Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.metro From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: PG voters face hard Questions Date: Mon, 26 Oct 92 14:37:03 EST Message-ID: \SE B;METROPOLITAN \HD PG voters face hard Questions \SH Foes of tax cap blast initiative \BY Jim Keary \CR THE WASHINGTON TIMES Harry Young was only making a trip to the grocery last spring. He didn't expect to do anything there that, in the words of one Prince George's County official, could "devastate our most basic county services." Mr. Young was one of more than 17,000 people who signed petitions to put a county property tax cap and a term limitation initiative on next week's ballot. "A man was getting names on a list and it seemed to me that they were two good ideas," said Mr. Young of his trip to the grocery, where he signed the petition. "I don't want to spend any more for taxes than I have to. Those fellows that are in there now, they aren't doing their jobs," Mr. Young said. But many county officials say they will not be able to do their jobs if the initiatives are approved. School board member Brenda Hughes said at a rally last week the tax cap will "devastate our most basic county services, public education and public safety." Another board member, Fred Hutchinson, said now is not the time to be limiting the taxes the county can collect, when state and federal aid is shrinking and needs are growing. "There are three sources of revenue: The income tax, the sales tax and property taxes," said Mr. Hutchinson. "This recession has seen the decline of sales and income taxes. "The only revenue source that is stable and we can depend on . . . is the property tax. This is certainly not the time to limit the one stable source of income we have." Question D would limit the growth of property tax collections in the county each year to no more than 5 percent or to the rate of inflation, whichever is less. Question C, the term limit initiative, would ban the county executive and county council members from holding more than two consecutive four-year terms. While county officials have expressed concern about the term limits, they have been most vocal about the tax cap. County Executive Parris Glendening and county employee unions have lobbied against it. Opponents of Question D say it is flawed because it does not allow property taxes to grow at the same pace as county development, even though that development brings demands for more public services. "I think it's going to be a close call," said County Council Chairman Richard Castaldi. "I think getting people to understand how the tax cap will work is difficult. It will not allow new growth into the revenue stream," he said, claiming the referendum would limit tax revenue from new developments. But supporters of the cap say the county has been free with their tax dollars and they have had enough. Margaret Houch of the 9200 block of Rhode Island Avenue in College Park, said property taxes were about $150 when she and her husband bought their home 35 years ago. She said her taxes are about $1,500 now. "They increased more than $200 this year," Mrs. Houch said. "If we ran our household budgets the way the county spends it's money, we'd be out of money." Many Question D supporters see the term limit as another way to limit county spending. "The county council has been there too long. I think they have been treating us unfairly," said Vicky Carroll of the 12700 block of Medstock Lane in Upper Marlboro. "If I recognize their name on the ballot, I'm not voting for them." But Delegate Mike Arrington, Prince George's County Democrat, says term limits will reduce the number of qualified people entering politics. He is chairman of Prince Georgians to Preserve the Quality of Life, which is fighting both the tax cap and term limits. "If people serve only one or two terms, they will never get the expertise," Mr. Arrington said. "It will create a situation where the staff people are becoming the policy-makers because they will hold the experitise." Even if it passes, some county officials said they expect the term limit measure to be challenged in court since it would apply to the terms of sitting council members. Also on the ballot next week are two charter amendments: Question A, which would establish a reserve fund of 3 percent of the county budget, and Question B, which would change the deadlines for approval of the budget. The budget must now be submitted to the council by March 31 and approved by June 1. The amendment would push those deadlines back two weeks. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM