Reply to Why does Montgomery County Subsidize Taxes for Country Clubs?

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[quote=Anonymous][/quote]Anonymous wrote:
14:39 - They are not being subsidized they are receiving a reduction on property taxes because the nature of their business requires more land.

The Agri tax rate is not about environmentalism. Farms are not a plus to the environment anymore than a gold course is in terms of wildlife, tree cover etc. The Agri tax rate is to enable business that requires more land with fewer building facilities and lower density to operate.

The small farms throughout the Agricultural Preserve do not serve a high % of residents. They aren't open to the public or required to participate in farmers markets. By your logic, these farms in MoCo should all be paying the same tax and ones that aren't open to the public or operating a roadside stand most of the year should be hurt and punished. Why should a business that only really supports people who like expensive local produce and farm to table dining experiences be encouraged or supported in MoCo. Who do I call to burn these down?

See where your logic takes you. The scenario with the club on more land due to a golf course, tennis court or pool is the same. It receives the lower tax rate for land because it requires more land with fewer facilities than other commercial businesses or residences. Its not different than the farm.

I also think you are not understanding economic principles if you think it would be wiser for MoCo to drive farms and clubs out of the county. These businesses are attractive to the surrounding communities, quality of life and help keep up property values. MoCo has already driven all the private sector jobs over to VA and small business out to Howard and Frederick. If you now start driving out quality of life businesses then why would people live here?[quote]

[/quote]No one is changing the taxation of farms, just for country clubs which are currently paying a lower rate than the rest of Maryland residents. If the nature of their business requires more land, they should pay the fair rate on that land rather than requiring Maryland taxpayers to subsidize them.[quote]

The clubs are paying their fair share. They are in compliance with the tax code. You are using the term subsidize incorrectly. Subsidize would be if the county was providing credits if the clubs began failing because fewer people were joining.

It feels like a weak argument to keep some clubs and the farms but target certain clubs. You're being arbitrary with the tax code and allowing unnecessary farms to continue with the agri rate but you are changing clubs with a golf course over to the residential rate because you don't like them. Plus if you rezone country clubs into residential zones with residential tax rates then why wouldn't the club owner or membership just sell to developers to build houses and make a windfall? They could rebuild a much more extensive club over in VA which would welcome them with open arms.

You can't have it both ways by changing the zoning to make an arbitrary selection of businesses using more undeveloped land change from the agri to the residential tax but then not allow them to conduct actions within residential zoning allowances.

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