|
 |
LOCAL EVENTS |
|
|
Monday - June 29
|
| • Harford Writers Group (Bel Air Public Library, 410-893-9458), 6:30 pm |
Tuesday - June 30
|
• Bel Air Farmers Market (Risteau District Courthouse parking lot), 7 am - 2 pm
• Harford Poetry & Lit. Society (Rockfield Manor, Bel Air, 410-692-6777), 1 pm
• Harford County Council (212 S. Bond St, Bel Air, 410-638-3343), 7:30 pm |
Wednesday - July 1
• Havre de Grace Independence Celebration, 410-939-4362.
|
|
Thursday - July 2
• Havre de Grace Independence Celebration, 410-939-4362.
|
| • Edgewood Farmers Market (MARC train station), 3-6 pm |
Friday - July 3
HOLIDAY: Independence Day Observed
• Havre de Grace Independence Celebration, 410-939-4362.
|
• Lunchtime Concert (Office Street, Bel Air, 410-638-1023), Noon-1 pm
• Summer Concerts in the Park (Tydings Park, Havre de grace, 410-939-5425), 7:30 pm |
Saturday - July 4
Independence Day
• Bel Air Independence Day, 410-893-4444
• Havre de Grace Independence Celebration, 410-939-4362.
|
• Bel Air Farmers Market (Risteau District Courthouse parking lot), 7-11 am
• Havre de Grace Farmers Market (Pennington and Union Streets), 9 am-Noon
|
Event information may be dated. Please check with source or host of event regarding time and requirements for participation. We cannot be responsible for errors or omissions. No endorsements implied. Email event updates to the editor.
|
|
|
|
| harford |
REFRESH PAGE TO UPDATE LIVE WEATHER DATA ... CLICK FOR FORECAST |
Property Taxes Under Fire
by Pamela Mones
HARFORD COUNTY: March 7, 2009 -- Despite falling sales prices in today’s real estate marketplace, tax assessments show little signs that taxes are falling in line as well. People are beginning to take a harder look at the bottom line when they get their tax bill in the mail, and some are even taking aim at the entire process of tax assessments and the appeals process.
Some people who may have their taxes paid by their lender may not even be aware of how much their property tax is. And even if they do, do they care?
But those people who say, "Enough is enough," have joined together to bring the matter to the minds of public officials and, they hope, to those who make the rules.
Marylanders for Fair Property Taxation is a group that numbers nearly 100 people who are outraged at the unfairness of the way property is being assessed, and they plan to do something about it.
The recently formed group of individuals has basically a three-pronged agenda regarding property taxes:
1. To improve the basis and determination of assessments,
2. To improve the appeals process and property owners’ rights, and
3. To advance this knowledge through direct interface with citizens and public officials to ensure taxpayers are being treated fairly, honestly and respectfully.
One reader wrote to me saying his assessment went up 98% from his previous assessment. He appealed and got an $18,000 reduction, but it was hardly significant in his opinion. "It is a huge ripoff of homeowners," he added.
Another property owner said his assessment is based on properties "nowhere near comparable" to his, and he has been before the appeals board on several occasions.
People need to take action, he said. Marylanders for Fair Property Taxation has already begun to make a small dent. Harford County Senator Barry Glassman has drafted a bill aimed at reviewing the property tax assessment appeals process, but the group wants more.
The group meets regularly and invites any individual who is interested in this issue to come to its meetings.
The group has successfully lobbied lawmakers to introduce legislation that will study the way property is assessed and revise the appeals process to help homeowners who want to dispute their tax bill.
Pamela Mones was formerly the editor of Harford Prime Times and the Harford Business Ledger, and is now an independent associate with Long & Foster.
Archives
Does Anyone Here Know How to Make Potato Salad? - June 2008
Interesting - May 2006
Shout Out: Nothing Left to Sell (John Buren) - November 2005
Harford's Top 20 Most Influential Women - March 2005
Harford's Top 20 Web Sites - February 2004
Shout Out: It's not the heat, it's the stupidity
(John Buren) - December 2003
Shout Out: Good News / Bad News
(John Buren) - November 2003
Shout Out: Bits and Pieces (John Buren) - October 2003
Trivial pursuits (John Buren) - September 2003
Where have you gone, Mr. Robinson (John Buren) - August 2003
Liars, cheats, and other heroes (John Buren) - July 2003
Harford's top 20 most influential people - June 2003
The day before he died - November 2002
End of terrorism! End of freedom? - September 2002
Service with a frown - September 2001
No good deed goes unpunished - June 2001
There are no more downtowns downtown - March 2001
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
