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DECEMBER 1, 2017
SERVING NORTHERN WORCESTER COUNTY
LIFESTYLE
CHRISTMAS PARADE The 35th annual Ocean City event will take place this Saturday beginning at 11 a.m. – Page 47
FREE
Gov. Hogan unveils his sick leave compromise Business groups remain wary because of impact on seasonal operations
STEWART DOBSON/OCEAN CITY TODAY
GREETINGS FROM ARGENTINA A visitor from south of several borders came to Ocean City last week in the form of a fork-tailed flycatcher, which took up residence for a couple of days at Sunset Park on South Division Street. The Audubon Society calls these tropical birds “spectacular wanderers” that will occasionally make wild errors in navigation and find themselves thousands of miles from home. Members of this particular branch of the flycatcher family, when sighted along the Atlantic coast, are said to be mostly from Argentina.
Realtors worry about tax cut bill CAR members fear loss of home-related deductions will hurt housing market By Greg Ellison Staff Writer (Dec. 1, 2017) Local Realtors, like their counterparts across the country, continue to take issue with the Tax Cuts and Job Act legislation that was introduced in the U.S. Senate on Tuesday following House passage on Nov. 16. Joel Maher, president of the Coastal Association of Realtors (CAR), said this week his group actively opposes the bill, adding that
numerous CAR members contacted Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) to express their concerns before the House passed its version of the measure. “Tax reform as proposed will have a jarring impact on the real estate industry across the country, and that will definitely be felt here at home,” he said. Obviously of concern to Realtors is how home sales will be affected by the elimination of certain real estaterelated tax deductions now available to homeowners. The House tax reform measure passed by a 227-205 vote, largely along party lines. Harris, who voted
for the bill, has a different perspective on the legislations impact. “Economic growth causes property values to rise, not fall, and the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will bring on explosive economic growth in the United States,” he said. Maher, however, said the house version eliminates numerous tax benefits presently available to homeowners. “Our main concerns are preservation of the mortgage interest deduction, as well as state and local tax, home equity loan, moving expense, and student loan interest deductions,” he said. “Not to mention the See REALTORS Page 6
By Brian Gilliland Associate Editor (Dec. 1, 2017) Fulfilling the promise he made to offer an alternative to the paid sick leave bill he vetoed last spring, Gov. Larry Hogan on Tuesday unveiled his approach that would phase in paid sick leave over the next three years. To be submitted by the administration when the General Assem‘It has huge bly convenes in January will be consequences the Paid Leave here, particularly C o m p r o m i s e if seasonal Act of 2018, employees which would require businesses choose to take with 50 or more their leave at the employees to end of the begin offering season.’ accrued paid — Susan Jones sick leave in OCHMRA 2018. Business with 40 or more workers would have to comply by 2019 and all businesses with 25 or more employees would have to abide by the rule in 2020. Qualifying businesses that demonstrate a “significant financial hardship” could receive a temporary waiver from the Department of Labor under Hogan’s proposed legislation. On the employee side, the governor’s bill sets up a system that would allow employees of a business with 25 or more employees to accrue one hour of paid leave for every 30 hours worked. The bill Hogan vetoed, the MarySee HOGAN Page 5