February 28, 2009

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Mel Franklin, mel.r.franklin@...

 

Testimony for Saturday, February 28, 2009 House Delegation Public Hearing

 

 

Dear Members of the Prince George’s County House Delegation:

 

Unfortunately, due to a long scheduled family obligation in another state, I was not able to attend today’s public hearing.  Please accept this testimony concerning local bills under consideration by the Delegation in lieu of my attendance.

 

 Please SUPPORT MC/PG 127-09

 

This legislation being introduced today would transfer $60 million of surplus funds over the next two years from the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission (MNCPPC) to the Prince George’s County Government to reduce its expected budget shortfall.  This would further reduce the need for the County to seek authorization from the Senate and House Delegations for property tax increases on Prince George’s County’s working families during this recession, which would hurt our already struggling local economy.  Delegates Aisha Braveboy and Justin Ross have shown outstanding leadership in discovering these available MNCPPC funds and I urge you to support this legislation. 

 

Please OPPOSE HB 979 (PG 414-09) and OPPOSE HB 1132 (MC/PG 106-09)

 

Over one-thousand Prince George’s County residents have written their Delegates and Senators in opposition to these multimillion dollar property tax increases during our economic downturn.  HB 979 and HB 1132 would result in tens of millions of dollars in new taxes on middle and working class families, who are already struggling to deal with job losses, foreclosures and declining home values, and lost health insurance coverage.  HB 979, which would raise property taxes through the homestead tax credit, and HB 1132, which would result in an increase in the transit tax, would take tens of millions of dollars out of the pockets of hardworking families at a time when they can least afford it.  These increases would also worsen our local economy by causing our residents to spend even less in local and regional businesses, which will reduce business revenues, lead to more job losses, and further damage the county’s tax base.  Please vote with the more than one-thousand Prince George’s County voices you have heard from in your districts and oppose HB 979 and HB 1132.

 

Please SUPPORT HB 1130 (PG 413-09) - Investing School Facilities Surcharges in the Schools Impacted by Development

 

This important legislation would ensure that the funds from the School Facilities Surcharge are actually invested in the schools in the general area (legislative district) that were impacted by the new development.  Residential developers are required to pay a fee, or surcharge, to the school system for the impact of each new residential unit on school resources.   However, particularly in south county, when new residential developments are built, local schools that are impacted by the new population growth do not receive their fair share of resources to cope with this growth.  Any schools in the county that are impacted by new population growth from residential development – resulting in swelling class sizes and further strained resources – should be the primary recipients of the school surcharges paid by that development.   This is a basic issue of fairness and this legislation would help ensure that the schools impacted by development receive the funds they deserve.  Please support HB 1130.

 

Please SUPPORT HB 959 (PG 401-09) - Tax Incentives for Green Businesses in Prince George's County

 

This legislation would create important tax credits to encourage the growth of businesses in the emerging "green" economy here in Prince George's County.  This bill also encourages businesses to engage in "green" practices that will promote energy conservation.  This would compliment President Barack Obama's national agenda of investing in growing the 21st century businesses and jobs that will (a) make our country more energy independent and (b) can't be outsourced.  Please support HB 959.

 

Please SUPPORT HB 1131 (PG 406-09) - Promoting Small and Minority Business Ownership in Prince George's County

 

This legislation would require that small, local, or minority business enterprises receive at least 20% ownership in projects publicly financed through bonds in Prince George's County.  It would also create county-level certifications for local, small, and minority owned businesses.  This legislation is a good step forward in ensuring that local, small, and minority businesses share in the publicly financed economic development in our county.  Please support HB 1131.   

 

Thank you for your consideration,

 

/s/

 

Mel Franklin

Greater Marlboro Democratic Club (GMDC)

GMDC Organizing for Prince George’s County