The General County tax is levied on all property in the County and funds, in part,
such basic services as police protection, elementary and secondary education, the
community college, transportation, health and social services, and libraries. There
are additional County taxes that are levied either Countywide or in specially defined
areas of the County to fund projects and programs. The following taxes are Countywide
(all taxpayers pay these taxes): the Transit Tax, which funds public transportation
services including the Ride On bus system, the Fire District Tax, which funds fire
and rescue services, and the Advance Land Acquisition Tax, which funds land acquisitions
by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC). Seven additional
taxes are levied only in specially defined areas: the Metropolitan Tax funds M-NCPPC
local park facilities and parks programs and the Regional Tax funds M-NCPPC planning
and administrative programs; five additional taxes fund recreation facilities and
programs, storm drainage improvements, parking lot districts, urban districts, and
noise abatement districts. Whether a taxpayer pays one of these special area taxes
depends on where the property is located.
To determine which Special Area taxes
apply, please refer to the
Tax Rate Schedule