HURLOCK, Md. - A tax rebate benefiting some Dorchester County residents may soon be eliminated, as county officials consider ending the levy for property owners in Cambridge and Hurlock.
The town of Hurlock has no plans to increase property taxes for the upcoming fiscal year — in fact, rates are expected to slightly decrease.
“We did not feel it was necessary to raise the tax of our citizens,” said Charles Cephas, mayor of Hurlock.
Still, a potential tax hike could be on the horizon for Hurlock property owners if the county eliminates the rebate program.
“It is the county who is proposing to bring a massive hardship on our citizens,” Cephas said.
The rebate compensates property owners in Cambridge and Hurlock for services they already pay for through municipal taxes, such as policing and road maintenance. But county leaders say they're facing a $6 million deficit, due largely to financial obligations passed down from the state.
As a result, officials say eliminating the rebate is one way to balance the county budget.
Many residents argue the move is unfair.
“These increases are definitely going to affect the budgets of every individual in the city of Cambridge and here in the town of Hurlock,” said Earl Murphy, a Hurlock homeowner.
“I feel that we are actually paying enough in taxes, and Dorchester County not being one of the richest counties, it’s already hard on folks,” added Alvin Hutton, another Hurlock homeowner.
Mayor Cephas has proposed an alternative: raise taxes instead on residents living in unincorporated areas.
“Raise the water and sewer bills of all residents just outside of the town of Hurlock,” Cephas said.
The Dorchester County Council is expected to vote on the tax rebate at its next budget hearing on Tuesday, May 13.