Why does Montgomery County Subsidize Taxes for Country Clubs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone please explain why just those clubs? Why is Woodmont and Lakewood not on the list? Both are in MoCo. This looks likes a tax the white wasp clubs. Why isn’t this a tax across the board to all MoCo clubs?

Who cares? Tax the white wasps.

Your local pool is also not taxed, ditto for your local church. If you go after country clubs in this regard you can also expect that your summer pool and church will have a hard time staying open unless they charge it’s members a lot more money (contributions to church).
Private schools as well. Private schools do provide some open space and also jobs for residents. Pools and health clubs provide recreation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone please explain why just those clubs? Why is Woodmont and Lakewood not on the list? Both are in MoCo. This looks likes a tax the white wasp clubs. Why isn’t this a tax across the board to all MoCo clubs?

Who cares? Tax the white wasps.

Your local pool is also not taxed, ditto for your local church. If you go after country clubs in this regard you can also expect that your summer pool and church will have a hard time staying open unless they charge it’s members a lot more money (contributions to church).
Private schools as well. Private schools do provide some open space and also jobs for residents. Pools and health clubs provide recreation.

I don't belong to a private pool. I swim at county swim centers. I also don't go to a church because I don't believe in fairy tails and make believe.

And I fully support taxing private pools and churches or other religious facilities at the same rate as businesses for their income, because that's what they are, and assessing their property taxes at the same rate of a private residence.

Frankly, everyone needs to be paying more in taxes. If we all did, a lot of problems would be solved.

[Anonymous]

Tax mosques double!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone please explain why just those clubs? Why is Woodmont and Lakewood not on the list? Both are in MoCo. This looks likes a tax the white wasp clubs. Why isn’t this a tax across the board to all MoCo clubs?

Who cares? Tax the white wasps.

Your local pool is also not taxed, ditto for your local church. If you go after country clubs in this regard you can also expect that your summer pool and church will have a hard time staying open unless they charge it’s members a lot more money (contributions to church).
Private schools as well. Private schools do provide some open space and also jobs for residents. Pools and health clubs provide recreation.

I don't belong to a private pool. I swim at county swim centers. I also don't go to a church because I don't believe in fairy tails and make believe.

And I fully support taxing private pools and churches or other religious facilities at the same rate as businesses for their income, because that's what they are, and assessing their property taxes at the same rate of a private residence.

Frankly, everyone needs to be paying more in taxes. If we all did, a lot of problems would be solved.

Aren’t you lovely!

[Anonymous]

They are taxed per-acre not on land value, just like all land in the massive agricultural reserve. They pay double the per-acre rate of Ag Reserve land. Both preserve green spaces.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They are taxed per-acre not on land value, just like all land in the massive agricultural reserve. They pay double the per-acre rate of Ag Reserve land. Both preserve green spaces.

Therein lies the problem. They need to be taxed on the land value, the same way residential and commercial lots are.

Golf courses aren’t farms, they don’t grow food for people or contribute anything meaningful. They also aren’t nature preserves, they are completely artificial environments that require massive amounts of chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, and gasoline powered lawnmowers to keep nature at bay, and prevent the area from becoming an *actual* green space. They are vast biological dead-zones.


Golf courses and country clubs are THE most selfish and wasteful uses of open spaces. They need to be taxed at the highest rates conceivable, to reduce the number that currently exist, and to make those that remain pay mightily for the privilege.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone please explain why just those clubs? Why is Woodmont and Lakewood not on the list? Both are in MoCo. This looks likes a tax the white wasp clubs. Why isn’t this a tax across the board to all MoCo clubs?

Who cares? Tax the white wasps.

Your local pool is also not taxed, ditto for your local church. If you go after country clubs in this regard you can also expect that your summer pool and church will have a hard time staying open unless they charge it’s members a lot more money (contributions to church).
Private schools as well. Private schools do provide some open space and also jobs for residents. Pools and health clubs provide recreation.

I don't belong to a private pool. I swim at county swim centers. I also don't go to a church because I don't believe in fairy tails and make believe.

And I fully support taxing private pools and churches or other religious facilities at the same rate as businesses for their income, because that's what they are, and assessing their property taxes at the same rate of a private residence.

Frankly, everyone needs to be paying more in taxes. If we all did, a lot of problems would be solved.

Aren’t you lovely!

Huh?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are taxed per-acre not on land value, just like all land in the massive agricultural reserve. They pay double the per-acre rate of Ag Reserve land. Both preserve green spaces.

Therein lies the problem. They need to be taxed on the land value, the same way residential and commercial lots are.

