Miles apart. --- The Bay Net photos by Sean Rice

Call it a civil disagreement.

Mattingly, stone-faced

McKay tries to hid a smile

Mattingly avoided looking at Mckay

 

Commission President Tommy McKay (R-Hollywood) appeared dismayed as Commissioner Tom Mattingly (D-Leonardtown) explained a discussion he took part in with a couple Maryland Delegates and state Attorney General’s Office representatives.

The board recently received an opinion from as assistant attorney general claiming the county’s senior tax credit program is unconstitutional. The opinion stated the tax credit program, which is in effect now with the state legislature’s approval, would be constitutional if it had a five-year sunset clause.

The issue arose when the board sought to ask the legislature to permanently remove the current sunset provision. The program provides seniors 70 and older a credit for the home they reside in that keeps the taxes at that level for life.

The board unanimously voted to extend the program to 2010, and in a 3-2 voted decided to challenge the attorney general opinion in court.

On Tuesday, Mattingly said the court probably won’t decide the issue, and will send it back to the commissioners. Upon discussions with delegates and the attorney general’s office, Mattingly said it would be best to create a budget item for the tax credit and have the commissioners board renew it ever year during the budget process.

McKay scoffed at Mattingly’s prediction of the court’s outcome and lambasted him for not telling any other commissioners or the county attorney about the meeting he attended.

Mattingly, who has voted against the credit nearly every time it came up in the last two years, said he was not in charge of the invite list.

McKay said Delegate Jonny Wood, who is also interested in the outcome, was also not invited to the discussion.

McKay made faces, and tried to hide an angry smile as Mattingly talked about this new option, stone-faced. The board president said it would be wrong to have issue up for a decision every year, leaving seniors on the whim of the ever-changing Board.

No other commissioners chimed in with much comment, except Larry Jarboe and Dan Raley who said more discussion is needed.

The board decided to put the issue on next week’s agenda for more discussion.

See an earlier article by The Bay Net on the constitutional issue here