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State Board Votes Against Property Tax Increase 

Maryland’s Board of Public Works, composed of the governor, comptroller, and treasurer, voted to maintain the state’s existing property and utility tax rates. 

The property tax will remain at 11.2 cents per $100 in assessed value, and the utility tax rate will remain at 28 cents per $100. 

“The past few weeks and months have been stressful and busy, but productive for the state,” said Treasurer Dereck E. Davis following an April 11 recommendation to raise taxes by the Commission on State Debt.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) proudly noted that his administration has not raised property taxes during his two-year tenure as leader of the state. 

“I want to highlight that, because when I first introduced this administration’s budget proposal back in January, we made one thing very, very clear: the state of Maryland will not balance this budget on the backs of the working and middle class,” said Moore.

The governor’s 2026 budget proposal followed the notion of protecting Marylanders’ pockets as well, with most residents receiving a tax decrease or no tax increase. 

The tax increases he proposed were on cannabis, gambling, and income taxes above $500,000 annually.

“Everything we were going to do was to make sure that working- and middle-class families were not just protected inside of this moment,” he said, “but also that we can give just a little bit of extra breathing room for families that were actually receiving a whole lot of additional pressure.”

Prince George’s County Council Approves Telecommunications Tax Increase

Per the recommendation of Interim County Executive Tara Jackson, the Prince George’s County Council voted 7-3 to raise the telecommunications tax by roughly $3.50 each month. 

A Prince George’s County budget expert expects this to raise the telecommunications tax by roughly $13 per line annually. Ninety percent of the tax revenue from this proposal would be allocated to Prince George’s County Public Schools, and the remaining 10% to school renovation and construction.

While some argue the telecommunications tax is needed to help balance the budget amid uncertain fiscal times, others believe it is a disproportionate tax on the poor and senior residents. 

Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce President Alexander Austin and residents alike that businesses with multiple phone lines would be among the most impacted.

“If the Prince George’s County Council votes to replace the current percentage-based cell phone tax with a flat $3.50 tax per line, every resident with a cell phone will pay higher taxes,” said Prince George’s resident Addison Pruitt. “Low and moderate-income families with multi-line, shared plans will be hit especially hard.” 

Pruitt said there are a lot of negatives that come with this proposal.

“I hope the council reconsiders their approach so that the county’s seniors, families and small businesses aren’t shouldering the burden,” Pruitt told The Informer. “In particular, passing this proposed tax would create an unfair and harmful financial burden for our low-income and senior residents, who may benefit from more affordable service plans but would now be forced to pay the same tax as their wealthier neighbors.”

Maryland Leaders Respond to Commanders Relocation Efforts

With the Washington Commanders announcing relocation plans back to Washington D.C.’s RFK Stadium, after nearly 30 years in Landover, state legislative leaders are stepping up to ensure the best possible deal for taxpayers and the communities  near Northwest Stadium after the football franchise’s in 2030. 

During a press conference, the governor that Maryland was the best home for the team and that the state extended a good offer to the owners, but they couldn’t be swayed from moving back to D.C.

Moore promised that the Commanders current home will not become “another RFK Stadium,” which has sat unused since 2017. 

Now, the stadium will be demolished within 90 days of the Commanders playing their first game at RFK Stadium, and the 200-acre site will be turned into a mixed-use development.

Delegate Jazz Lewis (D- District 24), an ardent Commanders fan, noted the forward-thinking adopted by legislative leaders.

“Nearly two years ago, when the new Commanders ownership group bought the team for more than $6 billion, they made it clear they were seriously considering a return to Washington, D.C.,” said Lewis. 

The District 24 delegate noted that , maintaining site security during redevelopment, completing design work before relocating, and collaborating with state and county leaders on future site plans were binding commitments for the team.

“Governor Wes Moore and I fought hard to keep the Commanders in Prince George’s County. Alongside our colleagues, we made the strongest possible case that Landover offers the best, fastest path to a new stadium and long-term success,” Lewis continued. “At the same time, we prepared for every scenario.”