UMBC Poll: 61% of Maryland voters say the state’s tax burden is too high

MARYLAND (WBFF) — Marylanders struggling with rising costs say taxes are adding to the strain, according to a new poll that found a majority of voters believe the state’s tax burden is too high.

A UMBC and Maryland Municipal League poll of 700 voters found 61% say Maryland’s taxes are too high, reflecting frustrations many residents say they feel in everyday spending.

“I went to the market and got a few things and I was already at $60,” one Marylander said. Another added, “We pay too much and we don’t get enough for our money.”

Dr. Daraius Irani, Vice President of Business and Public Engagement at Towson University, said lowering taxes in Maryland is difficult because of the state’s long-term budget issues and the cost of maintaining services residents expect.

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“Well the challenge of Maryland is we continue to have a structural deficit… and Marylanders want nice things…” Irani said.

Irani said the state’s high costs can have broader consequences, including population shifts that affect the workforce.

“One of the challenges for Maryland is that people are leaving the state who are in their prime working age,” Irani said.

He said addressing the issue could require evaluating what government provides and whether there are efficiencies to be found.

“There needs to be some hard choices regarding sort of certain services what the different agencies provide is there duplication? Can that be reduced?” Irani said.

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While the poll shows clear concern about taxes, Irani said election results from this month’s midterms suggest voters may not have been driven primarily by tax issues.

“I’m not sure if the voters sent a strong anti-tax message… there seemed to be a blue wave,” Irani said.

The poll also found Marylanders have more confidence in local government to spend tax dollars wisely than they do in Annapolis or Washington. Irani said that may be because local services are more visible in daily life.

“National defense and other things are rather sort of just intangible items that many people can’t put their hands around, but you can put your hands around a snow-plowed street.. A well run school and a nice park,” Irani said.