Comments on: Watch Governor O’Malley Raise Maryland Taxes

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 05:23:15 +0000

You mentioned that the tax increases may contribute to small businesses locating outside of Maryland. The state also recently instituted a “living wage” program, which forces businesses to pay wages significantly higher than the federal minimum wage. This is yet another signal from the state of Maryland that business owners are encouraged to locate elsewhere.

By: Steve

Steve — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 14:33:25 +0000

I live in Maryland also. Another component of his budget balancing proposal is slot machine revenue, which less than 5 years ago he derided as "morally bankrupt". Anyway, here is a link to a Sun article that details the proposed tax brackets and rates. Baltimore Sun Article

By: Kirk Kinder

Kirk Kinder — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 02:37:24 +0000

What bothers me most about this situation is the politicians, especially O’Malley, fail to look at any spending cuts. They identified around $30 Million in spending cuts, but then they start to claim that if they don’t raise taxes then they will have to cut money for orphans or the elderly. They pinpoint items that they know folks would never allow to be cut.

There are plenty of other programs and projects that could be reduced or delayed, but the state ignores those possible cuts. When times get tough for families, they have to sit around the kitchen table to find spending cuts. When times are tough for the government, they pass the burden onto its citizens.

By: Carl

Carl — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 18:31:16 +0000

Having lived in MD since 1997 I can’t believe I never realized there was no tax on food (I mean I saw it sometimes when I glanced at my grocery receipts, but it never hit me)

But that’s only grocery food right? Like unprepared stuff you get at Giant? Because there’s definitely tax fast food and canned good right?

By: jim

jim — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 04:15:13 +0000

With respect to my amnesia, I moved to Maryland midway through 2003… so I wasn’t around for either of those increases.

By: marylandterps

marylandterps — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 21:44:34 +0000

I moved to FL last year, having lived in MO County MD & Alex VA (both outside DC), & the big reasons were 1)taxes & housing prices & 2)sunny, warm weather. Both VA & MD have had many “Stealth” tax increases the past couple years. Fees were increased for many services. My VA property taxes also increased 33% & then 35% in successive years. How can anyone afford that? Gov. Warner also increased taxes $1.5 billion dollars during his term. Cig taxes in both states increased in 2003. I’m helping your amnesia…there have been many tax increases the past few years. I don’t consider any of them “fun” or “exciting,” as they take my hard earned money & waste them on more useless government programs.

By: mapgirl

mapgirl — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 21:08:41 +0000

I don’t care since I don’t live in Charm City anymore, but O’Malley is dreamy.

I wonder what Punny Money and CleverDude will say since they are MD residents as well. This could be good for most middle income people and homeowners. MD is so expensive. I don’t mind higher sales tax for consumption, that’s always seemed reasonable, but regressive. (I guess it’s ok since they don’t tax food, but why do they tax clothes? We all need them since we’d be charged with indecent exposure otherwise….)

In the end, one reason why I chose VA over MD was because I’d pay less in income taxes by living there. (And the property values were cheaper, and the property taxes were cheaper, and the commute shorter, etc…)