Amendment gives leeway to home buyers in special tax districts

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Harford County (Map, News) - Those who buy homes in Harford’s proposed special taxing districts should get at least a week to back out of their purchase agreements if they object to the tax, state lawmakers say.

The original state legislation to authorize taxing districts bill said only that buyers would get notice about the levy. But amendments introduced Friday spelled out the weeklong review period.

“Most of the objections we’d heard were that someone sitting down to settle on a house would have a blizzard of papers to deal with, and the [tax] notice could get lost in there,” said Rob McCord, county attorney for Harford. “That’s why the seven-day review period makes sense.”

Harford’s County Council wants authority to ask landowners within the districts to levy the tax to pay for new schools, roads and infrastructure needed because of the BRAC-related population boom.

“Within a special taxing district, any sellers and subsequent sellers would have to give notice to the buyer in very explicit language about the special taxing district, what the limits of the district are, how much they’ll be paying and how long it will last,” said Del. Mary-Dulany James, who sponsored the amendments.

County Executive David Craig asked Harford’s delegation last month for the special taxing districts.

He said they would let developers to pay up front for improvements to county infrastructure and give them an additional bargaining tool during the development review process.

The taxing districts would be allowed only within the “development envelope” around the Route 40 corridor and Bel Air. And a new taxing district would be allowed only if all the landowners within a proposed district approve, Craig said.

The delegation voted 7-1 for the amendments. Del. B. Dan Reilly, D-District 34A, abstained.

msantoni@baltimoreexaminer.com

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