Town of Forest Heights v. M-NCPPC ( 2019 )

The Town of Forest Heights v. The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning
Commission, et al., No. 21, September Term, 2018. Opinion by Getty, J.
[MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS — CREATION, ALTERATION, EXISTENCE,
AND DISSOLUTION – TERRITORIAL EXTENT AND SUBDIVISIONS,
ANNEXATION, CONSOLIDATION, AND DIVISION – ANNEXATION OR
DETACHMENT OF TERRITORY FOR SPECIAL PURPOSES]
The Court of Appeals held a municipal corporation’s legislative body is not required to
obtain consent from owners of tax-exempt property within a proposed annexation area to
effectuate such an annexation pursuant to the 25% consent requirement of Local
Government Article § 4-403(b)(2).
[MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS — CREATION, ALTERATION, EXISTENCE,
AND DISSOLUTION – TERRITORIAL EXTENT AND SUBDIVISIONS,
ANNEXATION, CONSOLIDATION, AND DIVISION – ANNEXATION OR
DETACHMENT OF TERRITORY FOR SPECIAL PURPOSES]
The Court of Appeals held the circuit court erred in determining that an annexation plan
attempted to usurp law enforcement jurisdiction over certain lands owned and managed by
Maryland—National Capital Park and Planning Commission where the annexation plan
indicated that policing of the land would be performed “as permitted by law.”
Circuit Court for Prince George’s County
Case No. CAL16-29110
Argued: October 4, 2018
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
OF MARYLAND
No. 21
September Term, 2018
THE TOWN OF FOREST HEIGHTS
v.
THE MARYLAND-NATIONAL CAPITAL
PARK AND PLANNING COMISSION, ET
AL.
Barbera, C.J.
Greene,
*Adkins,
McDonald,
Watts,
Hotten,
Getty,
JJ.
Opinion by Getty, J.
Adkins, Watts, and Hotten, JJ., dissent.
Filed: April 5, 2019
*Adkins, J., now retired, participated in the
Pursuant to Maryland Uniform Electronic Legal
hearing and conference of this case while an
Materials Act
(§§ 10-1601 et seq. of the State Government Article) this document is authentic. active member of this Court; after being recalled
pursuant to Maryland Constitution, Article IV,
2019-04-09
16:09-04:00 Section 3A, she also participated in the decision
and adoption of this opinion
Suzanne C. Johnson, Clerk
In the present appeal, we are asked to determine whether a proposed municipal
annexation, that encompasses an area consisting entirely of tax-exempt properties, requires
consent from the owners of such properties pursuant to Local Government Article (“LG”)
§ 4-403(b)(2). Additionally, we are asked to determine whether the proposed annexation
plan of the Town of Forest Heights (“Forest Heights”) attempts to usurp law enforcement
jurisdiction over certain lands contained within the proposed annexation area that are
owned and operated by the Maryland—National Capital Park and Planning Commission
(“MNCPPC”).
In its writ of certiorari, the Town of Forest Heights presents us with the following
questions for review:
1. Did the circuit court err when it invalidated two resolutions of the Town of
Forest Heights that, collectively, annexed into the Town approximately 737 acres
of land without the consent of the owners of 25% of the assessed value of the
lands annexed by each resolution, where all the annexed lands were tax-exempt,
and where, consistent with City of Salisbury v. Banker’s Life, 21 Md. App. 396(1974), the owners of the lands were not required to provide their consents to the
annexation?
2. Did the circuit court err when it determined that a portion of the Town’s
Annexation Plan violates Md. Code, Local Gov’t § 4-104(b) and Land Use § 17-
303(a), and, as a result, ordered that the Town may not exercise law enforcement
on any land owned by Maryland-National Park and Planning Commission?
We answer both questions in the affirmative, finding first that the 25% property
owner consent requirement of LG § 4-403(b)(2) does not encompass tax-exempt property
owners. Second, we conclude that the language contained within the annexation plan was
appropriately conditioned as to avoid any attempted divestment, duplication, or usurpation
of law enforcement jurisdiction over certain properties owned and managed by MNCPPC.
BACKGROUND
Petitioner, Forest Heights is a municipal corporation located within Prince George’s
County that spans 306 acres of land southeast of Maryland’s border with the District of
Columbia. In terms of municipal services, the Town provides road maintenance, street
lighting, garbage collection, police, and code enforcement to its residents. Within the
borders of Forest Heights are two public parks owned and maintained by Respondent,
MNCPPC.
Since its incorporation in 1949, Forest Heights has extended its corporate limits five
times excluding the annexations at issue within this appeal. On April 20, 2016, the Town
Council of Forest Heights introduced two annexation resolutions titled annexation
resolutions No. 01-2016 and 02-2016.1 The proposed extensions are comprised of several
tax-exempt properties owned by MNCPPC, Prince George’s County, the Board of
Education of Prince George’s County, the State of Maryland, the United States, and the
Oxon Hill Methodist Church.2
Annexation resolution No. 01-2016 encompasses 446.88 acres of land located west
of Forest Heights that extends to the boundary line of Washington, D.C. The proposed
annexation area of resolution No. 01-2016 includes land owned by the federal government,
1
Forest Heights refers to these annexation resolutions No. 01-2016 and 02-2016 as
extensions six and seven, collectively. The term extension is a colloquialism for an
annexation, because annexations typically extend a municipality’s corporate boundaries.
2
The property located within the annexation area owned by the church is a cemetery and
not the church itself.
2
under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service, including Oxon Cove Park and Oxon
Hill Farm, 3 and land owned by MNCPPC.
Annexation resolution 02-2016 encompasses 289.97 acres of land located to the
south of Forest Heights. The land falling within the proposed annexation area is owned by
Prince George’s County, the Board of Education of Prince George’s County, MNCPPC,
the State of Maryland, the federal government, and the Oxon Hill Methodist Church.
Specifically, the annexation includes Oxon Hill Manor, the Potomac Vista Recreational
Area, Betty Blume Neighborhood Park, Southlawn Local Park, John Hanson Montessori
School, Oxon Hill High School, several undeveloped lots, and portions of the Washington
Circumferential Highway, commonly known as the Capital Beltway (i.e. Interstates 95 and
495).
