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Support for tax credit bill for city employees

City Union of Baltimore (CUB) President Antoinette Ryan-Johnson went to Annapolis to testify on behalf of her members and the employees of Baltimore City in support of a bill that would provide property tax credits to city employees who are among the lowest 25% earners. Ryan-Johnson’s testimony highlighted the number of city employees who would love to own homes in the city but simply cannot afford to do so. She mentioned the wealth creation that home ownership provides as well as how this bill could bring city employees priced out of the city back while allowing them an opportunity to own near where they work.



Delegate Bilal Ali was the sponsoring legislator who convened the panel that also included Baltimore City Councilman Ryan Dorsey. Ali defended the cost of the bill for Baltimore city by highlighting that the state and municipalities routinely find ways to fund projects that help the wealthy and should not now be quibbling over cost for something that will help lower-earning city employees.




Councilman Dorsey said his support for this bill is to provide a subsidy to front line city employees who are vital to the economic health of the city. During his testimony he explained to the House Ways and Means Committee how the property tax credit for these CUB members and Baltimore city employees would be a direct injection of that money back into the city. Councilman Dorsey argued while this would be a short term financial setback for the city, the credit would result in financial benefits for both the city and its employees.

02/06/2018

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