Why does Montgomery County Subsidize Taxes for Country Clubs?

[Anonymous]

These country clubs which charge tens of thousands of dollars in fees and cater to the wealthiest in MoCo are paying below market property taxes at the same time that the county has a big fiscal problem and massive overcrowding in schools.
https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/government/delegate-wants-more-country-clubs-in-montgomery-to-pay-market-tax-rate/

Delegate Wants More Country Clubs in Montgomery To Pay Market Tax Rate
Similar legislation, opposed by golf courses, failed in last session of Md. legislature

Legislation being introduced in the Maryland General Assembly will call for expanding the number of country clubs and golf courses in Montgomery County that would be assessed at the county’s property tax rates, which could lead to higher tax bills for private clubs.

Del. David Moon, a Takoma Park Democrat, plans to re-introduce legislation with co-sponsors Sen. Will Smith and delegates-elect Lorig Charkoudian, Vaughn Stewart and Julie Palakovich Carr.

Moon said the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation, known as SDAT, taxes private golf courses of at least 50 acres with more than 100 paying members at the rate of $1,000 an acre, instead of the value of the property as assessed by the state.

“It [the course] might be worth $100 million when it’s being assessed at $1,000 per acre,” Moon said.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely 100% agree.

I'm not a CC member. So tax the sh!t out of them!!!!!

[Anonymous]

Hope this legislation goes through. These country clubs aren't public green spaces, and they can just raise the rates on their ultra rich members to pay their fair share of taxes so that they're not paying lower rates than Montgomery County residents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hope this legislation goes through. These country clubs aren't public green spaces, and they can just raise the rates on their ultra rich members to pay their fair share of taxes so that they're not paying lower rates than Montgomery County residents.

Offer them a choice: they can pay their fair share of tax rates PLUS open up to the public, OR, they can pay a special, super-high, punitive rate (like $10,000 per acre or higher) and stay private.

If their privacy and exclusivity mean that much to them and their members, well, that privilege should be one they have to pay a premium for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hope this legislation goes through. These country clubs aren't public green spaces, and they can just raise the rates on their ultra rich members to pay their fair share of taxes so that they're not paying lower rates than Montgomery County residents.

Offer them a choice: they can pay their fair share of tax rates PLUS open up to the public, OR, they can pay a special, super-high, punitive rate (like $10,000 per acre or higher) and stay private.

If their privacy and exclusivity mean that much to them and their members, well, that privilege should be one they have to pay a premium for.

Why should they pay more to stay private? Is your back yard open to the public? I agree with not paying less but not more..

[Anonymous]

Also ask why the council passed a special law to gove Mitchell Rales— who is worth $3.3 Billion — a property tax break. You can thank Hans Riemer for that one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hope this legislation goes through. These country clubs aren't public green spaces, and they can just raise the rates on their ultra rich members to pay their fair share of taxes so that they're not paying lower rates than Montgomery County residents.

Offer them a choice: they can pay their fair share of tax rates PLUS open up to the public, OR, they can pay a special, super-high, punitive rate (like $10,000 per acre or higher) and stay private.

If their privacy and exclusivity mean that much to them and their members, well, that privilege should be one they have to pay a premium for.

Why should they pay more to stay private? Is your back yard open to the public? I agree with not paying less but not more..

First, I don't have a backyard. Or a front yard. So that point is moot.

Second, I don't make an ostentatious display of wealth. If the rich want to enjoy such things, they should be willing to pay for that privilege.


I really don't think you're going to gain much traction with that line of argument, mr president.

[Anonymous]

I would be happy to see the country clubs pay at least as much as I do in property taxes. It's disgraceful that they don't, as it's basically a subsidy to their already rich members.

[Anonymous]

Yeah MoCo needs to stop the welfare to country clubs. This is a no brainer.

[Anonymous]

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?

[Anonymous]

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?

I don’t know but if you read the comments in the Bethesda Magazine article it mentions that the ones listed take tax breaks for public space and that Burning Tree which is also not listed does not. So maybe Woodmont and Lakewood don’t claim that tax break too. But way to jump to a claim of reverse racism.

[Anonymous]

Fore!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also ask why the council passed a special law to gove Mitchell Rales— who is worth $3.3 Billion — a property tax break. You can thank Hans Riemer for that one.

Do tell.

[Anonymous]

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.

[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?

I don’t know but if you read the comments in the Bethesda Magazine article it mentions that the ones listed take tax breaks for public space and that Burning Tree which is also not listed does not. So maybe Woodmont and Lakewood don’t claim that tax break too. But way to jump to a claim of reverse racism.

Burning Tree has to pay full taxes because it does not accept women. I think there should be an extra tax.