[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6598863,"mediaKeyId","3023277-788ec9aa3a0e363f1f43c337e98c3d7d","parentId",3023277,"title","Habitat for Humanity asks Wicomico County for temporary property tax credit and down-payment funding","audioSeconds",1229,"startMs",27395,"endMs",1256805,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3023277-788ec9aa3a0e363f1f43c337e98c3d7d&start=27&end=1256","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3023277-788ec9aa3a0e363f1f43c337e98c3d7d/thumbnail_27395.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6598863/Wicomico-County/Maryland/Habitat-for-Humanity-asks-Wicomico-County-for-temporary-property-tax-credit-and-down-payment-funding","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6598863-467d6562d7f692962b7e29168e08965e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135130&Signature=i9R9t3th-tNQ3es6S~fv~id~yT-TI0cTxqehCnBgXKnYgiBRBvHAqYmGLR5WVoRzEuPtWoX5wME6KPNVdcS3uOCLhApbUC3aBwAkJIEGpFG1I4j3mzKgpgD8cm91D-eGPtHFnL-pisCMQIE8IgXodD1XIJ~C8b6UTDgFGhJfL97pIRDcjX1s41quDRkAGj3X2VEi4cHL4aNGbcKJaoq9Vkkh6v7I5342By7S~IhzEotL-1eV9EPJ~etdMPYy~jsUnYLHi1NPX3-Ftfb8qACODZ9-hUD~6tE6Ii5J56rBKyp6ZBF7mm0MbxGtSpmPOV-GE663wvTlJlfIz3FkYe998g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Wicomico County, MD","date","2025-04-16T17:34:01.84Z","article","Molly Hillegas, chief executive officer of Habitat for Humanity of Wicomico County, told the Wicomico County Council at a work session April 15 that rising home prices and stagnant wages have created a widening affordability gap and asked the county to consider two short-term measures: a property tax credit for Habitat while it rehabs properties and a $40,000 down-payment assistance fund drawn from cannabis tax revenue.

Hillegas said housing prices in the county have more than doubled over 10 years, noting a home sold for $97,000 a decade ago and similar homes now list for roughly $272,000. She said Habitat is required to sell at fair market value and that the gap between loan limits for lower-income buyers and listing prices is the primary barrier to homeownership for the families Habitat serves.

In an example she presented, a family of four at 60 percent of area median income (AMI) with annual income of $56,208 could receive a maximum mortgage of about $159,000 while the median listing price for a livable home is roughly $299,000 — an affordability gap of about $139,949 and a total need of about $157,889 once down payment and closing costs are included. Hillegas proposed a down-payment-assistance program that could provide $40,000 per household and suggested cannabis tax revenue as a funding source. She also said a short-term property tax credit while properties are rehabilitated — for no more than five years, she suggested — would reduce Habitat’s carrying costs and allow the nonprofit to acquire and rehab more homes. Hillegas estimated the direct impact to the county budget would be “a little over $3,000 for FY26.”

Council members asked for clarifications about the tax credit’s scope and duration. Hillegas said the credit would apply only during redevelopment and might be shorter than five years depending on project timelines (rehabs, she said, can take one to three years; new construction can take longer). She described a typical financing mix for Habitat: down-payment assistance, a “silent third mortgage” from Habitat on the resale, and other program funds; she said the proposed $40,000 down-payment assistance would reduce the silent mortgage amounts for many households but would not eliminate the need for some Habitat financing.

Council responses were mixed. One council member said he was “worried about the precedent it sets when we start giving tax breaks to nonprofits,” citing prior requests the council denied; another said the request seemed financially small relative to the county budget and noted that Habitat’s rehabilitations also produce neighborhood economic benefits — increasing property values and generating contractor jobs. A council member asked whether the county executive supported the cannabis-tax funding idea; Hillegas said the county executive had been supportive in prior conversations and that Habitat would apply for cannabis-revenue grants as available.

Hillegas said Habitat’s current capacity averages roughly three houses a year and that the tax relief and down-payment assistance could allow the nonprofit to double that work. She asked the council to consider either a cap on the program (for example, a fixed number of properties over a fixed term) or a capped dollar amount to limit fiscal exposure.

Council members did not take formal action at the work session. The council indicated it would review the request further — possibly in a second work session or as a resolution referred to a future meeting — and that staff would follow up with Habitat on details the council requested, including exact property counts, estimated fiscal impact, and program caps.

Why it matters: The request attempts to address an affordability gap the nonprofit described in detail, and it ties a local revenue stream (cannabis tax receipts) to housing assistance. Council members signaled interest but also concern about precedent, program scope and fiscal limits.

