Taxes should be fair, reasonable and predictable.

The biggest tax crisis facing Maryland now is the economic burden of rising real estate taxes. Increases in assessments combined with high tax rates have led to real estate tax increases far in excess of inflation. Real estate tax increases have begun to squeeze those on fixed incomes, especially seniors, out of their own homes. Rising real estate taxes have also contributed to the problem of housing affordability for our labor force.

If elected, I will fight to limit the rate and the rate of increase in real estate taxes. I will also propose a bill to allow qualified seniors to defer (at interest) the payment of increases in real estate taxes (over and above the increase in the CPI) to the date of transfer or sale of their property. Homeowners'defered tax liability, secured by the residence, would accrue over time. The State of Maryland could immediately realize the deferred payments, just as it does now through tax anticipation notes, by securitizing the deferred payments in the municipal bond market. 

However, it takes taxes to fund important initiatives, such as improved transportation and education. So, I will propose a VOLUNTARY TAX.

The Voluntary tax will be a check-off on the Maryland tax form (much like the Federal Election check-off) that will add one dollar to the tax (or reduce the taxpayer's refund by one dollar) in exchange for entering the taxpayer's name into an annual taxpayer's lottery to win up to $1,000,000. (In order to reduce the risk to the state, I would propose that the lottery prize be the lesser of 50% of the money raised or, $1,000,000). Furthermore, I would propose that the proceeds of the voluntary tax be distributed pro-rata to the counties from which the revenues came and be used solely for education and transportation purposes.

(By the way, there is precedence for this in the state of Arizona).

Finally, I think every taxpayer should vote, so I will propose that a voter registration form be added to the Maryland tax withholding form (MW 507).