Dear Salamander,
In Maryland, although an individual's property assessment may rise dramatically, for as long as he owns his residential property, the value on which property tax is paid by a homeowner may only rise 10% during each three-year assessment period. That works out to about 3% per year.
Thus, even when real estate is booming, Marylanders enjoy considerable protection against dramatic increases in property taxes.
However, one could easily argue that permitting more development actually moderates market forces, and thus, moderates prices. For many folks, western Maryland is a highly-desirable destination. If development were restricted more than it is, then there would be less supply to meet demand. That usually translates to higher prices.
Ultimately, though, development in Maryland is controlled at the county level. Thus, my county, Anne Arundel, is extremely anti-development, and we see little new housing being developed. Ditto in Montgomery. Next-door neighbor Prince George's County has been considerably more pro-developer than either Anne Arundel or Montgomery, and has seen quite a bit more development in the last few years than either of the other two.
If I were in your shoes, and if I thought that your county is getting too much development, I'd go talk to your county's elected officials.
"He may have 'ran on slots' in some places but in western MD he stumped on a 'pro-gun/hunting' stance."
I don't know what you folks have for newspapers up in that part of Maryland. The coverage - and debate - on slots was close to the saturation level in the Post and the Sun. If your local papers didn't mention the debate, well, then shame on them.
Mr. Ehrlich was quite clear that if elected, he would push for slots at the race tracks in Maryland. He is hardly to be criticized for trying to keep that campaign promise.
sitetest
"homeowner may only rise 10% during each three-year assessment period."
Oh, really?
Mine just literally -doubled- from what they were last year.
How do I go about getting my refund since I was obviously, illegally over-charged?
"I'd go talk to your county's elected officials."
You mean those pro-developer, tax-mad, money hungry Republican commissioners that I [stupidly] voted for?....LOL!
Yeah.
That'll get me somewhere.
When I saw my new "property value assessment" I nearly fainted.
All I could think was that someone had discovered oil or a gold mine in my pasture and not told me about it.
Our local paper usually has a headline about an escaped Angus heifer or somesuch thing unless there was a car accident or McDonald's hold-up.
" For many folks, western Maryland is a highly-desirable destination"
Yes, it was and we had the foresight to settle here in the late 1700s.
I cannot over-emphasize the wrack and ruin being wrought upon this idyllic place; a haven out of time.
We have drive-by drug shootings in Hagerstown and NY big-time drug dealers moving in.
Hagerstown, proper, is fast becoming a refuge for criminals, save for the poor and elderly who have no means to flee it.
That is "progress", here.
Do I get to referee as I had Md relatives who fought on both sides of the War? Never mind those Pa cousins who got their farm shot up at Gettysburg. :)
"Thus, my county, Anne Arundel, is extremely anti-development, and we see little new housing being developed. Ditto in Montgomery."
There is practically no land in Montgomery county left to build new housing.