The earlier post from me last week- I am in favor of all that eliminates the inequity that exists by having separate schools districts.

“Excellent post - the two topics are related. Really like the idea of one school system for the state. It should not matter where a kid lives as to what school he attends. Tear down the “Berlin Wall” between city and county!

Need to rethink the entire tax structure - to wean from ties to real estate cycles and incentives which only promotes building for property tax revenues.”

ONE SCHOOL SYSTEM FUNDED BY AND FOR THE ENTIRE STATE OF MARYLAND per the Maryland State Constitution.

And what about the state income tax? I’m not sure but I believe this is the second largest source of revenue for jurisdictions. I would be afraid that Baltimore City would be worse off if every jurisdiction got the same amount for schools due to the city’s general lack of revenue. Other counties would still do much better supplementing the state’s money with local dollars due to more revenue generated from various taxes; sales, income, property transfer, etc. Further, a municipality’s ability to bond is drastically unequal. Thornton does a decent job of leveling the playing field in terms of funding for school’s operating budgets. However, every locality has a cap on bonding for school construction and capital improvements. If you look at the numbers, you’ll see that the city is so far behind in keeping up with maintenance on their school buildings. Meanwhile, Montgomery County has the ability to put $100 million in bonds for their schools and they have been getting more money from the state than Baltimore City! Their schools are mucher newer, have nice playgrounds, science labs, no asbestos, no lead in the pipes, and beautiful lobby areas. City students get broken boilers so they freeze in school and they are lucky to get new windows so that they can see outside.

Sorry for the rant. I’m in favor of anything that is focused on giving poor kids and families more resources, great schools, desegregating communities, and dispersing poverty. I’ll get behind a plan to that end.

I’d like to take this opportunity to remind her that Washington DC did not put their subway in until t he 1970’s. It is not too late!

As a young woman, I love living in the city, walking to our area attractions, dining in local restaurants, and shopping in local stores. I am also eager to become a homeowner. I would like to buy in the city, but am concerned about property taxes being so high here–enough so that I find myself thinking I will have to move out of the city. Could Mayor Dixon discuss some of the programs available to help first time homebuyers and also what she is doing to address issues of property tax?

My second question is what are you doing to bring new jobs to Baltimore that will provide the most important underpinning to revitalizing the people in our city - not just the buildings?