Golf courses aren’t farms, they don’t grow food for people or contribute anything meaningful. They also aren’t nature preserves, they are completely artificial environments that require massive amounts of chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, and gasoline powered lawnmowers to keep nature at bay, and prevent the area from becoming an *actual* green space. They are vast biological dead-zones.


Golf courses and country clubs are THE most selfish and wasteful uses of open spaces. They need to be taxed at the highest rates conceivable, to reduce the number that currently exist, and to make those that remain pay mightily for the privilege.

You could probably make the same argument about the Ag Reserve. Yes, there are plenty of farms there, but also many of people's private residences on large acreage (since you can't subdivide.. there's a minium lot size in AgRes to keep down density). They are taxed by the acre.

Then make a similar argument for houses of worship, as they are not taxed at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are taxed per-acre not on land value, just like all land in the massive agricultural reserve. They pay double the per-acre rate of Ag Reserve land. Both preserve green spaces.

Therein lies the problem. They need to be taxed on the land value, the same way residential and commercial lots are.

Golf courses aren’t farms, they don’t grow food for people or contribute anything meaningful. They also aren’t nature preserves, they are completely artificial environments that require massive amounts of chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, and gasoline powered lawnmowers to keep nature at bay, and prevent the area from becoming an *actual* green space. They are vast biological dead-zones.


Golf courses and country clubs are THE most selfish and wasteful uses of open spaces. They need to be taxed at the highest rates conceivable, to reduce the number that currently exist, and to make those that remain pay mightily for the privilege.

You could probably make the same argument about the Ag Reserve. Yes, there are plenty of farms there, but also many of people's private residences on large acreage (since you can't subdivide.. there's a minium lot size in AgRes to keep down density). They are taxed by the acre.

Then make a similar argument for houses of worship, as they are not taxed at all.

Why not just deal with the country clubs now and the others later?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are taxed per-acre not on land value, just like all land in the massive agricultural reserve. They pay double the per-acre rate of Ag Reserve land. Both preserve green spaces.

Therein lies the problem. They need to be taxed on the land value, the same way residential and commercial lots are.

Golf courses aren’t farms, they don’t grow food for people or contribute anything meaningful. They also aren’t nature preserves, they are completely artificial environments that require massive amounts of chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, and gasoline powered lawnmowers to keep nature at bay, and prevent the area from becoming an *actual* green space. They are vast biological dead-zones.


Golf courses and country clubs are THE most selfish and wasteful uses of open spaces. They need to be taxed at the highest rates conceivable, to reduce the number that currently exist, and to make those that remain pay mightily for the privilege.

Exactly. The notion that country clubs provide some sort of societal benefit to anyone other than their members is absurd.

[Anonymous]

According to the article the special rate has only been in effect since 2002. I'd love to see the legislative history on that!

It's a substantial break too. According to the article the assessment of clubs with over 50 acres and 100 members is capped at $1,000 per acre. That's nothing.

[Anonymous]

That's absolutely shameful. They should be paying millions in taxes, not 50-100,000

This needs to be a torches and pitchforks movement.

[Anonymous]

Meh I'm not a golf fan or have any desire to join a country club but this is good example of why Takoma Park based politicians aren't good for the county. This rep's first try at this included all small clubs which would have made the small, cheapo neighborhood swim and tennis clubs all over the county go under. I guess his thinking was if it doesn't benefit Takoma Park directly then tax it more and send those dollars on over to Takoma Park pronto. He lost so now he's back focusing on only the clubs with larger golf courses.

While I personally don't care if the small number of clubs that David is targeting need to pay more taxes, I do care that MoCo politicians are once again not focusing on getting more business revenue into the county. Its embarrassing how badly MoCo is doing compared to VA,DC, Howard and Frederick! If David one and only plan for more revenue by increasing the taxes succeeds it would only go into place in 2031 and only raise 10M for the county. This will do nothing to steer away from the budget and financial crisis within MoCo.

[Anonymous]

This county has excellent public pools and sports facilities, including golf courses.

I'm furious to find out that these private clubs not open to me to use and enjoy are being offered a lower tax rate than I pay for my own home.

That needs to stop. And we need to examine raising their tax rates above what residents are paying now to negate the previous low rates' benefit to these clubs.

[Anonymous]

I'm furious to find out that these private clubs not open to me to use and enjoy are being offered a lower tax rate than I pay for my own home.

Curious here - how do you feel about all the private swim and tennis clubs in the area paying a lower tax rate? They don't have more than 50 acres but I'm pretty sure that they aren't paying residential rates. How about private schools?