Together, the two annexation resolutions encompass an area of 736.85 acres which
would more than double the corporate limits of Forest Heights. The proposed annexation
area contains no residential properties and no registered voters reside therein. Forest
Heights did not obtain consent from any of the property owners because the Town believed
that – pursuant to LG § 4-403 – such consent was not required because all of the property
owners enjoyed tax-exempt status. In total, MNCPPC owns seven properties within the
proposed annexation area and Prince George’s County owns one. All properties involved
in the proposed annexations are located within a special district for planning and zoning
3
These properties constitute a national historic district, listed on the National Register of
Historic Places and include park facilities and a living history farm museum.
3
demarcated as the “Maryland-Washington Regional District.”4 In addition, the properties
also fall within a largely overlapping special district for managing parklands known as the
“Maryland-Washington Metropolitan District.”
In 2014, Forest Heights attempted to annex the same properties at issue within the
instant appeal. Although the State and federal governments did not object to the prior
annexation attempt, Prince George’s County (“the County”) and MNCPPC opposed the
annexation and spearheaded a judicial challenge in response. In that case, the attempted
annexation was invalidated due to certain procedural deficiencies.5
On April 20, 2016, Forest Heights adopted annexation plans for annexation
resolutions No. 01-2016 and 02-2016. A public hearing regarding the two annexation
resolutions was held on June 6, 2016, and the resolutions were passed. On the same day,
4
A special district “means a special tax area or district, sanitary district, park, or planning
district . . . or public agency exercising specific powers in a defined area that does not
exercise general municipal functions.” LG § 4-104(a). Special districts are generally
protected from certain municipal action, including but not limited to municipal tax
exemption and zoning. See LG § 4-104(c), (e)(1). These special districts were first
established by the Regional District Act (“RDA”), which is now codified as Division II
(Titles 14-27) of the Land Use Article. This Court has previously summarized that the
RDA regulates “planning and zoning within the Regional District, which includes most of
Prince George's and Montgomery Counties. To execute this delegation, the RDA divides
broadly authority related to zoning, planning, and other land use matters between the
county (district) councils, the [MNCPPC], and the county planning boards.” Cty. Council
of Prince George’s Cty. v. Zimmer Dev. Co., 444 Md. 490, 525 (2015). The Act also
regulates the authority of MNCPPC. Id. at 526-27. See also infra note 20 (detailing
MNCPPC’s statutory powers and responsibilities).
5
The attempted annexation in 2014 was ultimately declared a nullity because Forest
Heights failed to formally notify the Prince George’s County Executive, as required by
statute and failed to include a particular lot in the notice of annexation.
4
both MNCPPC and Prince George’s County submitted letters of opposition to Jacqueline
Goodall, the Mayor of Forest Heights, requesting that the properties under their jurisdiction
be removed from the annexation areas.
Over a month later, MNCPPC and the County filed a complaint for declaratory
judgment in the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County challenging both annexations
and seeking a declaratory judgment that the annexation resolutions were a nullity. The
complaint against Forest Heights joined as parties the State of Maryland and the federal
government. On August 25, the State of Maryland filed a notice of voluntary dismissal
pursuant to Maryland Rule 2-506(a) to be excluded from the matter. Similarly, on
November 21, the United States government filed a stipulation of dismissal. The circuit
court granted both motions for dismissal.6
Forest Heights filed a Motion to Dismiss or for Summary Judgment on October 31,
2016 and renewed this Motion on April 10, 2017. Nine days later, MNCPPC filed a
response to Forest Heights’ motion accompanied by its own motion for summary judgment.
After a hearing held on June 21, 2017, the circuit court issued a written opinion and order
dated January 29, 2018, in which it found the annexation resolutions to be null and void.
Specifically, the court found the Town’s failure to obtain consent from the property owners
6
With the State and federal government dismissed from the action, Respondents consist of
MNCPPC, Prince George’s County, Prince George’s County Board of Education, and
Oxon Hill Methodist Church. However, MNCPPC alone filed briefs and argued on behalf
of Respondents.
5
fatal to the annexation and determined the annexation plan impermissibly attempted to
divest law enforcement jurisdiction from MNCPPC.
A notice of appeal of the circuit court’s judgment was filed on February 23, 2018,
by Forest Heights. While the appeal was pending before the Court of Special Appeals,
Forest Heights filed a petition for writ of certiorari with this Court, which we granted on
June 1, 2018. Town of Forest Heights v. Md.—National Capital Park and Planning
Comm’n, 459 Md. 400 (2018). Additional facts will be provided throughout our analysis.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
In cases where the focus is statutory interpretation, this Court’s primary goal is to
ascertain the purpose and intention of the General Assembly when they enacted the
statutory provisions. Washington Gas Light Co. v. Maryland Pub. Serv. Comm’n, 460 Md.
667, 682 (2018) (citing Shealer v. Straka, 459 Md. 68, 84 (2018)). We have previously
commented that within the context of statutory interpretation
[t]his Court provides judicial deference to the policy decisions enacted into law by
the General Assembly. We assume that the legislature’s intent is expressed in the
statutory language and thus our statutory interpretation focuses primarily on the
language of the statute to determine the purpose and intent of the General Assembly.
We begin our analysis by first looking to the normal, plain meaning of the language
of the statute, reading the statute as a whole to ensure that no word, clause, sentence
or phrase is rendered surplusage, superfluous, meaningless or nugatory. If the
language of the statute is clear and unambiguous, we need not look beyond the
statute’s provisions and our analysis ends. Occasionally we see fit to examine
extrinsic sources of legislative intent merely as a check of our reading of a statute’s
plain language. In such instances, we may find useful the context of a statute, the
overall statutory scheme, and archival legislative history of relevant enactments.
Brown v. State, 454 Md. 546, 550–51 401 (2017) (citing Phillips v. State, 451 Md. 180,
196-197 (2017)). Additionally, we have indicated that, in situations where “the plain
6
language of a statute is ‘subject to more than one reasonable interpretation, the statutory
language is ambiguous.’” Koste v. Town of Oxford, 431 Md. 14, 29 (2013) (quoting
Lockshin v. Semsker, 412 Md. 257, 276 (2010)). Further,
[w]here the words of a statute are ambiguous and subject to more than one
reasonable interpretation, or where the words are clear and unambiguous when
viewed in isolation, but become ambiguous when read as part of a larger statutory
scheme, a court must resolve the ambiguity by searching for legislative intent in
other indicia, including the history of the legislation or other relevant sources
intrinsic and extrinsic to the legislative process.
Gardner v. State, 420 Md. 1, 9 (2011) (quoting State v. Johnson, 415 Md. 413, 421-22
(2010)).
