Courtney Mabeus, The Examiner
2008-01-12 08:00:00.0
Current rank: Not ranked

WASHINGTON -

Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett proposed Friday keeping special taxing districts in place for three Clarksburg developments but charging residents who live in them at a much lesser rate that originally proposed.

According to memos sent to the County Council late Friday, residents in Aurora Hills and Clarksburg Village would be charged about $800 annually in taxes to provide for infrastructure needed in those developments - down from a proposed $1,500 per year. Clarksburg Town Center residents would pay about $770 per year, down from $1,200. Those taxes would be paid on top of other county fees already imposed on residents.

The taxes have been a sore subject for residents who have battled against them for years, arguing that they were not properly informed about the tax, which has never been levied, when they purchased their homes.

Last fall, the county's Office of Legislative Oversight released a report saying that the special tax district for the Clarksburg Town Center development was created legally, but said the county failed to provide enough oversight.

Leggett said he was obliged to go forward with the creation of the development districts because of the oversight office's report.

He said if it weren't for the tax, thousands of residents could be subject to liens placed on them by developers.

"I have an obligation if it is legal to develop it in a way that I think is reasonable and responsive to the basic infrastructure needs of the community," Leggett said.

Council President Mike Knapp, whose district includes Clarksburg, has said he opposes creating a development district for the Town Center, where residents have said the tax would force them to pay for infrastructure that the developer has already agreed to provide. Knapp did not return phone calls Friday.

Dave Brown, a lawyer representing Town Center residents said the matter should be put to them for a vote.

"This is a matter of taxpayer consent. This is not something that can be dictated by the executive, the developers or the council. If [Leggett] wants to submit this to the voters, I say fine ... If there is any kind of legal protection that is necessary, their lawyer will provide it for them. They don't need Grandfather Leggett looking out for them," Brown said.

cmabeus@dcexaminer.com