Mayor Rawlings-Blake Should Not Feign Enthusiasm For Property Tax Cuts

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake has come out with a property tax reduction plan.  She proposes that most of the revenue generated from the future city slots parlor should go  towards nipping the property tax by 9 percent over a nine year period for city residents who own their own homes.

According to the Baltimore Sun, that would amount to about $400 in savings for someone who owns a home valued at $200,000.00.

You've got to hand it to Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake. In a back-handed way, she is sticking to her position that the drastic property tax cuts that some of her opponents are calling for are unrealistic. She is demonstrating that by offering the voters this crumb of a tax cut.    

Unfortunately, her proposal doesn't seem to come from the gut. It seems contrived in order to give herself a debating position on one of the hottest issues in this year's mayoral campaign. 

One of the problems I am having with Rawlings-Blake is that nothing she does seems to come from the gut. It is all from her head.  

To be sure, the mayor has a great mind. I trust her logic. She is probably right that the city can't afford anywhere near the 50 percent property tax cut over 10 years that mayoral candidate Otis Rolley has offered.    

But Rolley at least seems to have some fire in the belly about his position.  

Mayor Rawlings-Blake appears to be merely going through the motions.  

Let us be clear about one thing - Baltimore City is dying.  Grant it, the mayor is managing the death very well. She is not panicking at all. Still, nothing she has done in office or is proposing to do if elected outright, including her tax cut plan, will extend the life of the city. The city will continue to lose population and related commerce even if her 9 percent tax cut is enacted.  

My advice to Mayor Rawlings-Blake at this stage of the game is to please do not try to feign enthusiasm. You are at your best when you stand aloof as the city continues to decline.