What’s next: The council will revisit the proposal at a later meeting or work session; staff indicated they would notify Habitat of the council’s inclination and of any next steps.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Wicomico County Legislative and Open Work Sessions April 15 2025 Part 3","oneSentenceSummary","Molly Hillegas, chief executive officer of Habitat for Humanity of Wicomico County, told the Wicomico County Council at an April 15 work session that Habitat needs a short-term property tax credit and down-payment assistance (proposed $40,000 per household) — potentially funded with cannabis tax revenue — to close affordability gaps created as home prices doubled in the last decade.","taxTitle","Wicomico County, Maryland","taxId",4258,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6598854,"Wicomico County Board of Education reports enrollment surge, Beaver Run expansion and budget request; COVID retainage poses short-term cash issue",2937,2243765,5181000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3023277-788ec9aa3a0e363f1f43c337e98c3d7d&start=2243&end=5181","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3023277-788ec9aa3a0e363f1f43c337e98c3d7d/thumbnail_2243765.jpg","/articles/6598854/Wicomico-County/Maryland/Wicomico-County-Board-of-Education-reports-enrollment-surge-Beaver-Run-expansion-and-budget-request-COVID-retainage-poses-short-term-cash-issue","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6598854-2743b908f369f9ce1d99283ad5773780/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135130&Signature=bX4horg17K3NLfcWjFVvAWMCuYEtyKNxE3wwoPZDT~vhON4zEK4-pzUQjYWsK6qtlAHbr9DlKiL-jCFSHqmUZV28paGHn5RzzcLDPIPpqHqmeFY3ZeEpPkhRF5opWxJAtiLNux4bswSV5WjZwNu9eyvpbI3JecpCBk2s1A-jOs0XaoQkf55ELxU0t2ejXyl70Y2uu7w038shzj8ZXy6TqfYx3pMakSKoshBtNLcHWMRf8lGs5SgnxAfJCAUUUseQeM-ywmO-XexC5yynvVRqm9ZuBPpjgFOAPm6e7s2MKyF6eKsZiXOpjlzZAnSV5O6jd5i~3jLEIXRwGVTp7laO6w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Leaders of Wicomico County Public Schools updated the county council at the April 15 work session on multiple topics: gift-card purchasing controls, a two-classroom addition at Beaver Run Elementary, an enrollment surge and changing student demographics, a COVID-grant retainage the district expects to cover short-term, and the district’s FY26 funding request (maintenance of effort plus a proposed 2 percent reinvestment).

Gift cards: The superintendent reported that Wicomico County Public Schools revised procurement procedures after a 2014 Department of Legislative Services audit to restrict the purchase of gift cards with board funds for employees. Under the district’s current procedure, gift cards may not be purchased as gifts, awards or incentives for employees with board funds; they may be purchased when used as awards or incentives for students, and the district uses a gift-card validation form to track requests, purchases and distribution. The district said that in FY24 there were 179 gift-card purchases recorded; all were for students (not employees) and the purchases came primarily from state funding for PBIS/attendance incentives, school activity funds, grants, or donated cards.

Beaver Run addition and pre-K: The district said it has roughly $2 million remaining from bond funds for Beaver Run Elementary and plans to build a two-classroom addition beginning this summer with the new rooms opening in fall 2027. The school currently enrolls about 730 students and has limited pre-K space: the district said it serves roughly 750 pre-K students systemwide and that Beaver Run operates six pre-K classrooms with additional pre-K students transported to Fruitland Primary due to space limits.

Enrollment and demographics: Superintendent Mike Stauffer and other district leaders told the council that morning enrollment was 15,629 students (15,632 in the afternoon count) — roughly 400 students more than county projections. The district said 72.1 percent of students meet at least one of the state’s at-risk categories (eligible for free/reduced meals, special education, or multilingual-learner services). Specific figures cited: roughly 1,507 multilingual learners (about 15 percent), 690 identified as homeless (about 4.5 percent), 1,703 living in shared residences (about 11 percent), and 1,836 students receiving special-education services (about 11.7 percent). District leaders said the surge has driven immediate operational pressures — more teachers, more classroom space, and additional supports — and that many of the newly arrived students are multilingual learners who were not reflected in prior census-based projections.

COVID grant retainage: The district said it completed multiple COVID-related capital projects but is holding about $1.2 million in contractor retainage. A March 28 communication from the state limited counties’ ability to draw federal COVID funds further, creating a short-term cash requirement for the district; the district said it will pay the contractors and seek reimbursement through appeals and ongoing federal/state processes but that it will present an out-of-category budget transfer to the council in the spring to cover the interim cash need if reimbursements are delayed. The district noted that 16 states have filed legal action on similar sudden federal/state cutoff decisions, including Maryland.

Budget request and local funding: The district described its FY26 request as the maintenance-of-effort calculation tied to enrollment plus an additional 2 percent local reinvestment to address school climate, class size, student supports, transportation, and other recurring costs. District leaders said many items in their request are recurring and that local funding supports classroom materials, extracurricular programs, transportation and support staff that the state’s Blueprint funding does not cover. They asked the council to consider the county executive’s proposed local funding package and stressed that local investment will be needed to maintain class sizes and services as enrollment and student needs increase.

Capital projects and Fruitland Primary: District staff said the Interagency Commission on School Construction (IAC) has increased the district’s anticipated FY26 capital allocation for Fruitland Primary compared with earlier estimates, improving cash-flow projections for the project and reducing the district’s need for short-term forward funding this fiscal year. The district credited work by its state delegation and IAC advocacy for the larger allocation but said it remains focused on ensuring the project remains fully funded through construction.

