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GCAAR

Greater Capital Area Association of Realtors®

gcaar-electionday-email

Oct. 2, 2020

Interested in helping get out the vote?

Many area food banks and distribution centers are doing voter outreach and need volunteers. Several opportunities to help are as follows:

Saturday, Oct. 10 from 10 a.m.-noon with Oak Chapel United Methodist Church in Silver Spring. Email Oakchapelpastor@gmail.com to volunteer.

Wheaton Hub at Hughes United Methodist Church; email djuliawingeier50@gmail.com for days/times and to volunteer.

Saturdays from 9-10:30/11 a.m., earlier if you want to help with setup at Olney Hub at Bethel World Outreach. Email nlawson@bwomi.org to volunteer.

Kingdom Fellowship AME Church, also in Silver Spring, welcomes you to get in touch with them; time and date for this opportunity to be determined. Email revsmith@kingdom.global to volunteer.

We’ll keep you posted on other upcoming opportunities. 

 

Oct. 1, 2020

CALL FOR ACTION on proposed recordation tax increase

As you’ve seen from other recent emails, the Montgomery County Council is considering legislation (Bill 39-20) that would increase recordation taxes. GCAAR stands firmly opposed to this legislation and is working to stop the proposal - AND WE NEED YOUR HELP!

The cost of homeownership in our community is already prohibitively high, and climbing because of the pandemic. Now is NOT the time to further tax current and prospective residents.

GCAAR leadership has met with all of the councilmembers, and 2020 President Danai Mattison Sky has testified against the legislation.

To oppose this legislation:

  • TAKE ACTION NOW by clicking on this link.
  • Enter your contact information into the form on the webpage that comes up.
  • Click “Send message” in order to submit the pre-prepared message.

The table below lists Montgomery County’s current recordation tax rates versus the proposed rates in Bill 39-20.

Comparison of recordation tax rates: Current vs proposed

 Montgomery County (Current) 

$8.90 per $1,000 up to $500,000

$13.50 per $1,000 over $500,000

 Montgomery County (Proposed) 

$9.90 per $1,000 up to $500,000

$15.50 per $1,000 over $500,000

$17.50 per $1,000 over $1,000,000


For homes above $500,000, the only jurisdiction in our region with higher recordation taxes than Montgomery County is the District of Columbia at $14.50, and the proposed rate would eclipse that. Prince George’s County’s rate is $5.50; Northern Virginia counties are just $3.33.

Thank you for helping us oppose the increase in the recordation tax rate!

Sept. 22, 2020

GCAAR to close offices on Election day

As your professional association, GCAAR has a deep commitment to advocating for the issues that matter most to you – and to providing information and educational resources about those issues so you can make informed decisions when it’s time to take action or vote.

Election Day is coming soon. Because we believe so strongly in the power of your voice in our local, state and national elections, we will close the GCAAR offices (in both Rockville and the District of Columbia) on Tuesday, November 3 to encourage you to exercise your right to vote - as well as to volunteer your time to the candidates and causes most important to you.

Moving forward, we will continue to close the office on Election Day, when there is a general election, to further demonstrate our commitment to allowing your voice to be heard.


Sept. 22, 2020

GCAAR's position on Montgomery County charter amendments: Questions A, B, C & D

This year’s ballot for Montgomery County residents will include four charter amendments. GCAAR’s Public Policy Committee has taken positions on three of them, as follows:

Questions A & B would amend the charter limit on property taxes.

  • Question A would modernize the property tax charter limit to a capped rate, instead of capped revenue. It would allow for proper, measured growth in the county while maintaining the necessary ability for the Council to raise the limit by unanimous vote. GCAAR’s position: SUPPORT QUESTION A
  • Question B would threaten our financial stability and our AAA bond rating by coupling property tax limits to the rate of inflation. GCAAR’s position: OPPOSE QUESTION B

Questions C & D would redistrict and/or add members to the Council.

  • Question D would change the composition of the Council from five district seats and four at-large seats to nine district seats. Under the current model, voters get to choose a majority of the Council. We believe lessening each resident’s representation from five councilmembers to one would limit their ability to shape their communities at this time. GCAAR’s position: OPPOSE QUESTION D
  • GCAAR has not taken a position on Question C.
     

Your guide to voting in the 2020 General Election

Click the links below that apply to your jurisdiction to make sure your vote is counted! Interested in volunteering as an election worker or judge? There are links for that, too: 

Montgomery County 

 

District of Columbia