BLAIR LEE III, Acting Governor

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contributes to the State as a whole. Other facilities and

State owned property are located in Somerset County.

While every Marylander benefits from Somerset County
land these lands owned by the State, the fiscal consequence
places a burden on the residents of the each County. The
reduced tax base makes it difficult for the county
government governments to provide funds for necessary
services such as schools and roads.

The federal government has recognized the fact that
land taken out of the tax base reduces the revenues of local
jurisdictions. It uses revenue sharing funds to compensate
local jurisdictions for taxes lost on federally—owned land.
Somerset County receives some money under this program.

The State of Maryland should shoulder its share of the load

in Somerset County; now, thereforo, be it The State of
Maryland should also shoulder its fair share of the lost tax
burden; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That the
Governor is requested to appoint a commission to study
methods of compensating Somerset County the counties for tax
revenues lost because of State ownership of land; and be it
further

RESOLVED, That the commission he composed of seven
members which include the Comptroller of Maryland or his
designate, the State Senator elected from the 36th

Legislative District, one member of House of Delegates

from the 36th Legislative District, a person nominated by
the County Commissioners of Somerset County, the Treasurer
of Somerset County, three members of the Maryland House of

Delegates,__to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of

Delegates,__two members of the Maryland Senate, to be

appointed__by the President of the Maryland Senate, and the

Executive Director of the Maryland Association of Counties,
and a resident of Somerset County; and be it further

RESOLVED, That secretarial and staff assistance shall
be provided by the Department of Fiscal Services; and be it
further

RESOLVED, That the commission report its
recommendations to the Maryland General Assembly no later
than January 10, 1979; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution be sent to the
Honorable Blair Lee III; the Honorable Louis Goldstein; the

County Commissioner of Somerset County, Court House,

Princess Anne, Maryland 21853; the Honorable Charles Boyman,

Treasurer of Somerset County, Court House, Princess Anne,

Maryland 21853 the President of the Senate, the Honorable
Steny H. Hoyer; the Speaker of the House of Delegates, the

Honorable John Hanson Briscoe; and Mr. Joseph J. Murnane,

Executive Director of the Maryland Association of Counties,