Terms Used In Maryland Code, LOCAL GOVERNMENT 21-503

  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • County: means a county of the State or Baltimore City. See
  • Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
  • Person: includes an individual, receiver, trustee, guardian, personal representative, fiduciary, representative of any kind, corporation, partnership, business trust, statutory trust, limited liability company, firm, association, or other nongovernmental entity. See
  • Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.
  • state: means :

    (1) a state, possession, territory, or commonwealth of the United States; or

    (2) the District of Columbia. See
(a) For any purpose stated in § 21-504(a)(1) of this subtitle, a county may:

(1) establish a special taxing district;

(2) impose ad valorem or special taxes; and

(3) issue bonds.

(b) (1) For any purpose stated in § 21-504(a)(2) of this subtitle, a county may:

(i) establish special taxing districts;

(ii) impose ad valorem or special taxes; and

(iii) pledge funds under an agreement to:

1. secure payment on MEDCO obligations;

2. pay the costs of infrastructure improvements located in or supporting a transit-oriented development or a State hospital redevelopment; and

3. pay the costs of operating and maintaining infrastructure improvements located in or supporting a transit-oriented development or a State hospital redevelopment.

(2) An agreement pledging funds as described in paragraph (1)(iii) of this subsection shall:

(i) be authorized by an ordinance or resolution of the county;

(ii) be in writing;

(iii) be executed on behalf of the county making the pledge, the Maryland Economic Development Corporation, and any other person or entity that the governing body of the county determines; and

(iv) benefit, and be enforceable on behalf of, the holders of any MEDCO obligation secured by the agreement.

(c) (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a county may establish a special taxing district, issue bonds, or impose an ad valorem or special tax under this subtitle only if a request to the county is made by both:

(i) the owners of at least two-thirds of the assessed valuation of the real property located in the special taxing district; and

(ii) at least two-thirds of the owners of the real property located in the special taxing district.

(2) For purposes of paragraph (1)(ii) of this subsection:

(i) multiple owners of a single parcel are treated as a single owner; and

(ii) a single owner of multiple parcels is treated as one owner.