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Important information about the Homestead Tax Credit
2008
Community Calendar
FOR OHCA COMMITTEE MEETING INFORMATION, CLICK HERE
Oyster
Harbor Community Association General
Meetings are held the fourth
Tuesday of the month at various locations. No General
Meetings will be held in December and February.
Oyster
Harbor Community Association Board
Meetings usually are held the second Thursday of each
month at various locations.
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OHCA
Board Meeting
Thursday, July 24, 7 - 9 p.m.
(note: not the 2nd Thursday)
Anne Arundel County Public Library
Eastport-Annapolis Neck Branch, 269 Hillsmere Drive
OHCA
Board Meeting
Thursday, August 14, 7 - 9 p.m.
(note: not the 2nd Thursday)
Anne Arundel County Public Library
Eastport-Annapolis Neck Branch, 269 Hillsmere Drive
OHCA
Board Meeting
Thursday, September 11, 7 - 9 p.m.
(note: not the 2nd Thursday)
Anne Arundel County Public Library
Eastport-Annapolis Neck Branch, 269 Hillsmere Drive
OHCA
Board Meeting
Thursday, October 16, 7 - 9 p.m.
(note: not the 2nd Thursday)
Anne Arundel County Public Library
Eastport-Annapolis Neck Branch, 269 Hillsmere Drive
OHCA
Board Meeting
Thursday, November 20, 7 - 9 p.m.
(note: not the 2nd Thursday)
Anne Arundel County Public Library
Eastport-Annapolis Neck Branch, 269 Hillsmere Drive
OHCA
Board Meeting
Monday, December 15, 7 - 9 p.m.
(note: not the 2nd Thursday)
Anne Arundel County Public Library
Eastport-Annapolis Neck Branch, 269 Hillsmere Drive
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Community
News & Information
Fishing Creek Park
 A reminder from the OHCA Community Property Committee: It’s boating season again and we would like to remind you that all small watercraft in Fishing Creek Park are required to have an OHCA small boat sticker. To obtain your sticker contact Chris DeSimone at GoVikes80@aol.com or 410 263-5399.
We also ask that everyone be considerate and not leave their boats in the beach/launch area. As you will notice, it is a very small area and boats left there prevent other boaters, kids, and dogs from using the beach.
Trailer storage is prohibited.
Would you like to be a Block Captain? What is a Block Captain?
A Block Captain is a community volunteer…
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Who is interested in helping to promote the neighborly communication that will help their immediate neighbors know what is going on in the community
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Who will give a welcome package to the new family next door
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Who will be aware of elderly neighbors who may need assistance
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Or tell their neighbors about the jazz concert down at the beach
If you are interested in knowing more about becoming a Block Captain come to the next Community Meeting on Tuesday, May 27th, or call Jo Burkholder at 410-295-5653.
Important News About the Homestead Tax Credit
It's Not Automatic Anymore
Some county residents in our council district have recently received property assessments from the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation and will be required for the first time to make a one-time application to receive, or continue receiving, the Homestead Tax Credit.
Oyster Harbor Community Network
Learn about the Oyster Harbor Community Network to stay connected for a baby sitting co-op, moms' or dads' night out, senior connections and more. You can join by clicking here.
Legislation enacted by the 2007 session of the General Assembly will require homeowners to submit a one-time application in order to continue their eligibility for the homestead tax credit. The homestead credit limits the amount of assessment increase on which a homeowner will pay property taxes in that tax year on the one property actually used as the owner’s principal residence. The reason behind the application process is that some property owners were improperly receiving the credit on vacation homes and rented properties. County and municipal governments were losing tax revenues needed to provide important services to their residents. The only way to verify residency of the homeowner is to require an application and have the filer provide his or her Social Security number.
The legislation excludes Homestead Tax Credit eligibility for rental or vacation homes. You may call
1 410 767-2165 or 1 866-650-8783 to request an application form if you did not receive one with your assessment. Information is also available on
line at the Maryland Assessments and Taxation Website: https://sdathtc.resiusa.org/homestead/ (Application)
In order to submit a Homestead Tax Credit Eligibility Application through this website you must have been issued, from the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation, an application form containing your Real Property Account Number and an Access Number. You will be required to enter the Account and Access Numbers as part of the submission process.
If you have not received an application, click here to access a PDF version of the form which can be completed and mailed to:
Department of Assessments and Taxation, Homestead Tax Credit Division
301 W Preston St. 8th Floor,
Baltimore, MD 21201
Click here for Commonly Asked Questions on the Homestead Tax Credit Application.
NOTE: Property owners who use the property as their principal residence will receive an assessment notice containing a Homestead Tax Credit Application for the first time this year beginning January 1, 2008. This one-time application must be submitted in order to insure that the credit is granted only on eligible properties and not on properties that are rented or used as vacation homes. The applications can be filed on-line on the Department’s website or by mailing the paper form in the postage-paid envelope included in the assessment notice.
