Governor Moore proposed progressive tax reforms. While legislators deliberate these changes, they should use the momentum to enact other progressive policies. We propose switching from a standard deduction to a standard credit.
This post explores Maryland’s opportunity to lead with bold policies that address systemic inequality and improve lives. From a New Deal for Maryland to ending child poverty and fixing the housing crisis, we outline transformative ideas to make Maryland a model for the nation.
In this paper we expand on our critique of local income taxes and advocate for a state income tax and revenue sharing to replace the current county income taxes.
County-level property taxes reward economic segregation. Wealthy areas get low rates & better services. In this paper we propose a more just system, a flat property tax rate across the entire state and sharing the revenue with each county proportionally.
Members of the Maryland General Assembly have, undeniably, some of the most consequential jobs in our state. Yet those tasked with formulating the policies and laws that govern us are given less than a quarter of the calendar year to do so. A job of this nature should be full-time, professional work. It is time for Maryland to make this constitutional change.
With passage of the HOME Act in 2020, Maryland added important protections for vulnerable renters — it’s time to enforce them.
The strict requirements and high cost of driver's education are bringing many Marylanders into contact with the criminal justice system and funneling millions into evidence-lacking private companies. Read our recommendations for reform in this report.
Explore our report on the Homestead Credit in Baltimore City, which uncovers significant economic disparities in its distribution. We advocate for a policy shift to increase equity in neighborhood investments, backed by comprehensive data from Open Baltimore.
This blog post delves into a bold proposition for Maryland: replacing the existing state income tax, local income tax, local property tax, state property tax, state sales tax, and corporate income tax with a single land value tax. (11 minute read).
Maryland allows taxpayers to subtract billions of dollars from their taxable income via itemized deductions. This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the beneficiaries of these deductions and explores how eliminating these deductions could create a more equitable and efficient tax code while significantly raising revenue. (7 minute read).
In this white paper we partner with the Maryland Child Alliance to introduce a more inclusive and efficient approach to family tax benefits in Maryland (12 minute read).
The personal exemption excludes the poorest households. In this blog post we partner with the Maryland Child Alliance and propose converting the personal exemption into a fully refundable tax credit (5 minute read).