WASHINGTON — Property taxes will increase in Prince George’s County next month, after a back and forth between county leaders that was a lot like a game of Ping-Pong.
It started last month when the county council approved a one-and-a-half cent property tax increase to pay for parks, recreation and planning services.
Then on Monday, County Executive Rushern Baker vetoed it.
He said the tax increase was not necessary or practical, and argued that school funding should be top priority.
“If we’re going to increase taxes, we should invest those dollars in our education system,” he said.
But on Tuesday, the council voted unanimously to override that veto, meaning the tax increase will take effect at the start of the next fiscal year July 1.
“What we did was approve a one-and-a-half cent increase, which actually will avoid a larger increase next year,” Council Chairman Mel Franklin told WTOP.
Franklin said more park and planning money is needed now to support important programs that serve young people and seniors.
He added that the council’s disagreement with the County Executive is not personal.
“It doesn’t in any way, shape or form mean that there is some long term schism, it just means that we don’t agree on this one. We weren’t able to come to a compromise,” Franklin said.
Baker has until Tuesday of next week to decide whether or not to veto an additional 4 percent tax increase that would fund teacher pensions.