Why it matters: Enrollment growth and changing student needs affect operating budgets, staffing decisions and capital projects. The COVID retainage issue creates an immediate cash-flow question that the district plans to cover while pursuing reimbursement.

What’s next: The district will send the gift-card validation form to county staff on request, begin the Beaver Run classroom addition this summer, submit an out-of-category budget transfer if needed to cover retainage, and continue coordination with the IAC on Fruitland Primary funding.","Superintendent Mike Stauffer and other Wicomico County Public Schools leaders told the county council on April 15 that enrollment rose to 15,629 — about 400 students above projection — and that the district will add two classrooms at Beaver Run using remaining bond funds while seeking local funding to respond to higher enrollment and increased student needs.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6598858,"Council hears request to revert Reagan's Run subdivision from planned sewer service to well-and-septic; public hearing set for May 6",965,1249045,2214885,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3023277-788ec9aa3a0e363f1f43c337e98c3d7d&start=1249&end=2214","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3023277-788ec9aa3a0e363f1f43c337e98c3d7d/thumbnail_1249045.jpg","/articles/6598858/Wicomico-County/Maryland/Council-hears-request-to-revert-Reagans-Run-subdivision-from-planned-sewer-service-to-well-and-septic-public-hearing-set-for-May-6","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6598858-9d9faaed7d9870c74859680038856985/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135130&Signature=O-FfCxa5Jb0paVF1WLhLta1L6qGSLHpPT10BVhEfQT9nmIXT0pB8n3jIdE48Mmqhxdb3U-awdEIDr9MlMWfoZYJ3P0mwekTgAsS-lBFGWbCIUTuD9nIQxp3fuhSDXwXT2t2xluf~nsKf9qCYnagEObCvVqn1dotO6iD6KQfFzUatywGhFiit2YNNhGgID9CARFdbLTIgIwEG~XJmOkQpXqmMX54PVco9TUAv8n9TeVgpGFBR-x0vuVGOqNecg~ldqst3P7mkx-~07d44N2xVGT57~Gkc7MmFag3Be1pgCrFXTsU1gyVDtc1V7d3bgDZI2deE6Q7m14EJHvAyCdPb7A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a Wicomico County Council work session April 15, Brian Wilkins, the county public works engineer, and planning staff briefed the council on a water and sewer plan amendment request for the Reagan's Run subdivision (Riverside Drive extension, west of Sharps Point Road). The applicant seeks to change the sewer service designation from S4 to S6 so the subdivision can proceed with on-site wells and septic rather than a community package sewer system.

Wilkins told the council the water designation is currently W6 and that the request is to amend only the sewer designation. Planning staff described a complicating legal and mapping issue: the state-required tier map currently identifies the site as tier 2a, which by statute (the Sustainable Growth and Agricultural Preservation Act / tier mapping process referenced in the meeting) prevents major subdivisions on individual septic systems. To develop more than seven lots on septic in a parcel mapped tier 2a, the county must perform a water-and-sewer plan amendment and a corresponding tier-map amendment to move the parcel back to a tier that allows major subdivisions on well and septic.

Planning staff said the parcel was originally mapped for service because an earlier design called for a package sewer system; the developer scaled back the plan after a prior recession and now proposes a smaller subdivision served by wells and septic. The county has processed similar cases in the past (staff cited a previous example, Nutter’s ponds), and staff said Fruitland public-works staff had been contacted and did not oppose reverting the parcel, though Fruitland does not plan to annex or serve the site.

Council members raised concerns about long-term costs and environmental risks. Several members asked whether allowing more septic systems in the area could create future public costs for sewer infrastructure, noting higher groundwater tables and failing septic systems in parts of the county. Staff noted that absent the tier map this request might not have required county-level water-and-sewer amendment but that the parcel’s current mapping status necessitated the formal process. Wilkins said the council would have subsequent public notices and a formal public hearing.

Wilkins told the council that the public hearing for the water and sewer plan amendment would be scheduled as a resolution at the council’s May 6 meeting.

Why it matters: The request illustrates the interaction between local development proposals and state-mandated tier mapping. Allowing more lots on septic now could be cheaper for a developer but may transfer future infrastructure costs or environmental risk to taxpayers if community sewer service becomes necessary later.

What’s next: The council will take the item to a public hearing on May 6 in the form of a resolution; no formal action was taken at the April 15 work session.","Brian Wilkins, Wicomico County public works engineer, told the council April 15 that a developer has asked to amend the water-and-sewer plan for the Reagan’s Run subdivision so the site can be served by on-site wells and septic rather than a planned package sewer system.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Habitat for Humanity asks Wicomico County for temporary property tax credit and down-payment funding

Wicomico County Board of Education reports enrollment surge, Beaver Run expansion and budget request; COVID retainage poses short-term cash issue

Council hears request to revert Reagan's Run subdivision from planned sewer service to well-and-septic; public hearing set for May 6