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Bag Law in Montgomery County Maryland

As everyone knows by now, January 1 brought the new carryout bag law to Montgomery County, Maryland. Under the law, a five-cent charge is placed on each paper or plastic carryout bag provided by retail establishments in the County to customers at the point of sale, pickup or delivery. However, shoppers can avoid the charge by bringing their own reusable bags.

The revenues that are collected -- above administrative costs -- will go to the County’s Water Quality Protection Fund that pays for things such as storm water management, watershed restoration and litter clean-up. Plastic bags are one of the top four items found in County streams and storm water controls. And, taxpayers bear the financial burden of cleaning up or removing this litter -- more than $3 million a year in Montgomery County for code enforcement, street sweeping and litter clean-up. That’s why the more people who use reusable bags and the less revenue the County receives the better it is for taxpayers who save money on cleanup and for our waterways that can then remain clean and healthy. It’s not about the money, it’s about doing the right thing for the environment.

On January 3, Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett handed out hundreds of reusable bags to shoppers at the Safeway in Hillandale, while Council President Roger Berliner and volunteers distributed hundreds more around the County. Throughout that one day, nearly 1,000 bags were given out among sites at: downtown Bethesda, Little Bitts cake and candy supply store in Wheaton, Walmart in Germantown and the Safeway at King Farm. All told, more than 40,000 bags have been distributed so far, with another 30,000 to come.

Various local businesses have stepped up to donate bags which have gone, primarily, to low-income families/individuals and seniors through local non-profits and other organizations serving these populations. Thanks to the retailers who have helped as many residents as possible receive bags and to the volunteers who gave out bags at each site.

SOURCE: Montgomery County MD, The Paperless Airplane

Brookside Gardens - Conservatory Spring Display March 1, 2012: Spring Garden at 1800 Glenallen Ave. Montgomery County, Maryland

Welcome spring with opens arms as you experience its beauty within the garden daily.

Hours:

Gardens: sunrise - sunset

Visitors Center: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Conservatories: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Brookside Gardens is Montgomery County's incomparable, award-winning 50-acre public display garden situated within Wheaton Regional Park. Included in the gardens are several distinct areas: Aquatic Garden, Azalea Garden, Butterfly Garden, Children's Garden, Rose Garden, Japanese Style Garden, Trial Garden, Rain Garden and the Woodland Walk. The Formal Gardens areas include a Perennial Garden, Yew Garden, the Maple Terrace, and Fragrance Garden. Brookside Gardens also feature two conservatories for year-round enjoyment. A horticultural reference library is located in the airy Visitors Center.
Free admission.

Brookside Gardens

Montgomery County, Maryland

1800 Glenallen Avenue, Wheaton

(301) 962-1400  

Montgomery County, Maryland
School Calendar 2012

Discover Strathmore Fine Art in North Bethesda, MD 20852

With more than two-dozen exhibitions a year, educational programs for children and adults by professional artists and curators, and state-of-the-art gallery space, Strathmore is a premier art institution of the mid-Atlantic region.

Throughout its spacious galleries on the first and second floors of the Mansion, Strathmore offers art lovers an eye-catching and thought-provoking array of works in every medium by artists from the region, the nation, and around the world. In addition to mounting its own exhibitions, Strathmore collaborates with renowned museums and other art institutions, such as the Baltimore Museum of Art, the Walters Art Gallery, and the Corcoran Gallery of Art.

To explore the wide range of gallery offerings Strathmore will have on display for the next few months go to www.strathmore.org

Address: Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane. North Bethesda, MD, 20852

When Buying or Selling a Home in Montgomery County, Maryland -
Call Barbara Michaluk, your Maryland Realtor

BUYING A HOME IN MARYLAND

My committment to you:

I will...Help you understand all the steps involved before they happen.

I will...Check in with you frequently, return your calls promptly and keep you informed of any changes or activity on the market immediately.

I will...Be your one connection to all relavant services when needed.