In addition, this Court’s inquiry is not limited to the particular statutory provisions
at issue on appeal. Rather, as we have recently noted, “[t]his Court may also analyze the
statute’s ‘relationship to earlier and subsequent legislation, and other material that fairly
bears on the fundamental issue of legislative purpose or goal, which becomes the context
within which we read the particular language before us in a given case.’” Blackstone v.
Sharma, 461 Md. 86, 114 (2018) (quoting Kaczorowski v. Mayor & City Council of
Baltimore, 309 Md. 505, 515 (1987)).
DISCUSSION
Article 11E of the Maryland Constitution, commonly referred to as the “Municipal
Home Rule Amendment” was enacted by act of the General Assembly and ratified by
voters in November 1954. 1954 Md. Laws ch. 53; Legis. Council of Md., Report to the
7
General Assembly of 1955, 217.7 This constitutional amendment granted specific home
rule powers to municipalities. Md. Const., art. 11E. After the ratification of Article 11E,
it was necessary for the General Assembly to pass new legislation to create a statutory
scheme to implement this home rule authority. Legis. Council of Md., Report to the
General Assembly of 1955, 308.
In 1955, the General Assembly enacted the predecessor to the current Subtitle 4 of
the Local Government Article. Article 23A § 19, (1955 Md. Laws ch. 423; Legis. Council
of Md., Report to the General Assembly of 1955, 3, 217). In their report to the General
Assembly, the Legislative Council of Maryland explained that the legislation proposed for
introduction in 1955 was a companion to the 1954 Constitutional Amendment and was
necessary for the newly established municipal home-rule powers by “establishing
procedures to be followed in amending town charters, repealing town charters, [and]
annexing territory to towns[.]”8 Legis. Council of Md., Report to the General Assembly of
1955, 217.
7
The Legislative Council of Maryland was created in June 1939 and existed through 1975.
Maryland State Law Library, Scanned Collections,
https://www.lawlib.state.md.us/collections/scannedcollections.html
[https://perma.cc/7ESY-KY6Z]. It was statutorily required to hold meetings at least once
every three months. Hugh A. Bone, Maryland’s Legislative Council in Action, Nat’l Mun.
Rev. Vol. XXXI, No. 3 Mar. 1942 at 2-5. Primarily, the Council heard witness testimony
on potential problems, researched issues facing the General Assembly during legislative
interims, and drafted legislation. Id. The Council’s reports summarized proposed
legislation, provided minutes of the Council’s meetings, and provided copies of bills
developed by the Council. Id.8
The Legislative Council of Maryland noted, “[a]s to the method of annexing territories,
Mr. Johnson stated that, should the Home Rule Amendment pass, the General Assembly
would be prohibited from passing legislation on this subject and thus there would have to
8
Although the power of annexation was not constitutionally granted to
municipalities by the 1954 Constitutional Amendment, the statute passed the following
year granted municipalities the authority to annex real property to expand their corporate
limits. 1955 Md. Laws ch. 423. See generally LG § 4-401 (empowering municipalities to
annex lands that are “contiguous and adjoining” to the borders of the municipality, not
contained within another municipality, and which will not create an “enclave” – an
unincorporated area surrounded on all sides by land within a municipality); LG § 4-403
(imposing certain limits on the annexation powers of a municipal corporation).
Primarily, there are two ways through which a municipality may initiate an
annexation – by petition or through municipal legislative enactment. LG § 4-415(d). See
also LG §§ 4-404, 4-403. First, an annexation may be initiated by petition if it is signed
by a certain percentage of registered voters residing within the proposed annexation area
and a certain percentage of those owning property within the area. LG § 4-404(a). Next,
the presiding officer of a municipality’s legislative body must verify that the petition meets
the statutory requirements and then must introduce a related annexation resolution before
the municipal legislative body. LG § 4-404(b), (c).
The second method, which was used by Forest Heights in the present appeal,
commences with an annexation resolution introduced before the appropriate municipal
be some new procedure set up.” Legis. Council of Md., Report to the General Assembly
of 1955, 308. The Council further noted that if procedures regulating such issues were not
codified into statute promptly, the authority to draft procedures relating to these areas of
municipal governance would fall to municipal corporations themselves. Id. at 355.
9
legislative body. Such resolution must be filed in accordance with the procedure for
municipal legislative enactments and amendments applicable to the municipality’s charter.
LG § 4-403(a). A municipality’s ability to annex territory is limited by certain consent
requirements, which – in some circumstances – require the municipality to obtain a certain
level of consent from any registered voters residing within the area and from those who
own property within the area. See LG § 4-403(b). An annexation resolution must describe
the area intended to be annexed and provide a “detailed description of the conditions and
circumstances that apply to: (i) the change in boundaries; and (ii) the residents and property
in the area to be annexed.” LG § 4-403(c).
A. The 25% Consent Requirement of LG § 4-403(b)(2) Does Not Require Consent
from the Owners of Tax-Exempt Property.
While LG § 4-401 is the primary source of authority through which a municipality
may annex territories and expand its corporate boundaries, LG § 4-403(b) limits such
annexation powers by requiring the consent of both registered voters and property owners
in the manner provided by the statute which, in pertinent part, provides the following:
(b) Before an annexation resolution is introduced, the legislative body shall obtain
consent from:
(1) at least 25% of the registered voters who are residents in the area to be
annexed; and
(2) the owners of at least 25% of the assessed valuation of the real property
in the area to be annexed.
LG. § 4-403(b). For the annexation proposed by Forest Heights, no registered voters
resided within the areas encompassed by annexation resolutions 01-2016 and 02-2016.
Thus, our primary focus is the 25% consent requirement of LG § 4-403(b)(2) and whether
the consent of tax-exempt property owners is mandated. Put narrowly, our analysis will
10
focus on the term “assessed valuation” as utilized within LG § 4-403(b)(2) and whether
tax-exempt properties contribute to and constitute part of the assessed valuation of a
proposed annexation area.
Prior to 1971, tax-exempt property was not assessed for taxation. Legis. Council of
Md., Report to the General Assembly of 1955, at 209-10 (1954); City of Salisbury v.
Banker’s Life, 21 Md. App. 396, 404 (1974). Consequently, tax-exempt property included
within an area that a municipality intended to annex prior to 1971 did not have an “assessed
valuation” and, therefore, municipalities were not required to obtain consent from such
property owners.
In 1971, the General Assembly enacted a statute that requires that tax-exempt
property be assessed. 1971 Md. Laws ch. 361 § 1; Banker’s Life, 21 Md. App. at 403-04.
