Annapolis has too much to lose in a county merger

We haven’t voted for president yet but John Hammond has thrown down the gauntlet for the mayor’s election in 2121 and the issue — merging the city with Anne Arundel County.

A “bigger is better” guy, Hammond has wanted to merge the city with the county for at least 25 years. He talks about justmerging services as public safety and recreation and parks, which is of course a euphemism for giving up the municipality and putting Annapolis in the same category as GlenBurnie and Brooklyn Park.

Tobesure, Annapolis hasbeenlight years ahead of the county with programs and legislation concerning quality of life concerns. We protected trees and required street trees And beautification along our roadways long before it was popular. The same with storm water controls and support for our watersheds that lead to the ChesapeakeBay and creation of small parks andwater access.

We were awarded national certification for our police department, initiated the first office of emergency management, offered benefits for our public safety heroes, once among the top three in the state. We are a regional leader for the arts and engage in collaborative action with citizen groups.

I may be wrong, but I have a hunch that Gen X, our future leaders, is hep on having their voices heard and respect Involvement and engagement in participatory government than the “bigger is better” folks — philosophically in tune with, oligarchy, shun.

Maryland has been a county-oriented State since its beginning. Municipalities are a second thought. But where do you think the revenue comes from to support the state and counties? Population centers as municipalities.

Four million visitors to Annapolis spend money in our retail shops and hospitality industry. Sales tax, Is one of the three largest sources of state revenue (Income tax and the lottery are the others.) Gas taxes, liquor taxes, open space money from real estate transfer sales are revenues to state coffers.

The state collects, charges an administration fee and returns admission amusement taxes to the city. That is about the only direct payment to a town. Highway funds and police funds are also granted judged on need butwould go into the county sources if the “bigger Is better” guys have their way. The city is really seen as a cash cow for the county.

Remember the city achieved a AA+ bond rating and never lost It intough, timeswhile the county was far behind. Don’t be snookered by the tax rate argument. Yes, Most state revenue sharing goes directly to the county, which may share a small percentage with a municipality. As an example , Take theOpenSpace fund(which also supports, recreation facilities, and heritage sites) established in 1969 through the real estate transfer tax. The state allocates a share to the county, which agrees to pay a percentage to the city pending a request the approved by the county. Really? We, like small kids, need parent county approval?

With thewealth of real estate involved in the city, maybe sharing $1.5 million seems unfairly low for a county that receives approx $20 million in open space money from the state annually.

Cities arewhere people live. They are the centers for state revenue. Collections of income taxes, sales taxes, beverage and fuel taxes. They are also the lowest recipient of shared revenues. What is really needed is a higher percentage of existing sales tax revenue, given back directly to cities and towns stripped of resources as a consequence of the coronavirus.

Annapolis is alive with a sense of community. “Small is beautiful ” ignites the heart and soul of community. Sorry you “bigger is better” guy, but our national and international visitors, an economic asset, do not recognize the name of Anne Arundel County. They do know Annapolis and its heritage center.

I wonder if the Historic District, won by popular vote , would have Happened if the city created in1708, had not existed and the vote relied on the whole county.

Annapolis and Highland Beach are the only municipalities in the county. And they are special in quality of life amenities.

Let’s keep it thatway.