Urgent
Urgent
Urgent
Act NOW to save Maryland’s
Heritage Preservation Tax Credit
The House and Senate Committees have both passed versions of the Tax
Credit legislation that in essence bring the program to a
grinding halt. Although we had been led to believe by
leadership in the House and the Senate that the Tax Credit
program would be continued, the bills passed by House Ways
& Means yesterday and Senate Budget & Taxation today
do the opposite.
*
The legislation shuts down the commercial tax credit
program until at least 2006.
*
Requires commercial credits to be approved in the annual
budget appropriation making it virtually impossible to predict
whether or not any credits will be available.
*
Subjects commercial credits to additional rating and
ranking that creates added uncertainty and opens the door
to tampering with the system.
*
Limits Baltimore City to 50% of available credits even
though Baltimore has the bulk of the States designated historic
buildings.
In short, the House and Senate Committees
took the Grant Program bills that we have opposed and changed
the titles to Tax Credit. They are unfunded
and unworkable.
Please contact Speaker Busch, President Miller,
Delegate Hixson and Senator Currie immediately to urge them
to support continuation, not elimination, of the Tax Credit
program. Ask them to support the Governor’s
legislation, which was overwhelming backed by preservationists,
developers, and local government officials from across the
state.
Our last opportunity to save the program
will occur at NOON on MONDAY. Delegates
Hammen, McIntosh, and Eckardt have “special ordered”
the bill back for a floor debate in the House Chamber to argue
to save the program.
They need your help NOW! Yes,
even over the weekend. This is it.
Everyone needs to weigh in. Don’t
let the General Assembly eliminate Maryland’s most powerful
tool for preservation, revitalization and smart growth.
Speaker Mike Busch
410-841-3800
Delegate Sheila Hixson 410-841-3469
President Mike Miller
410-841-3700
Senator Ulysses Currie
410-841-3127
Thanks!!!
