Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Governor calls budget package "good for all Marylanders." Republicans say burden to local governments may force county governments to increase taxes.
The Maryland House of Delegates gave final approval Wednesday to a package of three bills that increases taxes on some state residents, shifts part of teacher pensions to local governments and undoes the so-called "doomsday budget." The votes Wednesday afternoon capped the three-day special session called by Gov. Martin O'Malley in order to override more than $500 million in cuts made in a budget passed in early April. The Senate approved the same three bills Tuesday. As part of the package, legislators approved by a vote of 86-51 what amounts to a 50-50 split of teacher pension costs with local governments. The split will be phased in over the next four years beginning July 1 with the new budget year. That bill also includes a doubling of…
Dozens honored by city.
The City of Laurel kicked off its 17th annual award ceremony to honor employees. The luncheon took place at the Partnership Activity Center honoring dozens of employees for their years of service to the city. Click here to read the list of recipients.
There were few surprises in the budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
The Laurel City Council voted this week to approve its 2013 fiscal year budget. There were few surprises in the $25.7 million budget, which marks a more than $470,000 increase from the fiscal year 2012 budget. Last year, the city maneuvered around a $3 million budget deficit by freezing pay raises for city employees. But this year, the city plans to partially reinstate raises, including merit-based raises, but will continue to hold off on cost-of-living increases. The city also plans to add funds to the retirement pension fund. This year the city plans to pay $1.6 million, up from the $1.5 million in the 2012 budget. Real property tax rates will remain steady at 71 cents per $100 of the assessed property valuation. Personal property tax …
May Public Safety Newsletter eyes hurricane season readiness.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Building will be part of C Street Flats development.
The City of Laurel has completed the sale of the old police headquarters building, Mayor Craig Moe announced Tuesday. San Francisco-based Klingbeil Capital Management paid $2.3 million for the building at 350 Municipal Square. The building will be developed into a mixed-use community of apartments with commercial space called the C Street Flats. City officials had marked the area around the building as a revitalization zone, focused on transit-oriented development because it sits near the city’s MARC station and is part of the Laurel arts and entertainment district. Moe said in a press release that the C Street Flats project would help advance the development of galleries, shops and residences in the arts and entertainment district with C …
Residents near Laurel Garden apartments say development would be disruptive.
Laurel residents rallied against the expansion of a planned apartment redevelopment during a Monday night City Council meeting, citing concerns with traffic congestion and its impact on the community. Laurel Reality Co., the developer for redevelopment of Laurel Gardens apartments, is proposing to spend about $10 million to demolish the existing complex and build garden apartments and townhomes. Planners said they are asking the council to approve the construction of 114 units, up from the 96 units that were originally planned. The complex sits along Park Avenue, Ninth Street and Phillip Powers Drive. But during Monday’s meeting, residents petitioned the council to put the brakes on the unit increase, contending that additional units would…
Monday, May 14, 2012
Laurel Council meets tonight at 7 p.m.
The Laurel City Council tonight is expected to move forward with its budget for fiscal year 2013 and adopt an urban redevelopment plan. Council members will hold a second public hearing on the 2013 budget. No major cuts or tax increases are expected as compared to last year, officials said. But the city is looking to partially restore pay raises to employees. A second public hearing and possible action will also be held for the city’s Urban Redevelopment Plan, which seeks to target residential areas for upgrades, improvements, and to ensure a balanced economy in the city. The meeting will be held tonight at 7 p.m. at the Laurel Municipal Center.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
The issue could go before Maryland voters in November.
Facing pressure to take a stand, President Barack Obama on Wednesday said he supports same-sex marriage. In an interview with ABC News’ Robin Roberts, Obama (D) described his “evolution” on the issue through talks with friends, and reflection on military personnel and members of his own staff who, he said, “are not able to commit themselves in a marriage,” adding that “at a certain point I’ve just concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same sex couples should be able to get married.” The interview appeared this morning on ABC’s Good Morning America. Interview excerpts of the interview ran Wednesday evening on ABC’s World News with Diane Sawyer. Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) issued the …
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Plan to fix "Doomsday Budget" includes $247 million in tax increases and elimination of exemptions for single filers earning $100,000 or more and joint filers earning $150,000 or more.
UPDATE (5:59 p.m.)—Some Maryland residents will pay more taxes in the coming year under a plan worked out between Gov. Martin O'Malley and legislative leaders. O'Malley, accompanied by House Speaker Michael Busch and Senate President Thomas V. "Mike" Miller, announced the nearly $35.8 billion plan during a Wednesday morning news conference in Annapolis to discuss the upcoming special session. "To leave this budget incomplete, to leave this budget as it stands right now, would damage the very forward motion that all of us, together, have worked so hard to achieve for our state," O'Malley said. "Progress is a choice," O'Malley said. "Job creation is a choice. Building America's number one schools, making a college education affordable, …
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
The proposed liquor store in Wegmans has sparked the debate.
The proposed 10,000-square-foot liquor store inside the new Columbia Wegmans has reignited the debate on whether wine, beer and liquor should be sold in Maryland grocery and convenience stores. In an expansive article on Saturday, the Baltimore Sun examined how multiple grocery stores are trying to find ways around rules that generally ban chain grocery stores from selling wine, beer and liquor. (There are some exceptions, such as an Eastern Shore Giant location that has a license that has been grandfathered.) Adam Borden, the president of Marylanders for Better Beer & Wine Laws, said the bans are antiquated. “Our culture has evolved,” said Borden. “It used to be one where temperance and orderly tax collections were our most paramount …
Joshua Garner
7:02 am on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
We last reported that the mall had closed and is awaiting demolition work to begin, who knows when that will happen, but we will keep you posted. more ›