Title
AN ACT CONCERNING SALES AND USE TAX ON TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE for the purpose of repealing the requirement that the sales and use tax on telecommunication service be applied in addition to local funding requirements imposed by the State of Maryland for funding from Prince George’s County to the Board of Education; and providing for retroactive application of this Act.
Background
Title 5 of the Education Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland stipulates the State and County funding levels required under the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. Increased County contributions are mandated through FY 2033.
Prior to enactment of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, County contributions to the Board of Education were only required to at least meet the funding level provided in the previous fiscal year (aka “Maintenance of Effort” or MOE). When MOE was in effect, any increase in telecommunications tax revenue would ensure that the County would fund more than the amount provided in the last fiscal year. Since enactment of the Blueprint; however, the County has contributed substantially more to the Board of Education from County sources. Requiring the proceeds of the telecommunications tax to be applied in excess of the funding formulas leaves insufficient funding for other County spending needs. The County has proposed repealing this requirement both in Section 20-605 of the Local Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland and the corresponding provision in County law. The General Assembly recently passed State legislation repealing this requirement.