Initially codified as Article 81, § 232B, these statutory provisions are currently § 7-106 of
the Tax – Property Article (“TP”) and provide the following:
(a) Except for real property owned by the federal government, real property that is
exempt by law from the property tax shall be assessed under this article and in the
manner required by the Director.
(b) The assessments of exempt real property shall be maintained in the records of
the Department and of the supervisor in each county in which the exempt property
is located.
(c) For the purpose of distributing State funds, the assessments of exempt property
may not be included in the total assessment of all property.9
9
Since the original enactment of the statute, the statutory language has been modified to
some degree. As initially enacted, Article 81, § 232B stated the following:
Notwithstanding the provisions of § 9 of this article excluding exempt property from
assessment for purposes of ordinary taxation and excepting the property of the
United States from this section, all real property and any improvements thereon
11
In the present appeal, Forest Heights and Amicus Curiae, Maryland Municipal
League, Inc. (“MML”), argue that the General Assembly’s enactment of Article 81, § 232B
created ambiguity into the overarching statutory scheme regulating annexations. Primarily,
they argue that this ambiguity was an unintended consequence which left one unable to
discern, purely based on reference to LG § 4-403, whether the owners of tax-exempt
properties ought to be included in consideration of the 25% consent requirement of LG §
4-403(b)(2).
On the other hand, MNCPPC asserts that the statute is not ambiguous and, under its
plain language, municipalities must obtain consent from the owners of tax-exempt
properties. In contrast, Forest Heights and MML rely upon the Court of Special Appeals’
decision in Banker’s Life which held that, pursuant to Art. 23A, § 19(b), a municipality is
not required to obtain consent from the owners of tax-exempt properties to effectuate an
annexation. Having established the relevant facts, the parties’ respective arguments and
the underlying statutory framework, we must now embark upon our journey of statutory
located in the State and exempted from the payment of any ordinary taxes on July
1, 1971 or becoming exempt at any time thereafter by any provisions of law shall
be valued and assessed from time to time as may be necessary and as directed by
the Director of the Department according to the method prescribed by this article by
persons authorized by the Director to perform such valuations. These valuations
shall be maintained in the records of the Department and of each county and
Baltimore City in which exempt property is located, in the manner required by the
Director. None of such valuations shall be included in the total assessment of all
property subject to State, county or city ordinary taxation for the purpose of
distribution of State moneys under any provision of law.
Md. Code (1957, 1973 Repl. Vol.), Art. 81 § 232B.
12
interpretation – an expedition that commences with a determination of whether the
language of LG § 4-403(b)(2) is ambiguous.
In accordance with the principles of statutory interpretation mentioned above, we
begin our inquiry by looking to the plain language of the statute to discern whether any
ambiguity exists. On its face, LG § 4-403(b)(2) is confusing because although the term
“assessed valuation” likely was intended to mean the value assessed to a particular property
for taxation purposes, the term is not defined within the Local Government Article. The
“assessed valuation” of residential or commercial properties in the context of municipal
annexations is easily understood. However, within the context of tax-exempt properties,
the statute’s meaning is uncertain because such properties are not subject to taxation. Thus,
we must determine whether a tax-exempt property is assessed and valued for tax purposes
by looking beyond the plain language of LG § 4-403.
There are potentially two different interpretations of the provision at issue. Forest
Heights and MML interpret the term “assessed valuation” as excluding tax-exempt
property and, therefore, contend that the consent of tax-exempt property owners is not
required under the statute. Conversely, MNCPPC argues that the statutory language is
clear on its face and “assessed valuation” encompasses tax-exempt property and therefore
mandates that an annexation requires consent from such property owners.
Ambiguity is present in situations where there are multiple reasonable, yet differing,
interpretations of the same statutory provision. Koste, 431 Md. at 29. See also Gardner,
420 Md. at 9. In terms of the provision at issue, no statutory definitions within the Local
Government Article aid in determining the meaning of “assessed valuation.” As previously
13
mentioned, the introduction of TP § 7-106 complicated Maryland’s statutory framework
surrounding municipal annexations. Prior to its passage in 1971, it is clear that tax-exempt
property was not assessed and could not be subject to the 25% consent requirement of LG
§ 4-403(b)(2).
While the words “assess(ed)” and “valuation” are not defined within the Local
Government Article, the Tax – Property Article does contain definitions for the terms
“assess” and “assessment.” See TP § 1-101. The definition of “assess” differs depending
upon whether the property in question is real or personal property. In terms of real
property, the statute defines “assess” as “determin[ing] the phased-in full cash value or use
value to which the property tax rate may be applied[.]” TP § 1-101(b). Similarly, for real
property, the statute defines the term “assessment” as meaning “the phased-in full cash
value or use value to which the property tax rate may be applied.” TP § 1-101(c).
Based on these statutory definitions, it is evident that the word “assessment” is an
estimate of the value of a property which is then used to determine the overall tax liability
due on that particular property. Tax-exempt property is assessed but not taxed. Forest
Heights notes that tax-exempt property is “not subject to… the burdens of supporting a
municipal government,” and, therefore, does not appear on the tax roll. See TP § 7-210(a)
(exempting from property tax any lands owned by federal, State, county, municipal
corporation, or an agency or instrumentality of the preceding entities).
As defined by the Tax – Property Article, an “assessment roll” is “the official listing
of assessments of property required under § 2-202(3) of this article.” TP § 1-101(d). TP
§ 2-202(3) provides that the Director of the State Department of Assessments and Taxation
14
has the power “to direct that the Department enter all taxable property on the assessment
rolls, and regardless of whether the property is owned by an individual, corporation, or
some other person, to value alike all property of a like kind.” TP § 2-202(3). Additionally,
the Article defines a “tax roll” as “the assessment roll to which the property tax rate has
been applied and on which the property tax on each property is shown.” TP § 1-101(nn).
Therefore, these two distinct types of rolls exist that reinforce the distinction
between assessment and taxation. The assessment rolls contain the list of all properties
that are assessed; in contrast, tax rolls are a specific type of assessment roll – one to which
the tax rate is applied to calculate the tax burden associated with a particular property. Tax-
exempt properties are assessed and appear on an assessment roll yet do not appear on a tax
roll. Prior to the enactment of Art. 81, § 232B in 1971, tax exempt properties were not
assessed and there was no distinction between tax and assessment rolls. Clearly, at the
time, tax exempt properties were not considered relative to the 25% consent requirement.
