HAGERSTOWN – City officials are voicing concern over proposed Washington County legislation raising excise taxes on new residential construction and shifting responsibility for school infrastructure funding. Members questioned the amendments’ structure and narrative at this week’s council work session, urging a more equitable approach to growth management.
County proposal: Double the excise tax
Washington County seeks to amend two key ordinances: the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance and the Excise Tax Ordinance. Under the proposal, the residential excise tax for new housing construction would double from $1 to $2 per square foot.
The revised ordinance also relocates some school construction funding mechanisms from the public facilities ordinance to the excise tax structure, which county staff members described as a realignment of funding streams rather than an entirely new obligation.
City Planning Director Stephen Bockmiller explained that while the excise tax is collected on county and city properties, the new ordinance would not create direct obligations for Hagerstown. However, the city is responsible for administering the tax and retains a 2 percent fee.
Council concern: City blamed for countywide issues
Several councilmembers objected to comments made during a recent county public hearing, where staff reportedly blamed Hagerstown’s lack of a public facilities ordinance for losing up to $2 million in potential school construction funds.
Councilman Kristin Aleshire took particular issue with the county’s framing. “They’re pointing the finger at Hagerstown for overcrowding schools, but the data tells another story,” he said. “Thousands of school seats remain empty across the county, yet we see no serious redistricting to fix it.”
Aleshire added that while the city accounts for about one-third of the county’s student population, the two high schools located in the city – South Hagerstown High and North Hagerstown High – account for half of all high school enrollment in the county. South High has 17 portable classrooms, more than all other county high schools combined.
He argued that the issue lies less with residential growth and more with outdated or politically restrained redistricting policies. “There are hundreds of open seats in nearby schools like Clear Spring, Smithsburg and Williamsport,” he said. “But we’re not efficiently using that capacity.”
Council members acknowledged the county’s authority over school funding but pushed for more cooperation between city and county planners. The city is preparing formal comments to submit to the county before the public comment period ends next week. Several members supported the city’s response, which included detailed enrollment and capacity figures to clarify its position and support its concerns with evidence.
Looking ahead
Mayor William McIntire encouraged continued dialogue but stressed that the council would remain firm on fairness. “We want what’s best for the entire county – including Hagerstown,” he said. “But we need to be at the table when decisions affect our residents, schools, and growth.”
City staff members will also contact county staff members for follow-up discussions outside formal hearing settings.
