Last fall the voters in St. Michaels signaled their desire for change; and elected three new town commissioners. In my experience, most candidates promise change, but few deliver. The St. Michaels commissioners have rolled up their sleeves and surprised us all.
People have reacted as they typically do to change, with criticism, anger, fear, and frustration.
But it is easy to understand why residents voted for change. My St. Michaels property taxes have increased a whopping 68% in 4 years; with an average annual tax increase of 16%; despite NO property improvements. In my 40+ years of owning houses, I have never experienced even a double digit increase, much less almost 70%. In hindsight, it is surprising that the “tax revolt” took so long.
Already, the new town commissioners have made substantial progress. They are identifying the causes of the sharp tax increases and investigating ways to remedy them. They remain focused on “righting the financial ship.”
St. Michaels Commissioners work essentially as volunteers, some not even collecting their $4,000 annual salary. Our commissioners represent the very best in a democracy. They are addressing the concerns of taxpayers, without personal financial gain, at the same time intent on keeping the character of the town. For example, they cancelled the planned town municipal building with the goal of replacing it with a more modest structure. They have initiated simple changes, like employee time cards; and are conducting a nationwide search for a qualified, experienced city manager. They are attempting to remedy areas where the residential community is shouldering a disproportionate share of the costs.
So how have their efforts been recognized?
With disrespectful, harsh, and unrelenting criticism; often from people who are not paying town taxes.
Our previous stewards created an idyllic town, appealing to businesses, tourists, and townspeople alike. But our property taxes are much higher than comparable communities (e.g., Key West, New Hope). In August, St. Michaels commissioners posted their most impressive accomplishment to date, for the first time, a small REDUCTION in property taxes.
This is not to criticize the work of our previous leaders and commissioners. They built an exciting, quaint, and charming town. But now is the time to examine the cost structure and help the St. Michaels residential property owners.
The actions of the St. Michaels commissioners have been very reasonable, and I am amazed how much they have already accomplished. So rather than brutalize these volunteers; why not focus on areas where both critics and supporters agree?
- We love this town and want to retain its character.
- The rise in the property tax rates is not sustainable.
- The residential property owners should not shoulder a disproportionate burden.
- We should work together to satisfy the citizens, businesses, and nonprofits that support this community without requiring the residential community to fund them.
Doesn’t that make more sense than nasty diatribes?
Angela Rieck, a Caroline County native, received her PhD in Mathematical Psychology from the University of Maryland and worked as a scientist at Bell Labs, and other high-tech companies in New Jersey before retiring as a corporate executive. Angela and her dogs divide their time between St Michaels and Key West Florida. Her daughter lives and works in New York City.
Margaret says
Did the assessment of your house’s value increase or just the taxes?
Angela Rieck says
Just the taxes, we haven’t had a reassessment yet.
Michael Estrella says
Dear Ms. Rieck,
In the state of assessments assessments are done on a three year cycle. The public record for your property on Talbot indicates your assessment year was 2020 and that is good through 2022. This means that it is more than likely that you were also assessed in 2017.
I would suggest that given your obviously unique tax situation ( having you tax rate increased when no one else in the town has should absolutely be investigated. I would urge you to contact the tax office on Monday and inform them of your belief.
I wish you lots of luck in this pursuit.
Mike Estrella
Laurie Powers says
Thank you, Ms. Rieck, for voicing my similar thoughts. Well said.
Dennis Glackin says
Just to be clear, the Town real property tax rate was .524 per $100 dollars of your property assessment from the 2016 fiscal year budget to the 2020 fiscal year budget. So during that time period, there was no municipal tax rate increase. Perhaps your taxable assessment increased, or perhaps the Maryland State Tax or Talbot County Tax rates increased, but the town tax did not increase in that time period.
J Garland says
Lots to respond to in this opinion piece, but let’s start with the two most glaring issues:
1) I believe you’ve made this comment before about taxes and it’s been debunked. Once again, apples to oranges comparisons between municipalities and other states undermines your point given the varied way states, counties, and municipalities support their public infrastructure, schools, and municipal services. Talbot county is among the least taxed counties in Maryland therefore municipalities pick up the balance to provide basic services and infrastructure maintenance. Low tax rates often result in deferred maintenance that future generations must pay and is irresponsible leadership. Likewise, sharing percentages in the manner you did is misleading when viewed as actual amounts. It seems you are making an argument that the working class and fixed income residents should bear a greater proportion of combined taxes and fees from their income as compared with wealthier landowners.
2) It also seems you are not a voting resident of St Michaels? Difficult to determine your precise status from your piece, but please clarify if you are a full time voting resident of the Town of St Michaels.
Also, since you may not have been living here full time during SMAC’s election shenanigans that defiled truth and honesty, including frivolous legal actions, you might want to review some history.
Angela Rieck says
All that I can do is the math…this is the rate that my property taxes have increased since I have been here. You are correct, I am a Florida resident.
Jeff McGuiness says
I think we need to give Ms. Rieck the benefit of the doubt because she may, according to the bio in her piece, be a resident of Florida, not St. Michaels. If that is the case, she lives here less than six months each year and may not be aware of all that has gone on during the year she was absent during the past two. She may have been fortunate to avoid, among other things, the hysterical newspaper ads and letter writing run by SMAC and their vicious campaign of character assassination in the run up to the last Commissioners’ vote, something that has unquestionably coarsened debate in our town.
But I’m most puzzled by her claim that her “St. Michaels property taxes have increased a whopping 68% in 4 years.” I am a full-time resident of St. Michaels, and I reviewed my tax returns for the past five years, not four years, and found the following. We own two residences in St. Michaels. During the past five years, our property taxes have increased by 17.1% for the homesteaded property and 12.5% for the one not homesteaded. During that same period, the value of both properties increased by more than 25%. Now, I’m all in favor of lower taxes, who isn’t, but let’s see if we can have an honest discussion regarding the plight of our fractured town.
