{"id":19400,"date":"2024-06-28T16:16:15","date_gmt":"2024-06-28T16:16:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/realtorparty.realtor\/?p=19400"},"modified":"2024-06-28T16:16:15","modified_gmt":"2024-06-28T16:16:15","slug":"santa-fe-realtors-promote-diverse-housing-options-in-housing-strapped-region-2-3-2-2-3-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-3-3-2-3-2-2-2-2-2-2-4-2-4-2-2-3-2-4-2-2-3-2-2-2-2-3-3-2-2-3-2-2-2-3-2-3-2-2-2-2-3-3-2-2-2-3-2-2-25","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/realtorparty.realtor\/homepage\/success-story\/mdr-adv0724","title":{"rendered":"Maryland REALTORS\u00ae Successfully Oppose Sales Tax on Services"},"content":{"rendered":"\"\"Searching for a new sustainable revenue source earlier this year, the Maryland House of Delegates floated a bill that would allow a sales tax on services \u2013 and Maryland REALTORS\u00ae <\/sup>stepped right up to oppose it.\u00a0 With strategic lobbying and a Call For Action supported by counsel from the REALTOR\u00ae<\/sup> Party experts, they got their message across and staved off the ill-advised tax.\r\n\r\nLisa May, Maryland REALTORS\u00ae<\/sup>\u2019 Director of Advocacy and Public Policy, explains that while the association had an interest in protecting its members from the threatened tax, more broadly, it was acting on its responsibility to defend housing affordability in the state.\u00a0 \u201cWe are in the midst of a serious housing crisis.\u00a0 In addition to fundamental real estate services, think of all the services that go into new housing and construction; this would have taxed every one of them, and the increased cost would have been an added burden on consumers, who are already faced with record housing prices.\u201d\r\n\r\nThis was not the first time there had been an attempt in the Maryland legislature to impose a tax on services.\u00a0 It had occurred during the 2020 session, and was defeated, thanks to an energetic advocacy effort by the state REALTORS\u00ae<\/sup> and their allies.\u00a0 \u201cWe fought back hard with all the tools in our advocacy toolbox, including getting our members onto buses that took them to a big rally outside the Treasury building, with signs to wave,\u201d notes May. \u00a0This time, she says, the threat was real, but not quite as fierce, as the House was relatively alone in looking for new revenue.\r\n\r\n\u201cWe had assurances from the Governor\u2019s office and the Senate that we didn\u2019t have to bring the buses this time because they were not interested in tax increases.\u00a0 But the numbers were just too tidy:\u00a0 they were looking at a $3B budget deficit, and this bill was projected to bring in $3B; so, we were still a little nervous,\u201d recalls May.\u00a0 Consequently, the association didn\u2019t go in hitting quite so hard this time, and didn\u2019t talk about the impact it would have on REALTORS\u00ae<\/sup>.\u00a0 \u201cWe kept the focus on how it would hurt the housing markets and Maryland\u2019s aspiring homeowners and renters,\u201d she reports.\u00a0 In consultation with the REALTOR\u00ae<\/sup> Party\u2019s Advocacy Everywhere<\/a> staff, the team received best-practices training on the platform, and managed their own Call For Action targeting the districts of the state House Ways and Means Committee members.\u00a0 Launched the day after the committee hearing on the bill, the campaign was maintained over the course of several days, until the committee\u2019s final budget proposal was drafted.\r\n\r\nMay and her team also engaged in individual advocacy with legislators \u2013 and they were not alone: \u201cAccountants, architects, every professional service was there,\u201d she reports.\u00a0 In fact, upwards of 170 advocacy groups were opposing the tax on services, including the Maryland Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Independent Businesses.\u00a0 The REALTORS\u00ae<\/sup> were able to equip friendly members of the committee with a few pointed questions, helping to cut through all the other \u2018niche testimonies.\u2019 \u00a0The bill was killed in committee.\r\n\r\nEven so, the state\u2019s budget challenges remain. \u00a0\u201cWe bought ourselves some time, but we have to remain on the lookout,\u201d says May.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019ll keep seeking solutions and keep steering the legislature away from any revenue path that is detrimental to our members and to housing affordability.\u00a0 We\u2019re grateful for the REALTOR\u00ae<\/sup> Party\u2019s guidance and support as we go!\u201d\r\n\r\nTo learn more about how Maryland REALTORS\u00ae<\/sup> successfully opposed a state tax on services, contact\u00a0Lisa May,\u00a0Director of Advocacy and Public Policy, at lisa.may@mdrealtor.org<\/a> or 571.228.7385.","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Faced with a legislative proposal that would have instituted a sales tax on services, Maryland REALTORS\u00ae launched a strong opposition focused on how the measure would increase the cost of housing at each step of development, construction, and sales. In consultation with REALTOR\u00ae Party staff, they created a Call For Action campaign that helped to kill the bill in committee. 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