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JANUARY 6, 2023
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Resort bike committee members seeking grants to continue pedestrian safety campaign – Page 4
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LISA CAPITELLI/OCEAN CITY TODAY
On a cloudless, mildly windy 60-degree New Year’s Day 2023, more than 950 penguins took a dip in the 46-degree ocean during the 29th annual Atlantic General Hospital Penguin Swim on 91st Street. Several hundred more were on the beach to watch the event. About $107,000 was raised for the Berlin hospital. See story on page 15. More photos on page 14.
Property values soaring, new assessment shows
Hartman, Carrozza prepare for legislature to convene
Reassessed portions go up by over 30% in some areas of Worcester County
New governor, members will make for interesting session, delegate says
By Mallory Panuska Staff Writer (Jan. 6, 2023) Worcester County could end up raking in roughly $6 million more in tax revenues this year following a record more than 30 percent increase in property assessments. The Maryland Department of Taxation recently released the annual assessment results for residential and commercial properties in Area 2, which in Worcester encompasses the entire southern region of Pocomoke City, Snow Hill and Newark, and a sliver of West Ocean City near Route 611. The numbers shot up over the last
three years not only locally, but across the state with a 20.6 percent increase overall on the assessment of more than two million properties, and jumps of 22.2 percent for residential and 15.8 percent for commercial properties. A news release from the state department said the numbers reflect the largest property increase “in several years” and a rise in values. “All 23 counties and Baltimore City experienced an increase in residential property values for the fifth consecutive year, while commercial See RESIDENTIAL Page 4
By Jack Chavez Staff Writer (Jan. 6, 2023) The 2023 session of the Maryland General Assembly kicks off on Wednesday and the Worcester County delegation of Del. Wayne Hartman and Sen. Mary Beth Carrozza has its sights set on legislation they believe will improve the county’s economy, safety and accessibility. It’s also a session of change. Incoming governor Wes Moore (D) will surely differ from his republican predecessor, Gov. Larry Hogan (R), requiring Republicans Hartman and Carozza to begin game-planning now for what’s to come. “It’s going to be interesting. We’ll
have many new members,” Hartman said. “The new governor is still picking his cabinet so we don’t know for sure what committee assignments we’ll have. There are still many unknowns because of the election year. It takes time to figure out how we’ll be working with other folks, the challenges we’re going to have, getting to know a lot of new people.” Carozza said she envisions having to work “even harder” for the interests of the Eastern Shore with Moore in office. She also praised the job Hogan did over his eight years as governor. “Gov. Hogan and his administration have been very supportive of our (Eastern Shore) priorities, and I plan to use my position in the senate to educate, advocate and fight for local priorities,” she said. See HARTMAN Page 6