More News

Prince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D) faced hundreds of homeowners and county residents – most of whom were angry about his proposal to raise property taxes to close a $132 million deficit – at a heated four-hour budget hearing Thursday evening.

"We're in a crisis, and the crisis is coming from the national economy," Johnson told the audience, which packed an auditorium, lining walls and a lobby area with people, at Prince George's Community College in Largo.

It was Johnson's first public hearing since he announced the proposed tax increase earlier in the month. Many residents waited for hours for their chance to condemn the plan.

"Property values are going down, and taxes are going up," said Percie Rutherford of Upper Marlboro. "A lot of the people that you see here today will not be in their homes next year."

Johnson wants to increase the Homestead Property Tax Credit, a cap that limits how much homeowners' property tax assessments can increase. The tax credit currently only allows an increase of 5 percent each year; Johnson is seeking to lift the amount to 10 percent, the maximum allowed by state regulations. He said it would be a temporary measure that would expire in two years.

The increase was narrowly approved Tuesday by the County Council. Johnson's request will now go to Annapolis for a vote in the Maryland General Assembly.

"It's not popular, I'm telling you that right now," Johnson said in his opening remarks. "You think I want a tax increase?"

Johnson said the tax hike is needed so the county does not have to put off capital projects such as road work, furlough county employees for two weeks and fire up to 500 county employees, including many police officers, firefighters and other public safety workers.

"I want everybody to be clear on this: If we don't raise taxes, we will be cutting police services," Johnson said. "We're going to be cutting fire/EMS."

Most of the residents did not seem convinced. Linda Jones of Hyattsville said she was recently fired from her job. She has a disability that forces her to walk with a cane, and she said she cannot afford the tax increase.

"I can't support that because I can't support that," she said.

At least one resident spoke in support of Johnson's decision, citing the improvement in schools and public safety during the county executive's tenure.

The proposed 10 percent cap would cost the average owner of a $246,000 home about $235 more per year in property taxes.

Tracy Harley, who lives in both Landover and Aquasco, said she is tired of paying high county taxes and receiving what she said are inadequate public services. She complained about trash collection and said she goes to a hospital in Calvert County because it provides better service than the Prince George's Hospital Center in Cheverly.

"I am embarrassed to say I live in Prince George's County," she said. "But you know what? I'm out. I'm going to Calvert County, where I can see how my money is spent."

Many residents complained about what they see as excessive spending in the county government, citing county employees' personal expense accounts, elected officials' government-provided vehicles, the county school board's decision to move its offices from Upper Marlboro to a new office building closer to the Beltway and Johnson's recent trip to Africa in an effort to promote international trade at a cost of about $30,000.

Johnson defended the school board move, explaining that the $36 million planned for the lease of the new building would be spread out over 10 years. Move-in costs would require an additional $8 million.

The meeting, which wrapped up around 11 p.m., ended with Johnson encouraging residents to contact Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) to encourage more state assistance for Prince George's.

"At the end of the day, we'll get through it," Johnson said, later adding, "Don't kill the messenger … I had nothing to do with the Wall Street bankers."

Staff Writer Vanessa Harrington contributed to this report.

E-mail Greg Holzheimer at gholzheimer@gazette.net.