County officials direct staff to prep revenue projections for proposed rate reduction
Could a tax break be coming to Worcester County property owners? Elected leaders say they want to explore the possibility.
“Because we are having increased revenue coming into the county, that doesn’t mean we should spend it,” said County Commissioner Chip Bertino at Tuesday’s Board of Commissioners meeting.
“Quite honestly, as we all know up here, it’s not our money. I’d very much like us to see money given back to the people who are paying it, because costs are going up and up and up.”
For now, property taxes for Worcester County are set to 84.5 cents per $100 of assessed value. Based on that level of taxation, the county could expect to receive an additional $18 million in property tax revenue for fiscal year 2026, according to preliminary estimates released in December.
However, if the tax rate generated the exact same revenue as last year – the term for this is constant yield – then the county’s tax rate would drop to about 77 cents. Every penny on the tax rate brings about $1.8 to $2 million in revenue, according to Bertino.
Looking ahead, given the expected property tax windfall for fiscal 2026, Bertino (District 5, Ocean Pines) on Tuesday asked county staffers to prepare a report demonstrating projections if the tax rate were dropped by 2, 3, 4 or 5 cents – or even if it fell 7 cents, to the constant yield. The commissioners approved his motion unanimously.
Bertino also said he’s heard the scuttlebutt around the county, that a projected revenue increase would mean more spending – but that’s not a done deal.
“If we can push back money, yeah, I think we should,” he said. “How much does government need to increase? At some point, enough is enough. If you’re on a fixed income, as many people are in the Ocean Pines area, it means something to them. I just feel very strongly about it, especially since I’m seeing these (property) assessments increasing considerably.”
What about Wicomico county???
Maryland property taxes will only go UP with this POS worthless thing we have for a governor. Hopefully one term is all he will have. People are sick of him already. He is the worst thing for our state that could possibly happen. What the hell were you damn democrats thinking to even consider this phony Cheshire cat grinning a**hole being elected. He’s not fit to run a dog show.
Here that wicimico state….. WE WANT CUTS ….no new TAXES!!
START by defunding education