Dorchester County Council considers property tax exemptions

CAMBRIDGE — As the Dorchester County Finance Office prepares to send out property tax bills, the Dorchester County Council has voted to have its attorney review the list of properties that have received property tax exemptions historically.

The decision for review came after County Finance Director Karen Tolley made the request at a June 18 meeting that the council provide these historically-approved exemptions for the 2025 fiscal year. Organizations that have received property exemptions in the past include Cambridge Commons, Cedar Meadows Rod and Gun Club, and Home for Hurlock.

Tax exemptions make it so that individuals or organizations do not have to pay a tax due to certain qualifications. For example, a charitable organization can apply to be exempt from property taxes through the state.

County Attorney Chip MacLeod acknowledged the history of these exemptions but said the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation has certain requirements when it comes to qualifying for property tax exemptions.

“When I hear a gun club LLP, I’m trying to think of how that’s going to fit into a property tax exemption,” he said.

MacLeod said the county needs to do its due diligence, and he said there is a cost to the county when it comes to offering exemptions.

“Every one of these exemptions is less revenue,” he said.

Revenue is particularly important for the county as it inches closer to fiscal year 2025. In late May, the council passed its fiscal year 2025 budget, acknowledging the difficulties of getting it to the finish line. At the May 28 meeting where they passed the budget, Council President Lenny Pfeffer said they “made it by the skin of our teeth” to balance the budget.

Along with voting to have MacLeod review historically approved property tax exemptions at the June 18 meeting, the council voted to send a letter to those organizations to let them know that their exempt status is under review. Tolley said these letters will most likely be sent out before the property tax bills are sent out.

Tolley also told the council to keep in mind that these organizations who have been exempt have not been billed for a long period of time.

“So you’re likely to hear that when they receive the bill,” she said. “You will hear that concern from these organizations.”

MacLeod said that having these property owners come in to ask for a rebate is better for the county than offering a blanket exemption.

“I just want a little more time to look at this,” he said about the list of historically property tax-exempt organizations. “And I think it’s in the council’s interest to know what the universe of these exemptions (is) and really understand them one by one.”