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Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) said municipal leaders know their constituents best because they work closely with them when it comes to public safety, trash collection and other local services.
To ensure his administration partners in those efforts, the governor plans to hold quarterly meetings, starting next year, with mayors throughout the state in Annapolis at Government House, home to the state鈥檚 chief executive.
鈥淲e need to be able to hear from you what鈥檚 going on. We need to be able to hear from you about what things we should be pushing on鈥hat things we should be focusing on, and how exactly to make sure that this administration is going to be responsive,鈥� Moore said Tuesday during the Maryland Municipal League Excellence in Leadership Fall Conference at the University of Maryland College Park.
鈥淭he one thing I know about each and every one of you is that you are serving your communities without fanfare,鈥� he said. 鈥淓very once awhile you go out for a meal with your family, and it never turns into a meal with your family because someone鈥檚 going to come to you and say, 鈥榊ou know what? I just have three things I want to talk with you about.鈥� I get it, but that鈥檚 public service.鈥�
Before the governor began his 20-minute speech, conference attendees sang 鈥淗appy Birthday鈥� to Moore who celebrated his 45th birthday Sunday.
Moore鈥檚 speech focused on partnership with municipal officials who, he said, work multiple jobs and make personal sacrifices 鈥渇or your neighbors and to make sure that we鈥檙e leaving a legacy.鈥�
Some of the loudest applause Moore received came when he announced his support for the league鈥檚 initiative to authorize municipalities to create local tourism zones.
The idea comes from听听where counties, cities and towns are allowed to provide tax incentives such as reductions in permit and user fees and gross receipts taxes. There, businesses who qualify may receive those incentives for up to 20 years.
The aim is to boost tourism, economic development and employment opportunities.
鈥淚 want to make sure that everybody not just in our state, but everyone around our state understands that this is the place to be,鈥� he said.
Virginia鈥檚 tourism zones are similar to business enterprise zones where the state and local governments promote economic development. The primary听difference with a tourism zone: the state鈥檚 municipalities and counties may establish one without state oversight.
Virginia has 19 tourism zones including parts of Fredericksburg, Front Royal and Spotsylvania County.听
But Maryland municipalities cannot create tourism zones unless state law is changed to give them that authority, said Justin Fiore, deputy director of advocacy and public affairs for the Maryland Municipal League.
鈥淭he closest thing we have in Maryland is听, or the admissions and amusement tax,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hen you ask big businesses why they locate [to a jurisdiction], it鈥檚 more than just the size of the facility or the workers. It can also be the surrounding culture and atmosphere.鈥�
When the General Assembly convenes for its 90-day session Jan. 10, the governor plans to partner with the league and advocate for giving municipalities that authority.
鈥淭his tourism zone bill is going to help ensure that more of our municipalities can make use of the incentives and attract local businesses, retain local businesses [and] support local entrepreneurs,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e going to work together and make sure that it makes it to the legislature. When it makes it to my desk, I will sign it.鈥�
