>Annie Linskey reports:
The House of Delegates voted Thursday to approve a $14.6 billion plan to fund day-to-day state government operations, over the vehement objections from Republicans who had pushed for deeper cuts and opposed new fees.
Delegates voted 97 to 42 to approve the budget, with one Republican joining the Democrats to support the plan.
The budget calls for Marylanders to pay higher fees at the Motor Vehicle Administration to register new vehicle titles or use vanity license plates. Fees for recording land transactions would also go up.
The budget doesn’t contain any new taxes — yet. The plan now goes to the Senate, where a key committee voted yesterday to raise the sales tax on alcohol from 6 percent to 9 percent, an increase that would be phased in over three years.
House Democratic leaders touted extensive behind-the-scenes work during the first ten weeks of the legislative session to rejigger spending within Democratic Gov. Martin O’Malley’s plan and restore $60 million in cuts to education. Their reworked plan would also give counties and cities some more money to fix roads.
If you or someone you know is considering buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! I take great pride in referrals, and I assure you, I will take great care of your friends, family & colleagues! As member of the Garrett County Board of Realtors, I can assist you with ANY listed property, regardless of the listing broker.
