By Lauren MacNeill and Alexis Terry
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writers
Baltimore County Councilwoman Cathy Bevins, D-District 6, introduced a bill Tuesday to repeal the $20-a-month tax on mobile homes in Baltimore County.
By imposing a separate tax on mobile homes, Bevins says, the county is essentially taxing these residents twice, because they are already paying property taxes like any other homeowner.
If approved by the council, the repeal would cost the county an estimated $600,000 a year, according to county documents.
Residents who live in mobile homes told the council during its working session Tuesday that the fee they are required to pay is excessive and places a financial burden on them.
David Gerstmyer, president of the Biscayne Bay Village Association in Middle River, said the fee is an “excised” tax that is “unfair, unjust and out of date.”
Clarence Horton III said members of his mobile home community are scared to use their water because they fear they won’t have enough money to pay for the tax and other fees.
Community members said they are also unsure of where the money is actually going, adding that they are frustrated because they feel as though the $20 could be used elsewhere.
Mobile home owners have been charged separate tax since 1954, which was originally set at $3 per month.
In July 1987, the rate was changed to 10 percent of the monthly rent per pad. The fee was reduced to 7 percent of the month rent per pad in 2000 with a cap of $20 per month.
Anne Arundel County has already repealed the mobile home tax, while Howard County is considering a repeal.
The tax is said to cover rentals, leases or the use of any space occupied by a trailer, mobile home, manufactured home or other similar structures used as living space.
When originally levied, the rationale for the tax was that mobile home owners who were staying in the area for only a short time should pay a fair share of taxes for county services, such as police and fire protection, well-maintained roadways, community colleges, public schools and trash removal.
In present day, residents of mobile home communities, such as Williams Estates, stress they are no longer trailer parks but full-time residents living in permanent residential communities. The land on which mobile homes are located is also taxed by the county.
Council members are seeking more fiscal evidence before making any decisions on the repeal.