I will...Strive to understand your point-of-view and represent it fully in all negotiations.

I will...Do everything I can to simplify the entire buying and selling process.

SELLING YOUR HOME IN MARYLAND

Offering you One-Stop Shopping, not limited to but including: financial services, insurance companies, title companies, moving companies and many other services related to selling a home.

When your home needs repairs or updates to get it ready to sell--you will benefit from my established service relationships including: home cleaners, staging, electricians, plumbers, roofers, carpet installation, carpet cleaners, home inspectors, appraisers, painters, landscapers, pest control and many more.

SERVICE

Helping you prepare for success in today's market.

I offer state-of-the-art tools and marketing strategies for both buyers and sellers.

I provide a complete overview of the home buying and selling process.

I always put your best interest first.

I will be your eyes and ears. Let me know what you envision in your dream home and I will alert you whenever a property comes on the market that meets your criteria to give you an advantage.

Property Taxes in Montgomery County MD:
Some Basic Answers to Common Questions

News and Information from Montgomery County MD Government, Public Information Office.

The Department of Finance has prepared a few basic questions and answers to help clarify property tax issues for residents of Montgomery County, MD.

Q. My tax increased more than inflation. I thought the County Charter said that property taxes cannot increase more than inflation.

A. Montgomery County's Charter Limit on property taxes requires that total property tax revenues from all properties cannot increase more than the rate of inflation and the value of new construction. Although the average tax bill increases at the rate of inflation, some properties may increase less than inflation, while others increase more than inflation, depending on assessment cycles, assessment amount, when properties were purchased, homestead credit and other credits.

Q. Why was there a 4-cent increase per $100 of assessed value this year?

A.This year, there was an option to either reduce the County rebate (officially called the income tax offset credit) from last year's $692 or raise the tax rate to increase revenues to the Charter Limit. The County chose a combination of a smaller rate increase and keeping the credit at last year's amount since that would limit a significant tax increase for lower- and middle-valued properties.

Q. My assessment went down, but my tax bill increased more than 10%. Why?

A. If your property increased a lot in value several years ago, you would have benefitted from the homestead credit which caps growth in taxable assessment to 10% per year. During those years, you did not pay property taxes on the homestead credit amount. If the new "reduced" assessment this year is higher than last year's taxable assessment, the base still went up. For example, say last year's assessment was $600,000 and there was a $100,000 homestead credit. That meant the taxable assessment was $500,000 and it was used to compute the property tax. If your new assessment this year is $550,000 (down from $600,000), that is still above last year's taxable assessment allowing the base to grow the full 10% to $550,000 (i.e., $500,000 plus 10% = $550,000).

Q. Why is my assessment much higher than what houses sell for in my area?

A. The State of Maryland assesses each property every three years, with increases phased in over three years. A decline is reflected immediately in the first year of the triennial cycle. The State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) conducts the assessments and handles the appeals. The local SDAT office is in Rockville and they can be reached at 240-314-4510. If you believe the assessed value is too high, call for more information or file an appeal with SDAT to start the appeals process. Montgomery County has nothing to do with property tax assessments. That is solely the responsibility of the State of Maryland.

Q. I am a senior citizen and am struggling with paying my property taxes. Is there a program that might help?

A. Depending on your income compared to the amount of the tax bill, there may be tax relief available through three different programs: the State Homeowners Property Tax Credit (HOTC), County Supplemental Tax Credit and County Senior Credit (if 70 years or older). SDAT administers these credits and reviews applications for eligibility. The good thing is that you file only one application with SDAT, and they will automatically review eligibility for all three programs. They can be contacted at 800-944-7403 (toll-free). Also, although the filing deadline is generally September 1, SDAT just extended the filing deadline to October 31, 2011. If you are approved for one or all of these credits, it would adjust this year's tax bill.

For more information on Montgomery County Taxes go to: http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/apps/News/Blog/PaperlessBlog.asp?blogID=20&blogItemID=1598