Montgomery County falsely asserts that its proposed FY-2018 budget "holds the line on taxes," and reduces the property tax rate "by 2.5 cents." In reality, homeowners will pay
more in property taxes, due to rising assessments. That's not the only doublespeak in the budget. Olney resident Louis Wilen has done the math, and found that the theoretically-generous Homeowners Tax Credit of $692 actually raises the tax bills of senior citizens over 65 who make less than $60,000 a year.
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Worksheet by Louis Wilen showing
comparison of issuance of $692 flat credit
versus non-issuance of $692 flat credit
(click to enlarge for greater detail) |
Seniors aren't aware of this, Wilen says, because the Homeowners Tax Credit worksheet is not usually provided to homeowners, meaning that the tax credit calculation is hidden from them. For those seniors under the $60,000 income level, that calculation turns the $692 tax credit into a $346 tax increase. Wilen will ask the Council at tonight's budget public hearing to replace the flat $692 credit with a decrease in the property tax rate, to solve the problem for the affected seniors.
Wilen's finding fits a long-time pattern of this County Council, which has a history of imposing flat taxes and fees that hit residents with low or fixed incomes hard countywide. Taking advantage of senior citizens won't help the Council erase the severe trust deficit it has with its constituents, which led to overwhelming passage of term limits last November.
25 comments:
hopefully Robert will be elected to the council in the next election and save us all! Clearly he's the only one capable of running the County.
Unlikely. Hans whipped him good. YouTube videos and blogs don't make a person a viable candidate. Hans has experience and the record to back it up.
5:43: Please. Hans Riemer has no record whatsoever. Every initiative he's been in charge of has been a complete failure, and actually made things even worse. The Washington Post withdrew its endorsement of Riemer in 2014, specifically citing his lack of a record. Is an anonymous troll more credible than the Washington Post?
How much does Dyer pay in property taxes?
Hans has had two terms to produce. He hasn't, so time to move on.
As a new reader and resident, I must say I would probably never vote for Dyer, but would probably not vote for Hans either. There has to be a viable moderate somewhere in this county.
Interesting discovery. This $692 tax credit (or similar amounts) has been applied to the tax bills for several years, so the county's practice of quietly pickpocketing seniors has been going on ever since they started issuing this credit. No wonder the county council has been so willing to be so generous.
6:20: Which of my political positions are not moderate? Universal Pre-K, bringing high-wage jobs and corporate headquarters to Montgomery County, ensuring we have a functioning transportation system, responsible growth that protects neighborhoods?
None of these are even remotely extreme positions. As much as it chagrins some, I am not only viable, but more moderate than our corrupt County Council of today. If you want Part II of the Westbard sector plan to be like the first, go ahead and vote for the "moderates" the MoCo political machine will be serving up for you in 2018 - just don't whine about what they do when they get into office. "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice..."
"fits a long-time pattern of this County Council, which has a history of imposing flat taxes and fees that hit residents with low or fixed incomes hard countywide."
lol, we're talking about tax credits here, buddy. "This flat tax credit hurts poor people!" shouts Dyer. News flash: it's the exact opposite. The flat $692 credit disproportionately HELPS poorer residents; the $692 is peanuts for a $4M Bethesda prop tax bill, but a substantial chunk of a $300K Glenmont home. That's the entire point and why it's a set dollar amount instead of a percentage of the bill.
If you were to run for office, would Tarnation Bob be on the ticket?
6:29: Did you read the article and examine the worksheets? The situation is exactly the opposite of what you and the Council are claiming.
T. B. for V. P.
6:36: Was Stuart Smalley on Al Franken's ticket?
"That's just stinkin' thinkin!"
"Is an anonymous troll more credible than the Washington Post"
Ha what a hypocrite. Dyer criticizes the Washington Post all the time, and now he wants to call them credible. Yes, the Post has always been credible, but you're clearly the troll. And yes, Riemer might not be a good councilmember, but he's far, far better than you would be.
"Which of my political positions are not moderate?"
Lol is this a serious question? You're just as extremist as the rest of the Trump nuts. Wasn't it just last week there were daily anti-immigrant rants?
6:50 AM What's the evidence Riemer is better than anyone?
Everything he touches fails and he's put residents at risk by releasing their private info.
Anon of 6:29 AM: It is true that the $692 flat credit does help residents with homes that have lower assessed values (without regard to the income of the homeowner).
At the same time, though, it has the undesirable effect of increasing the tax bills of moderate and low income seniors, regardless of the assessed value of their homes. That's the point of the article.
The council and county executive keep bragging that everyone gets the $692 credit, but the article here shows that the "credit" is actually a subtraction for moderate and low income homeowners.
That is -- it's a subtraction of credit, which is an increase in tax bill.
Robert Dyer is very active in the community on many important issues.
I don't know who else is running, but Dyer would get a look from voters. Good track record in the community.
as usual dems are unable to do math and focus so they spend time filling comments with personal attacks. that is the legacy of the progressive moco dems. too stupid to figure out how government works.
6:54: Factual coverage of the alleged gang rape at Rockville High School is not "daily anti-immigrant rants." Wake up, Bozo.
6:54: And then he broke the law by removing the file. When does the trial begin for his illegal activities?
Dyer, "argle bargle"
I don't think the Council targeted seniors purposefully. I think they did it accidentally because they can't do math.
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