The Baltimore Sun says the following are some of the Mayor's revenue generation ideas:
| Fee | Cost | Projected revenue |
| Hospital and university bed tax | $350 per bed per year | $4.12 million |
| Parking fines | $4-$60 increases | $1.68 million |
| Beverage container tax | 4 cents | $10.75 million |
| Property tax early pay discount | Decrease from 1% discount to .5% for paying in July, Eliminate .5% discount for paying in August | $2.5 million |
| Hotel tax | Increase from 7.5% to 10% | $3.9 million |
| Income tax | Increase from 3.05% to 3.20% | $5.9 million |
| Telecommunication tax | Increase from $3.50 to $4.00 per month for most types of phone lines | $3.75 million |
| Parking tax | Increase from 16% to 20% | $5.8 million |
| Energy tax | Increase 15% | $8.16 million |
Revenue generation is just one way of closing the $121 million budget gap. It appears that our leaders want to generate some of their revenue from people who live outside of the city (parking tax, hotel tax, and bed tax). They are on the right track. There is no way that property owning city residents should be squeezed anymore though. An increase in the income tax is just another way to get money out of homeowners without raising property taxes. The energy tax and the telecommunications tax will also hurt the already overburdened city home owner occupant. Home owner occupants are what Baltimore can least afford to lose.
Our leaders can not fear mass bureaucratic firings and pay cuts. Many of the people who work for the city do not live in the city so firing some of them would fit with the theme of having those who do not live in the city share the burden.
Even though I usually pay my property taxes early I can accept the elimination of this discount. I doubt that many people pay their property taxes early anyway. I think the bottle tax will hurt local businesses and thus it should not even be considered.
If parking meters function correctly and parking enforcement is fair and just, then I can deal with increased parking fines. Read the street signs and you should be fine. This is another fee that should hurt outsiders more than residents.
Every elected official should take a 20% pay cut. I noticed the Mayor did not make that suggestion.
Fire some useless bureaucrats before you make me pay a penny more to fund the ridiculous salaries and benefits of other useless bureaucrats.
Comments
They gave themselves a payraise and now they want to increase taxes and fees on the populance. Are you kidding me! I don't know the buffoon that is instructing Ms. Blake, but she is moving quickly to be replaced as Mayor. From O'Malley - Shelia now her they want to lead the people, but they never suffered like the people. There is a ole saying in life for those who want to be incharge "LEAD BY EXAMPLE". That seems to be hard for those that occupy the leadership positions in the government. It always do as I say do and not do as I do.
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