30 p.m. Se aceptarán las nominaciones de candidatos para Alcalde y Miembros del Consejo en el Auditorio del Centro Comunitario de Takoma Park, 7500 Maple Avenue,. Sólo los residentes de Takoma Park que son votantes registrados podrán nominar o apoyar una nominación de un candidato. Si no está registrado para votar y desea participar en la reunión, residentes de Takoma Park podrán registrarse para votar antes que comience la reunión.

Las nominaciones de candidatos para Alcalde pueden realizarse por moción de cualquier votante de la ciudad, y si la nominación es segundada por otro(a) residente de Takoma Park, la persona nominada será considerada como candidato. La nominación de cada candidato para Miembro del Consejo puede realizarse por moción de cualquier votante de su distrito y si la nominación es segundada por otro(a) residente del mismo distrito, la persona nominada será considerada candidato. Cualquier candidatos nominado puede declinar su nominación durante la reunión.

Una persona puede aceptar una nominación para un solo cargo municipal. El nombre de cada persona nominada para la Alcaldía o el Consejo será colocado en la boleta oficial para las elecciones municipales del 3 de Noviembre a menos que él/ella se presente ante de la Secretaria Municipal para declinar su candidatura tres (3) días después de su nominación.

Cualquier persona nominada como candidato deben cumplir con los requisitos del puesto para cual es nominado(a).

Para más información viste la página de Nominaciones de Candidatos