TALBOT COUNTY, MARYLAND

CHARTER AMENDMENTS

Add new Section 407 to the Talbot CountyCharter which would
Waive the residency requirement for the County Attorney, County Planning Officer and County Engineer by an affirmative vote of four-fifths of the full Council.

	For	Against*
Total	8,687	11,487

Question B:
CLARIFYING THAT CONSTANT YIELD APPLIES

Section 614 of the Talbot County Charter establishes a cap on the amount of revenue the County can derive from taxes levied on real estate. In order to apply the cap, the County must identify which properties are to be included in the calculation. Section 614 currently specifies the properties as those "existing on the County real property tax rolls at the commencement of the County fiscal year." However, this is not an accurate description of the properties the County actually uses. The County's source for identifying properties is the Constant Yield Tax Rate Certification prepared by the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation. The Charter Amendment clarifies that to identify properties for revenue cap purposes, the County will use the Constant Yield Tax Rate Certification prepared by the Maryland State Departmentof Assessments and Taxation.

	For*	Against
Total	14,175	5,565

Question C:
ELIMINATING CONSUMER PRICE INDEX-URBAN

Section 614 of the Talbot County Charter establishes a cap on the amount of revenue the County can derive from taxes levied on real estate. The cap on revenue is two percent (2%) compared to the previous year, or Consumer Price Index-Urban (CPI-U),whichever is less. CPI-U, however, is not an accurate measure because it represents the increase in the cost of a basket of consumer goods in urban areas, not rural areas, like Talbot County. The Charter Amendment eliminates the reference to CPI-U in Section 614 while leaving the 2% cap on revenue in place.

	For*	Against
Total	13,666	6,325

Question D:
ALLOWING TEMPORARY INCREASE OF ONE CENT(1¢) PER ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS OF ASSESSED VALUE

Section 614 of the Talbot County Charter establishes a cap on the amount of revenue the County can derive from taxes levied on real estate. The cap on revenue is two percent (2%) compared to the previous year,or Consumer Price Index-Urban (CPI-U),whichever is less. Talbot County's revenue cap is one of the most restrictive in the State of Maryland, making it extremely difficult for the County to raise sufficient revenue to fund certain initiatives, including key public safety projects, such as a new facility for the Talbot County Sheriff; additional equipment and personnel for the Talbot County Department of Emergency Services; and, a new facility to house the Talbot County Health Department. The County Council is, therefore, asking the voters to give the Council authority to increase revenues above the revenue cap, but only temporarily and with a limit of up to one cent (1¢) per one hundred dollars of assessed value. The Charter Amendment would authorize the County Council to raise revenues above the revenue cap by up to one cent (1¢) per one hundred dollars of assessed value for five years only.

	For*	Against
Total	12,180	8,293