Homeowners not reassessed until 2009 or 2010 can wait until then to submit a Homestead Tax Credit application.
Thank you to the office of Councilman Josh Cohen for providing this information.
Waterfront residents: Is your insurance up to date?
Anne Arundel County Executive John R. Leopold is urging waterfront residents in the County to meet with their insurance representatives and make sure their current homeowners policy is up to date.
“The recent announcement that Allstate Insurance would no longer write new homeowner policies for waterfront property owners in Maryland made me realize there is a bigger issue at hand,” said County Executive Leopold. “In a county with more than 500 miles of waterfront property, it’s not enough to have homeowners insurance, but residents should also be covered by flood insurance. In response to action I have taken today, citizens can go to the County’s website at www.aacounty.org and get up-to-date information regarding available insurance carriers and rate information, via a link to the Maryland Insurance Administration.”
Allstate will continue to renew existing policies, which represent 85% of the company’s business. Nevertheless, County Executive Leopold is urging all residents to talk with their insurance carrier and see if the coverage they currently have is right for their home and family. “This announcement from Allstate is a wake up call, not for residents needing new policies, but for existing policy owners. Take a few minutes and check on your current policy and see if it fits your needs,” said Mr. Leopold
Maryland Insurance Administrator R. Steven Orr, in response to County Executive Leopold’s expressed concerns, indicated in a letter dated January 9 to Mr. Leopold that there are still options for consumers and companies that are seeking to write new business. A partial list of available carriers can be found by going to the County's website and clicking on News Flash on the main page. Commissioner Orr said, "Maryland's property and casualty market remains healthy and competitive. While selected insurers are restricting their writing, other carriers are continuing to write new business, so the market remains strong."
For a link to find valuable information on the Consumer Guide to Homeowner Insurance and the Comparison Guide to Maryland Homeowners Insurance Rates go to www.aacounty.org and click on the link to the Maryland Insurance Administration under News Flash.
Do You Have Any OHCA Community Records?
Community records for our archives should be turned over to the Board of Directors. The Executive Committee should hold at least three years of data, and in some cases, as with roads and plat plan, all of the records. If you have any pertinent records, regardless of how far they go back, please call Joe Butcher for pick-up at 410-703-0867.
Pick up after your Pet - Good Reasons to Pick Up After Your Dog
Parking
Oyster
Harbor rules prohibit parking on our narrow streets. There
are good reasons for this. On-street parking poses a safety
hazard for “darting children” and hinders access
for emergency fire and police vehicles.
Speed Limits
Please obey posted speed limit signs, particularly on Arundel on the Bay Road. Watch out for children, dog-walkers, pedestrians and the police officers who will be glad to introduce themselves and their speeding tickets.
Save
our Swales
Please
refrain from raking leaves or other yard debris into the street
or community swales and ditches. When this happens, the community
incurs increased costs in dump fees and grounds keeping expenses.
Most importantly, it interferes with water infiltration and runoff.
Trash
Pickup Tips
Useful waste management information from Anne Arundel County
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Don’t
overfill your recycle bins.
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High winds displace trash cans, recycling bins and trash.
Please take a few minutes to pick up trash in swales and
empty lots near your house
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To replace or obtain new recycling bins free from Anne
Arundel County call 410 222-7951 or go to the County Recycling
Office at Heritage Office Complex, Suite 490, 2662 Riva
Road. Hours are Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., except
holidays.
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You do not need the County's yellow recycling bin
to recycle. You may use any container such as a trash
can, laundry basket, or milk crate, however, mark
those containers clearly with a large "X"
on all sides so it is visible to the collection crew.
The "X" lets them know that the material
is for recycling and not trash.
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Recycling is picked up on Mondays.
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Trash is picked up on Mondays and Thursdays.
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Yard cuttings are picked up on Mondays.
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Security
- Don’t Hesitate to Call 911
Oyster
Harbor contracts with off-duty Federal or County police officers
in unmarked cars who patrol our streets on a regular basis
during the night. By dialing 911, the patrolling officer will
be contacted in his car to reply to the call.
If
not during the day, local police will handle the call. Dial
911. Don’t hesitate. Don’t be concerned about
“bothering” the authorities. They are there to
check out any concerns. Better safe than sorry. Read
more...
 Maritime Keys
Brooke Doswell, head of OHCA Security, handles the keys for the Shore Drive beach gate, and Fishing Creek gate. For the key to the Boat Ramp on Washington Drive contact Rhoades Whitehill.
There is no charge for keys; one per household.
 Pooches
On the Beach & On Our Streets
Bottom
line: Our beloved dogs are not allowed on the Oyster Harbor
beach.
On
the streets, please pick up after your pets. Doing so is just
common courtesy and it keeps our community clean and safe.
Also, it’s the LAW. Read more about environmental, health and neighborly reasons to pick up after your dog.
And
remember, in Oyster Harbor, our favorite canines must be on
a leash.
Volunteer for a committee! It’s a great way
to get to know your neighbors
and to contribute to our wonderful community!
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