Angela Rieck says
Thank you. For those doubt my claims my property taxes are public record, so anyone can validate my calculations; the reasons for their increases; I cannot say…my property not homesteaded. Anyone is welcome to look up my property taxes in the public record database. I would be very disappointed to discover that I am being singled out.
Angela Rieck says
I am starting to feel like I am the only one who is suffering. My property taxes are public record; so it is easy to verify these numbers. I did get a 19% increase the first year, which I assumed was due to a reassessment on the purchase; but sadly, the double digit increases have not abated.
Jeff McGuiness says
Ms. Rieck,
Yes, I agree you need to figure out what is going on with your tax issue. Your experience may be unique. In a situation like this in the past, my first call would have been to Jean Weisman, our former Town Manager who would tell me exactly how to get the situation corrected. Unfortunately, she was summarily dismissed by the Commissioners who are now conducting a nationwide search for a new town manger who will likely be clueless about how Talbot County works. You are now feeling the pain that many of the rest of us have been feeling of late.
Michael Estrella says
Dear Ms. Rieck,
According to state and county records the tax rate in St. Michaels remained steady at .524 from fy 2017-18 until fy 2021-22 when it changed to .490. As far as your statement “for the first time, a small REDUCTION in property taxes” goes, you are just a bit off being factual with that. In fact 2008-09 the rate was a whopping .640 but the commissioners worked hard to pay off old debt and settled the long running Miles point issue, saving tons of lawyer fees and in fy 2011-12 the rate dropped to .580. The following year it dropped again to .520 and in fy 2013-14 it went to .450 where it remained for 3 years. Some say that those overly aggressive cuts when combined with a drop in property values caused a revenue shortfall and caused the town to have to raise taxes twice since then. As for your large increase in taxes, you will have to put the blame for that where it belongs. Property values have increased and so has the county tax rate. That accounts for the increase and anyone telling you something different isn’t being factual! As for comparing us to Kew West, etc., you would be better off comparing us to both Easton and Talbot county. If you look at Easton tax rate, you can see it if fairly close to ours over the past 4 or 5 years. The County is now substantially ahead of us and that probably will continue. This means that almost any tax cut that the municipalities enact will probably be negated by the county tax rate increase.
As far as the use of diatribes and nastiness and the call for coolers heads, and transparency, etc., where were these calls when some of the current sitting commissioners were accusing mulitple officials of wrong doing? Where were these calls when these commissioners and others associated with SMAC seemed to treaten a commissioner with a lawsuit unless he voted the way they wanted? What level of transparency were we getting when two of our current sitting commissioners got caught lying to the public about there dealings with business people. Yes, Ms. Rieck, it would be nice to WORK TOGETHER but how do you do that when commissioners refuse to answer questions, when commissioners lie in response to other questions, when they talk over residents trying to make a point, and when they cut off members of the public making points they don’t seem to either understand or agree with. What we are seeing is a set of commissioners who yell at the public rather than attempt to understand them. They have made a sham out of their campaign call for transparency in almost every meeting with almost every action!
Thank you for taking the time to explain your point of view. I hope you are really listening to all parties.
Mike Estrella
St. Michaels
Angela Rieck says
All I can do is the math. this follows the simple formula or ($pd 2020- $pd 2017)/ $pd 2017. It is hard to debunk actual data…if this was due to other factors; I cannot answer that; all that I can tell is that reflects the increases that I have paid since I purchased a home in 2017. If you pay taxes in the town; I don’t understand how you have gotten away with not paying as much as I have. I am aware that there has been dissent; but I don’t understand why we can’t give the commissioners the opportunity to do what they were elected to do.
Jill Poe says
Let’s go to St.Michaels, walk around looking to buy the perfect tea shirt and some overpriced ice cream. Later we will dine at a restaurant where most everything comes from Sysco. Just ask for anything off the menu that does not come from Sysco. St. Michaels the town where the rich come to drink. This is the new slogan.
Angela Rieck says
So sorry, please try again, there are a number of restaurants that do not come off a Sysco truck…Ruse, 208; Stars, Bistro…to name a few…please give us another try!
Mavis Mclean says
Jill, do you even live in town or near town? And what does your response have to do with what Ms. Rieck wrote? Have you had a negative experience at the restaurants or ice cream shops in town? And if so, why slam the whole town? Just curious.
Robin Baxter says
Looking at past property tax rates, it does not appear that the St. Michaels tax RATE went up 68% in four years. Ms. Rieck’s taxes may have gone up that much because her property VALUE went up. Whether Ms. Rieck realized it or not, there is a reassessment every three years. (Note: usually property values growing is seen as a good thing for both the individual owner and the municipality.) In the bullet points stating that “The rise in the property tax rates is not sustainable” – that mis-characterization should be noted.
Paulette Florio says
Angela,
I have known your property for 21+ years as I live across the street from you. It occurred to me that you might be getting taxed incorrectly for another reason. This is just a hunch. I am certain your math is accurate but the actual property details that are used for your tax amount just might be wrong. I understand that you cannot take advantage the the Homestead Credit due to your Florida residency. That might be part of the problem of high taxes. But did you know that your home once sat on a much larger lot? It was divided up several owners ago. The house and property next to you on Talbot Street now owned by the Fronds was once part of your parcel. Mistakes can be made. It might be worth investigating just what size property you are being taxed on. Bes of luck resolving this matter. FYI,I thoroughly enjoy your articles.