Please explain to me the different types of local gov't in MD (Baltimore: HOA)

[gottaq]

I notice that Maryland has 'cities', 'census designated places', 'unincorporated area', and all of that. what is the difference between the three in terms of how they operate on a political and economic level?? I'm from NJ and we simply have cities or townships, so I'm confused by this. And is it better for a place to be 'incorporated' as opposed to 'unincorporated'? How will these different local gov't structures affect each area in the future? Is Hagerstown better off than Owings Mills because Hagerstown is a "city" with it's own gov't while Owings MIlls is "unincorporated"? Or will a places growth have nothing to do with this?

[North Beach Person]

MD has incorporated Towns, 158 (or 157). Most have a form of elected government with a Mayor and elected Council (the names will vary a bit, Annapolis calls Council members Aldermen).

A municipality generally has more control over its destiny. Most have control over Planning and Zoning separate from the surrounding County (this doesn't apply in parts of Prince George's and Montgomery Counties) and can have its own Police Department, has bonding authority, etc.

Census designated places, let's say Silver Spring in Montgomery County, are just that. Although people may say "city of Silver Spring" it isn't, it's an unincorporated population center in Montgomery County. County Zoning (well, maybe not, it may be under the MD National Capital Park and Planning Commission for that) controls development, although Silver Spring may have an area plan. Police services are provided by the County as part of the patrol area.

School systems in MD are County based, unlike New Jersey.

This is as good as any explanation:

List of incorporated places in Maryland - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Maryland Towns & Cities - Municipalities (by name)

Town Codes

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by gottaq

I notice that Maryland has 'cities', 'census designated places', 'unincorporated area', and all of that. what is the difference between the three in terms of how they operate on a political and economic level?? I'm from NJ and we simply have cities or townships, so I'm confused by this. And is it better for a place to be 'incorporated' as opposed to 'unincorporated'? How will these different local gov't structures affect each area in the future? Is Hagerstown better off than Owings Mills because Hagerstown is a "city" with it's own gov't while Owings MIlls is "unincorporated"? Or will a places growth have nothing to do with this?

NJ has boroughs as well.

[goldenage1]

Originally Posted by gottaq

Is Hagerstown better off than Owings Mills because Hagerstown is a "city" with it's own gov't while Owings MIlls is "unincorporated"? Or will a places growth have nothing to do with this?

People in the incorprated areas will generally pay higher taxes than those in unincorporated areas. It cost more to fund the police department, mayor and city council.

The growth rate is independent, related to economic conditions, health of the job market, etc. .

[rdflk]

And of course there are COUNTY governments. An UNincorporated area is still in/under/within a country government jurisdiction or structure. And even cities are within counties, but just with their own governing structure.

For example. you may live in a city. But the city may say if you need a permit for something...you get it from the county. So which entity governs what may depend on what services the state has said they can oversee/manage r provide -- or what the two areas have worked out between them. Zoning is another area where who governs what might come into play. Or if you have no local police or fire department, then the county is your 'default' public safety agency.

[seanlax]

Just to add, in more rural counties, like those in western MD and the eastern shore, living within a municipality guarantees certain services that are either more expensive, lower quality, or straight up unavailable outside the town limits.

Trash pickup, recycling, snow plows, internet, cable, electric provider, water & sewer, stormwater, etc. is what I'm getting at. You can't get some of these services if you live in unincorporated Worcester County, for instance, without either paying a premium or accepting a lower quality of service. So it tends to even out tax-wise in the end. Plus municipalities almost always see their roads plowed first, electricity restored, and roads repaved before unincorporated areas. Just things to consider.

[North Beach Person]

Most of the municipal elected officials serve either unpaid or are paid a very nominal sum. Baltimore City is an outlier there.

[marlinfshr]

Originally Posted by seanlax

Just to add, in more rural counties, like those in western MD and the eastern shore, living within a municipality guarantees certain services that are either more expensive, lower quality, or straight up unavailable outside the town limits.

Trash pickup, recycling, snow plows, internet, cable, electric provider, water & sewer, stormwater, etc. is what I'm getting at. You can't get some of these services if you live in unincorporated Worcester County, for instance, without either paying a premium or accepting a lower quality of service. So it tends to even out tax-wise in the end. Plus municipalities almost always see their roads plowed first, electricity restored, and roads repaved before unincorporated areas. Just things to consider.

I live in Ocean Pines. Technically part of Berlin but we don't pay city taxes to Berlin like in the town limits. We do have an HOA though but I look at it like city taxes for the town of Ocean Pines as we have a police department and two fire stations. I think, though, trash is included in Berlin's taxes but we pay extra (about 200/year) and our water is quite pricey as well.

Come to think about it I wonder what the actual benefit is of Ocean Pines being a part of Berlin as we have our own post office as well. Perhaps just old zoning as Berlin covers a pretty large area.

In the past, when my parent's lived in West Ocean City we had an Ocean City address but didn't pay taxes into the town as we were west of the bridge. I don't know what they had to pay extra for services though.

[westsideboy]

Originally Posted by seanlax

Just to add, in more rural counties, like those in western MD and the eastern shore, living within a municipality guarantees certain services that are either more expensive, lower quality, or straight up unavailable outside the town limits.

Trash pickup, recycling, snow plows, internet, cable, electric provider, water & sewer, stormwater, etc. is what I'm getting at. You can't get some of these services if you live in unincorporated Worcester County, for instance, without either paying a premium or accepting a lower quality of service. So it tends to even out tax-wise in the end. Plus municipalities almost always see their roads plowed first, electricity restored, and roads repaved before unincorporated areas. Just things to consider.

This.