Dueling tax cuts...

Following County Executive James Robey's proposal to reduce the county's property tax rate, County Councilman Charles Feaga is introducing legislation to accomplish basically the same thing.

Feaga's proposal would cut the cap on the annual increases in property tax bills from 5 percent to 4 percent.

Feaga's bill is co-sponsored by council members Christopher Merdon, a Republican from Ellicott City, and David Rakes, a Democrat from east Columbia, giving the bill majority support on the five-member council, improving its odds of passage.

Feaga said the measure would provide slight tax relief to some county homeowners.

"It's feasible, and it's a good way to return some tax to residents," he said during a council meeting Feb. 23.

On this one, I'm not sure which option is better, but it seems Robey's proposal -- reducing the tax rate from $1.04 to $1.01 for every $100 of assessed value -- would have greater positive impacts on homeowners in the long run. Feaga's tax cut, meanwhile, may be more appropriate in this time of rapidly increasing home assessments, a situation that could easily change.

What I'm really wondering is why no one's talking about cutting the income tax rate, which was raised by 30 percent just a few years ago to make up for a budget shortfall.