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MARYLAND MUNICIPAL LEAGUE

Municipal Fast Facts. There are 157 municipalities in Maryland.The largest municipality in Maryland is Baltimore City with approximately 640,000 residents.The smallest town in Maryland is Port Tobacco with approximately 15 residents.30% of the population live in Maryland's municipalities.. . Municipal Pop Quiz.

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MARYLAND MUNICIPAL LEAGUE

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    1. MARYLAND MUNICIPAL LEAGUE

    3. Municipal Pop Quiz Q. What is the oldest incorporated city or town in Maryland? A. Annapolis – incorporated in 1708. Q. What is the most recently incorporated municipality in Maryland? A. North Chevy Chase – incorporated in 1996. Q. Which two counties have no incorporated cities or towns? A. Howard and Baltimore Counties.

    4. Incorporation today… Prior to 1954, cities and towns were incorporated by legislative action. Since the ratification of the home rule amendment in 1954, incorporation has become more difficult. Barriers include: Approval of county government. Voter approval through incorporation referendum.

    5. Total Municipal Revenue Sources 60% from municipal sources. 30% from Federal, State and county sources. 10% from State administered local sources.

    6. Municipal Revenue Sources Property Taxes Service User Fees

    7. Federal-State-County Revenue Sources Highway User Funds Bank Shares Taxes Fire and Emergency Aid

    8. State Administered Local Revenue Sources Income Taxes Admissions and Amusement Taxes

    9. How Does MML Choose Legislative Priority Issues? In the spring of each year, municipal officials are encouraged to submit Legislative Action Requests (LAR) to be researched by the MML staff and considered by the Legislative Committee.

    10. MML’s 2005 Legislative Program 1. Restoring Municipal Revenues 2. Public Safety Communications Connectivity and Interoperability 3. Municipal Electrical Aggregation

    11. Restoring Municipal Resources Municipal Highway User Revenues are used to fund road repairs, local infrastructure maintenance, road replacement projects, and municipal public works programs FY ’04 and FY ’05 State budgets reduced municipal highway user revenues by $12.3 million both years. This represented one-third of total municipal highway user revenues.

    12. Restoring Municipal Resources Program Open Space 2002 – $42.5 million 2005 – $15 million Community Legacy 2002 – $10 million 2005 - $5 million Community Parks & Playgrounds 2002 – $11 million 2005 - $5 million

    13. Restoring Municipal Revenues

    14. Public Safety Communications Connectivity and Interoperability Municipal public safety agencies are under increasing pressure to provide citizens with enhanced levels of security at the local level.

    15. Public Safety Communications Connectivity and Interoperability Outdated and aging equipment on all levels is a source of concern for all public safety agencies. As these agencies begin the process of replacing communications equipment, it is imperative that replacement efforts are coordinated at all levels of government.

    16. Public Safety Communications Connectivity and Interoperability

    17. Municipal Electrical Aggregation The electric industry was deregulated in 1999. Legislation to deregulate the electric industry specifically forbids local governments from serving as aggregators.

    18. Municipal Electrical Aggregation Rate Cap Removal Schedule: PEPCO & Delmarva Power: July 1, 2004 Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties; Eastern Shore & Cecil County BGE: July 1, 2006 Baltimore City, Baltimore, Carroll, Howard, Harford & Anne Arundel Counties Allegany Power: January 1, 2009 Frederick, Allegany, Washington & Garrett Counties

    19. Municipal Electrical Aggregation GOAL: Seek legislation to allow a municipality or group of municipalities to serve as aggregator(s) for their residents.

    20. Upcoming Municipal Legislative Issues of Importance Open Meetings Act Impact Fees/Special Taxing Districts Affordable/Work Force Housing Annexation/Growth

    21. Open Meetings Act Open Meetings Act to now include “executive function”? Problematic because smaller jurisdictions, especially those that utilize the commissioner form of government, frequently take on administrative roles. Extension of Open Meetings Act to include “executive function” would be impractical, administratively cumbersome, and expensive.

    22. Impact Fees November 18, 2004 AG’s Opinion Taneytown (Carroll County) issue Impact fee on new development to fund additional police/fire throughout city? AG’s opinion said there must be a “rational nexus test” to survive legal scrutiny. AG’s opinion: http://www.oag.state.md.us/Opinions/2004/ 89oag212.pdf.

    23. Work Force Housing Due to the rapidly escalating price of housing and low mortgage rates, affordable housing is become more and more scarce in Maryland. Density requirements, infrastructure needs, and NIMBYism are key factors that negatively impact the supply of affordable housing

    24. Annexation & Growth Local government caught between builders/developers and “slow-no growth advocates”. More urban areas are becoming built-out, forcing growth to more rural areas. Smaller communities are less able to respond to demands that result from explosive growth Municipalities depend heavily on property taxes as a main source of revenue.

    25. Maryland’s Municipalities… Putting Citizens First                                        

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