Banker’s Life, 21 Md. App. at 402-3.10
The Legislative Council’s Report to the General Assembly of 1971 provides the
following explanation for the adoption of Art. 81, § 232B:
This legislation offered by the Committee on Taxation and Fiscal Matters is related
to the property tax rearrangement legislation. Although it arose from 1970 bills
requiring the making of payments-in-lieu of taxes for some kinds of tax exempt
property, the Committee found that it was impossible to consider those bills properly
because tax exempt property is not valued and assessed. The Committee feels that
10
Maryland’s system of municipal annexations has undergone few modifications since
1971. For a brief overview of municipal annexation procedure prior to the recodification
of the Maryland Code, see Christopher Burlee Kehoe, Annexation Procedures in Maryland
at 3-20 (MICPEL 1989).
15
the lack of any valuation for tax exempt property is an oversight in the State’s
property and assessment laws which needs to be corrected. This information
will provide a basis for consideration of payments-in-lieu proposals and also for
evaluation of property tax exemptions.
The bill below provides that exempt property will be valued, as the Department of
Assessments and Taxation directs, by teams of assessors and completed by January
1, 1973. The valuations will be maintained separately and will not affect any
assessable base on which State aid is computed.
Legis. Council of Md., Report to the General Assembly of 1971, 253 (emphasis added).
Clearly, in drafting Art. 81, § 232B, the General Assembly had intended to solve the policy
issue that the State lacked any methodology of determining the potential value of tax-
exempt properties for calculating payment-in-lieu of taxes proposals.
Accordingly, the Legislative Council’s Report of 1971 indicates that the policy
supporting the assessment of tax-exempt properties is to “provide a basis for consideration
of payments-in-lieu proposals and also for evaluation of property tax exemptions.” Id.
Although payments in lieu of taxes (“PILOTs”) have been broadly expanded in present
times,11 they were historically interrelated to attempts to reduce the financial impact of
State or federal tax exemptions on localities. For example, in the 1960s, the statute
governing the enumeration of taxable property, e.g. Art. 81, § 8, contained a provision
11
For example, Maryland provides PILOTs, for certain tax-exempt properties, to counties
and municipalities by statute. See Md. Code (1977, 2016 Repl. Vol.), Transportation § 6-
308(c) (establishing payments in lieu of taxes between the Maryland Port Administration
and counties to compensate those counties for the economic impact caused by the tax-
exemption of Maryland Port Administration properties located within a county’s borders).
See also Md. Code (1974, 2018 Repl. Vol.), Natural Resources (“NR”), §§ 5-212, 5-212.1
(providing that the State will make payments to counties, in which State forests or parks
are located, a certain percentage of revenues derived from these lands to offset the
economic impact counties experience by virtue of these properties’ tax-exempt status).
16
under which individuals who leased or borrowed certain lands from the federal government
for specific for-profit purposes,12 were subject to taxation as if they were the owner of the
property. Art. 81, § 8(e). However, this provision did not apply to “federal or State
property for which negotiated payments are made in lieu of taxes.” Id. Because property
held by such entities was tax exempt, local governments would have difficulty determining
the sufficiency of an entity’s payment in lieu of tax relative to the value of property the
entity held. As indicated by the Council’s report, this was the foremost and primary reason
the General Assembly enacted 1971 Md. Laws ch. 361 § 1.
The General Assembly did not express an intention to modify the statutory
framework surrounding municipal annexations because it never referenced the relevant
statutory provisions regarding municipal home rule. Accordingly, we conclude that the
General Assembly’s introduction and enactment of 1971 Md. Laws ch. 361 § 1 was aimed
at solving “an oversight in the State’s property and assessment laws” and the General
Assembly had no intention of modifying the statutory framework surrounding municipal
annexations. Legis. Council of Md., Report to the General Assembly of 1971, 253-54. The
General Assembly intended only to modify and improve the State’s ability to account for
tax-exempt properties existing within the State. Moreover, this legislative history is devoid
12
The statute is limited to those engaging in a for-profit business on leased or otherwise
occupied federal land and it exempts certain public facilities such as airports, parks,
markets, and fairgrounds if they are available for use by the general public. Md. Code
(1957, 1965 Repl. Vol.), Art. 81, § 8.
17
of any indication that the General Assembly intended to alter the 25% consent requirement
or amend municipal annexations generally. Id.
Although counties and certain planning agencies do not have a statutory right to
veto municipal annexations, the General Assembly has provided to them certain procedural
leverage over the annexation process. The relevant statute was enacted in 1975, (1975 Md.
Laws ch. 693 (H.B. 534)), and is currently codified in Title 4 of the Local Government
Article. First, LG § 4-406 provides that a municipality must provide notice of an
annexation to the governing body of the county in which the municipality is located and
any regional or State planning agencies with jurisdiction within the county. LG § 4-406(c).
Second, county, State, and regional planning agencies possess the “first right to be heard”
at public annexation hearings. LG § 4-406(d). Third, a county’s governing body by a two-
thirds vote may require that the annexation be put to referendum within the proposed
annexation area. LG § 4-410. This essentially halts a municipality’s annexation resolution
pending a successful referendum.
Both Forest Heights and MML argue that even though counties enjoy the right to
petition a proposed annexation to referendum, the legislative history of H.B. 534 indicates
that the General Assembly did not intend to grant counties the authority or ability to veto
a proposed municipal annexation. When attempting to ascertain legislative intent, this
Court focuses on the specific intent of the General Assembly and not the intent of witnesses
supporting or opposing a particular piece of proposed legislation. Anne Arundel County v.
City of Annapolis, 352 Md. 117, 128 n.4 (1998).
18
However, witness testimony contributes to statutory interpretation because
“[a]lthough the comments of those witnesses do not reflect legislative intent directly, they
do help indirectly by identifying the issues the Legislature sought to address.” Id. In his
testimony on H.B. 534, Jon Burrell (at that time Executive Director of MML) stated that
MML had historically opposed granting counties the authority to force an annexation to
referendum but that a compromise was reached between MML and the Maryland
Association of Counties (“MACo”).13 See Bill File to H.B. 534, Testimony – Statement of
Jon Burrell, MML, in support of H.B. 534 (1975). Mr. Burrell testified that the introduction
of the two-thirds referendum requirement was intended merely to protect counties from
municipal annexations in situations where a municipal corporation had not provided the
county with an adequate justification.14 Id. Specifically, he testified that the referendum
provision
13
Regarding the provisions of H.B. 534, Judge Hotten writes, “[t]his expansion of county
annexation rights implies the General Assembly’s intent to provide counties, a tax-exempt
entity, with authority over annexations initiated by municipalities.” Dissenting Opinion at
13-14 (Hotten, J. dissenting). However, under the compromise forged in the General
Assembly between MML and MACo, the power granted to counties to force a referendum
is distinctly limited and does not extend to an authority to consent or deny municipal
annexations. See LG § 4-410(a). A county is merely empowered to force the annexation
to a referendum, where citizens residing within the area ultimately determine the fate of
that annexation. Id.
