May 2nd, 2016 by WCBC Radio
A bill that would require the state to begin making annual revenue payments to any county in which it owns property once again failed to get approval from the Maryland General Assembly. Known as the Open Space Incentive Program last year, the land use bill going into the 2016 session was called the Payment in Lieu of Taxes Program- and was introduced by State Senator George Edwards. The Payment in Lieu of Taxes plan is designed to protect rural counties, primarily Allegany and Garrett, from losing tax revenue when the state purchases land in those counties and removes them from the tax rolls. Edwards said that although the bill gained some traction, ultimately it failed to get out of conference committee as amendments and alternate plans were discussed. The senator hopes to revisit the issue with the Hogan administration during the summer…
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