On the Council Agenda June 12
Bill 06-0416—Fiscal Budget for 2006-2007 Would put more than $32 million toward school construction and after-school and other education programs in the city.
Public Interest Grade: A The city faces a $61 million surplus for the coming year, and it’s high time the kids came first.
Bill 06-0124R—Zipcars for Baltimore Resolution that invites representatives of Zipcar, a web-based car-sharing service, to discuss the possibility of setting up shop in Baltimore.
Public Interest Grade: C Renting a car for a few hours to make a Target run to the ‘burbs is a nifty convenience for those of us with credit cards, but wouldn’t concentrating on a speedier, more reliable public-transportation system be of more benefit to everyone in Baltimore?
Bill 06 0417 Property Tax The tax rate gets a 2 cent cut from last year.
Public Interest Grade: C+ Homeowners save 2 cents per every $100 of assessed value. That means you’ll save a cool 40 beans on a house assessed at $200,000—not a lot of money, especially for older folks who have owned homes for decades in the city’s rapidly gentrifying neighborhoods. But at least it’s a start.
City Council Quote of the Week
Frank Klein
“It’s fun to fight about a surplus.” —Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke (D-14th District) on noting that in her nearly 20 years of involvement with the Baltimore City Council this was the second time that she had seen a budget surplus.
To view the City Council’s meeting schedule visit www.baltimorecitycouncil.com.