14
Judge Hotten’s Dissenting opinion takes the position that counties and similarly situated
entities have an “inherent right . . . to participate in municipal annexations.” Dissenting
Opinion at 14 (Hotten, J. dissenting). However, this position conflates a right to participate
with a right to unilaterally halt certain municipal annexations, i.e. those consisting of
entirely tax-exempt property. Moreover, as the provisions of H.B. 534 make clear, counties
have a limited role in the annexation process and the ultimate power to halt a referendum
lies with those residing in the area not with a county itself. As the Attorney General has
19
would give assurance to the county government that, if they felt a referendum was
not held because of lack of sufficient knowledge of [the effects] of annexation or
because the petition fell just short of the requisite number of signatures, they then
would have a remedy to force a referendum in the area to be annexed while drawing
attention to their reasons for defeating the proposed annexation.
Id.
In addition to the above testimony, the Attorney General has issued several opinions
regarding the interplay between a property’s tax-exempt status and municipal annexation.
Although opinions by the Attorney General are merely persuasive and not binding upon
this Court, they are afforded considerable weight within the context of statutory
interpretation. State v. Crescent Cities Jaycees Foundation, Inc., 330 Md. 460, 470 (1993);
Read Drug & Chem. Co. v. Claypoole, 165 Md. 250, 257 (1933). In considering opinions
by the Attorney General, this Court has previously commented that “[t]he Legislature is
presumed to be aware of the Attorney General’s statutory interpretation and, in the absence
of enacting any change to the statutory language, to acquiesce in the Attorney General’s
construction.” Chesek v. Jones, 406 Md. 446, 463 (2008) (citing Read Drug & Chemical
Co., 165 Md. at 257-58); Crescent Cities Jaycees Foundation, Inc., 330 Md. at 470.
In 1981, the Attorney General provided an unpublished opinion to Lawrence E.
Speelman, the county attorney for Frederick County, regarding a county’s ability to veto a
proposed municipal annexation. 15 66 Op. Att’y Gen. Md. 267 (1981). The synopsis
consistently opined, absent specific statutory language, tax-exempt properties are not
included in the 25% consent requirement of LG § 4-403(b)(2).
15
Although the opinion itself was not published, a synopsis of the opinion was printed in
66 Op. Att’y Gen. Md. 267 (1981). Opinion of the Attorney General Op. No. 81-020
addressed to Lawrence E. Speelman County Attorney, Frederick County Commissioners
20
printed in the published volumes of the Attorney General summaries the opinion as
follows:
Under Article 23A, § 19, counties do not have the power to consent to or to veto a
municipal annexation of territory, even where county-owned land is located in that
territory. However, counties do have the right to be notified of the proceedings, to
be heard first at a public hearing, to receive an outline for the extension of services
and public facilities to the territory to be annexed, and to petition the annexation
resolution to a public referendum of the residents in that territory.
Id.
A subsequent opinion by the Attorney General considered whether the City of Havre
de Grace could annex an uninhabited island located in the Susquehanna River. 87 Md.
Att’y Gen. Op. 161 (2002). In a footnote, the Attorney General indicated that Maryland
has “a policy against a county referendum or veto.” Id. Further, in distinguishing between
a county’s ability to veto by forcing an annexation to a county-wide referendum, the
Attorney General opined, “[t]his amendment was the result of deliberations by
representatives of the Maryland Municipal League and the Maryland Association of
Counties. The purpose of the legislation was to enhance the role of the counties without
abandoning the policy against a county-wide referendum or county government approval
requirement.” Id.
The policy underlying this enactment, as explained by the Attorney General, largely
mirrors that advanced by Forest Heights and MML in this case. In sum, this policy
(Sept. 18, 1981). In this letter, the Attorney General cites to Banker’s Life, 21 Md. App. at
404, for the proposition that the consent of tax-exempt property owners within a proposed
annexation area is not required to effectuate a municipal annexation. Id.
21
underscores that a county or other similarly situated tax-exempt entity was never intended
to have the ability to block or veto a municipal annexation and supports the position that
the 25% consent requirement of LG § 4-403(b)(2) excludes the owners of tax-exempt
property. 16
Both parties in this case urge this Court to turn to the decision in Banker’s Life for
guidance. Forest Heights and MML argue that Banker’s Life was correct and, although not
binding upon this Court, should guide our analysis because it properly ascertained the
legislative intent behind the pertinent statutes that have been followed for over forty years
in shaping Maryland’s procedure for municipal annexations. In contrast, MNCPPC
responds that Banker’s Life is distinguishable from the instant appeal or was incorrectly
decided, because the controlling statutory authority is clear and unambiguous.
In Banker’s Life, the Court of Special Appeals considered a proposed annexation by
the City of Salisbury that encompassed both publicly and privately-owned lands. Banker’s
Life, 21 Md. App. at 400. Of primary import, the decision in Banker’s Life considered the
first question presented before this Court, i.e. whether the present day 25% consent
16
As demonstrated, this situation is not limited specifically to counties. This also
encompasses land owned by the State, the United States, and regional planning agencies,
such as MNCPPC, all of which are exempt from property taxes pursuant to TP § 7-210.
The term “count(ies)” will be momentarily used to represent any of these similarly situated
entities for simplicity’s sake within the limited context of this particular argument.
22
requirement of LG § 4-403(b)(2) required municipalities to obtain consent from the owners
of tax-exempt lands.17 Id. at 400-01.
One such publicly-owned property that the City of Salisbury attempted to annex
was owned by the Wicomico County Board of Education and was tax-exempt due to its
status as an educational property. Id. at 399-400. In contrast to the instant appeal, the City
of Salisbury obtained consent from the Wicomico County Board of Education and counted
the Board’s consent towards the 25% property owner consent threshold of Art. 23A, §
19(b). Id. at 400-01. In response, four property owners challenged the annexation on the
basis that the Wicomico County Board of Education’s property was tax-exempt and should
not be included in a determination of whether the City of Salisbury had satisfied the 25%
property owner consent threshold. Id. at 400. Without the consent of the Wicomico County
Board of Education, the City of Salisbury’s proposed annexation fell short of the 25%
consent requirement. Id. at 401.
