Western Md. Senator Seeks Change In Land Fees
CUMBERLAND, Md. (AP) -- A western Maryland state senator is seeking a change in how the state compensates counties that contain large tracts of public land.
The Cumberland Times-News reported Wednesday that Republican Sen. George Edwards is proposing a formula to create a more predictable stream of revenue.
The state owns about 24 percent of the acreage in Allegany County and 22 percent of the land in Garrett County. Because those lands are exempt from property taxes, the state gives the counties 25 percent of the revenue earned from timber sales.
Those amounts fluctuate each year, though. Edwards says his formula would stabilize the income and enable the counties to budget for it more reliably.
He's proposing payments based on each 10,000 acres of state-owned land.
Information from: Cumberland (Md.) Times-News
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