Ultimately, after determining that Art. 81, § 232B (currently LG § 4-403) was
ambiguous, the Court of Special Appeals briefly considered the legislative history and
concluded that the General Assembly did not intend the 25% property owner consent
requirement to require consent from the owners of tax-exempt properties contained within
a proposed annexation area. Id. at 404-05. It concluded that “the Legislature never
departed from an intent that only those who were to bear the financial burdens of a city
17
Banker’s Life was decided at a time before the recodification of Art. 81, 232B as LG §
4-40.
23
government by the payment of real property taxes were to be allowed a voice in the
annexation of real property to the municipal corporation.” Id. at 404. Therefore, the
intermediate appellate court voided the City of Salisbury’s annexation resolution because,
excluding the consent of the Wicomico County Board of Education, the City fell short of
the 25% consent required by statute.
Overall, we find MNCPPC’s arguments to overturn the policy articulated in
Banker’s Life unavailing. Although MNCPPC avers that there is no ambiguity and the
plain language of LG § 4-403 controls, we agree with the Court of Special Appeals that
ambiguity exists as to whether the statutory consent requirement includes tax-exempt
properties. As noted, both MNCPPC’s and Forest Heights’ interpretations of LG § 4-
403(b) are reasonable and we have no basis for determining which interpretation is
preferable; therefore, ambiguity exists and needs to be remedied. See Koste, 431 Md. at
29.
Although MNCPPC argues that the instant case is distinguishable from Banker’s
Life, we do not find these arguments persuasive. MNCPPC contends that, if correctly
decided, Banker’s Life is distinguishable because the Court of Special Appeals merely
determined that the consent of a tax-exempt property owner such as the Wicomico County
Board of Education should not contribute towards the 25% consent requirement. MNCPPC
also contends that the procedural posture is different in the present case because the tax-
exempt property owners are not attempting to consent to municipal annexation. Here, the
tax-exempt property owners are attempting to prohibit a municipal annexation by
withholding consent. However, our independent review of the legislative intent for both
24
TP § 7-106 and LG § 4-403(b) is consistent with the decision in Banker’s Life.18 Our
review confirms that the General Assembly had no intention of modifying the annexation
procedures required of municipalities when it enacted TP § 7-106. The General Assembly
intended for only those subject to municipal taxation to participate in the consent
requirement of the annexation proceedings. 21 Md. App. 396, 404 (1974).
Additionally, MNCPPC contends that Banker’s Life is distinguishable because it
did not address situations in which proposed annexation areas consist of entirely tax-
exempt properties. However, on prior occasions, this Court has considered cases
concerning annexations consisting of entirely tax-exempt land without noting or invoking
a prohibition against the annexation of entirely tax-exempt property. See Koste, 431 Md.
at 19-21. Therefore, proposed annexation areas consisting of entirely tax-exempt
properties have previously succeeded and this fact has not historically been detrimental to
municipal annexations and should not stand to undermine the municipal annexation
underlying the instant appeal. In addition to the above considerations, a holding requiring
the consent of tax-exempt property owners to permit a municipal annexation would create
the potential of gross inequities between the State, federal, and county governments and
their authority to block or veto municipal annexation proceedings.19
18
The conclusion of Judge Watt’s Dissenting opinion suggests an override of Banker’s Life
based upon a plain meaning analysis. Dissenting Opinion at 1 (Watts, J. dissenting).
However, based on our review of the legislative history of the surrounding statutes, we
determine that Banker’s Life was correctly decided and should not be overruled simply
based upon the statute’s plain language.
19
Judge Hotten’s Dissenting opinion distinguishes this case from Banker’s Life on the basis
that the tax-exempt properties should be treated differently depending upon whether
owners of the tax-exempt property are attempting to accept or oppose the annexation.
25
As noted by Judge Hotten’s Dissent, MNCPPC occupies a unique statutory role that
distinguishes it from the Wicomico County Board of Education, the entity involved in
Banker’s Life. Dissenting Opinion at 14-16 (Hotten, J. dissenting). This necessitates a
brief discussion of MNCPPC, its role, and its associated powers. 20 MNCPPC is a state
Dissenting Opinion at 17-18 (Hotten, J. dissenting). Such a distinction would result in an
untenable position where the owners of tax-exempt properties can oppose annexation
proceedings but cannot approve them. Judge Hotten’s Dissenting opinion also offers a
plain meaning analysis of LG § 4-403(b)(2) that would include tax-exempt property in the
25% consent requirement. See Dissenting Opinion at 13-14 (Hotten, J. dissenting).
However, pursuant to TP § 7-106(a), property owned by the federal government is not
assessed and therefore does not constitute part of the assessed valuation of a proposed
annexation area. The result is a contradictory interpretation of LG § 4-403(b)(2), which
would take into account the consent of the State or a county but would specifically exclude
consent of the federal government, because the latter is not assessed. Therefore, holding
that the plain language of LG § 4-403(b)(2) requires consent from all owners of tax-exempt
property is inherently impractical. From a policy perspective, it would be unlikely that the
General Assembly intended this dichotomy between the treatment of federal and State tax-
exempt property for municipal annexations.
20
Primarily, MNCPPC’s relevant unique statutory powers involve: (1) enforcing certain
sections of the Capper-Cramton Act which regulates the acquisition of parklands within
the metropolitan district; and (2) acquiring interests in real property for preservation
purposes or for public recreation. LU § 15-302(3). NR § 5-1202. See also LU §§ 17-101;
17-108. The Commission holds such property for the general benefit of the State citizenry,
particularly those living in the metropolitan district. LU § 17-201. MNCPPC is statutorily
authorized to transfer any property no longer required for public use and may sell or
exchange any such land if the proceeds are used to construct, acquire, or improve other
MNCPPC properties. LU §§ 17-205, 17-206, 15-302(1). Any such property acquired or
held by MNCPPC is tax exempt. LU § 17-203. MNCPPC has some additional powers not
relevant to the instant appeal. See Zimmer Dev. Co., 444 Md. at 526-28. In terms of zoning,
the County Councils of particular counties (i.e. Montgomery and Prince George’s
Counties) act as district councils over land owned and maintained by MNCPPC and such
district councils maintain the authority to regulate zoning. LU §§ 22-101; 22-104(a). As
noted, Forest Heights does not regulate its lands through zoning.
26
agency established by § 15-101 of the Land Use Article (“LU”). It acts as a representative
of the state and the municipal home rule article of the Maryland Constitution (Article 11E)
does not apply to MNCPPC. See LU § 14-202. However, there is no indication within the
associated statutory framework that municipal annexation of MNCPPC property would
interfere with any of these responsibilities, nor are there any provisions that would grant
MNCPPC special status to veto a municipal annexation. Simply put, the Attorney
General’s discussion of a county’s inability to veto a municipal annexation applies equally
to MNCPPC and there is no worthwhile distinction which would warrant granting this
ability to MNCPPC.21
Further, we note that after the Banker’s Life decision, the Attorney General’s Office
reaffirmed its prior opinions stating that consent from the owners of tax-exempt property
is not required under municipal annexation statutes. In 1986, former Assistant Attorney
General Richard E. Israel replied to an inquiry from Elroy G. Boyer, the town attorney for
the Town of Betterton. Letter from Richard E. Israel, Assistant Attorney General, to Mr.
Elroy Boyer, Town Attorney for Betterton, (Apr. 10, 1986). The Town of Betterton had
21
The entire statutory framework is devoid of any language that grants authority to
MNCPPC over municipal annexations. In summation, although MNCPPC is tasked with
the unique role of managing preservation and recreational properties, there is no indication
in the statute that annexation of MNCPPC properties by a municipal corporation would in
any way affect these unique responsibilities. Although Judge Hotten’s Dissent points out
that MNCPPC’s role is unique, this unique role does not distinguish MNCPPC from a
County to the extent that it would warrant providing MNCPPC with the ability to veto a
municipal annexation, especially considering the longstanding prohibition against a
county’s ability to veto a municipal annexation. See Dissenting Opinion at 14 (Hotten, J.
dissenting).
27
sought advice regarding a proposed annexation of an area of uninhabited land adjacent to
the town.22 Id. Specifically, the Town of Betterton sought advice regarding the 25%
property-owner consent requirement and in response the Attorney General indicated that
“there was no initial consent requirement for annexation proceedings commenced by a
legislative body.” Id. The Attorney General opined that, based on the Court of Special
Appeals’ holding in Banker’s Life, obtaining consent from a non-resident owner, who was
a registered voter, was not necessary. Id. Therefore, the Attorney General has consistently
advised on the consent standard both prior and subsequent to the Court of Special Appeals’
decision in Banker’s Life. We find no basis to conclude that the Attorney General’s advice
was erroneous.
In summation, our review of the statute’s legislative history and relevant sources
clearly reveals that the General Assembly did not intend LG § 4-403(b)(2) to require
consent from the owners of tax-exempt properties. There is insufficient evidence to
support MNCPPC’s claim to the contrary and, therefore, we find MNCPPC’s calls to
overrule Banker’s Life unpersuasive. Accordingly, we hold that the 25% consent
requirement of LG § 4-403(b)(2) is not applicable to the owners of tax-exempt properties
and the circuit court’s conclusion to the contrary was erroneous.
22
This advice was made prior to the introduction of the Local Government Article when
Art. 23A § 19 controlled.
28
B. Forest Heights’ Annexation Plan Does Not Attempt to Divest, Usurp, or Duplicate
Law Enforcement Jurisdiction over Lands Owned and Managed by MNCPPC.
The circuit court found certain provisions of Forest Heights’ annexation plan invalid
as an improper usurpation of MNCPPC’s law enforcement jurisdiction over lands that it
owns and operates. Specifically, the circuit court concluded that if Forest Heights were to
exercise police jurisdiction over MNCPPC property it would contravene both LG § 4-
104(b) and LU § 17-303(a). Based upon these conclusions, the circuit court ordered that
Forest Heights shall not exercise law enforcement jurisdiction over MNCPPC property.
Forest Heights contends such findings are an erroneous interpretation of the
annexation plan for resolution No. 01-2016. Alternatively, Forest Heights asserts that the
circuit court lacked a present justiciable controversy to support its conclusion on this point
because the court had already invalidated its annexation resolutions and, therefore, a
determination based upon its annexation plan was unnecessary. MNCPPC responds that
the circuit court properly precluded Forest Heights from exercising law enforcement
jurisdiction on MNCPPC property.
Under the statutes controlling municipal annexations, a municipal corporation must
devise an annexation plan and adopt such plan through an annexation resolution. See
generally LG § 4-415. Annexation plans are separate from and do not constitute a part of
the annexation resolution. LG § 4-415(a). An annexation plan must describe the intended
land use of the proposed annexation area, set forth a schedule regarding municipal services,
and describe how a municipality plans to finance any extensions of municipal services to
the proposed annexation area. LG § 4-415(b). Additionally, an annexation plan must “be
29
presented so as to demonstrate the available land for public facilities that may be
considered reasonably necessary for the proposed use, including facilities for schools,
water or sewage treatment, libraries, recreation, or fire or police services.” LG § 4-415.
Several statutory provisions regulate and limit shared law enforcement jurisdiction
between MNCPPC, counties, and municipalities. First, LG § 4-104(b)(1) provides,
“[e]xcept as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, a municipality located in a special
district may not exercise, divest, or duplicate in the municipality’s corporate limits any
special power or duty conferred on the special district.”23 Second, pursuant to LU § 17-
303, park police and Prince George’s County police have concurrent jurisdiction over
particular areas under MNCPPC’s jurisdiction.24 Third, MNCPPC and municipal
corporations are permitted to enter into mutual aid agreements under which park or
municipal police may act outside of their jurisdiction and within the jurisdiction of the
other entity. Md. Code (2001, 2018 Repl. Vol.), Crim. Proc. (“CP”) § 2-105(e)(1).25
23
In its brief, MNCPPC attempts to argue that the Commission “enjoys enhanced authority
on its property arising out of jurisdiction over zoning administration and park stewardship,
therefore express consent was required.” However, as Forest Heights notes, the Town does
not “approve subdivisions, plan for future land uses or regulate the use of land through
zoning regulations[.]” Therefore, MNCPPC’s argument on this point is unavailing.
24
Municipal corporations do not share concurrent jurisdiction with MNCPPC over areas
within MNCPPC’s jurisdiction. The statute explicitly limits the concurrent jurisdiction
between MNCPPC, Prince George’s, and Montgomery County police. See LU § 17-
303(a). Therefore, Forest Heights has no independent authority to exercise police
jurisdiction over the lands in question.
25
The statute controlling mutual aid agreements reads, in pertinent part,
[t]he governing body of a county or municipal corporation or the Maryland—
National Capital Park and Planning Commission may make a reciprocal agreement
for the period that it considers advisable with the District of Columbia or a county,
30
Fourth, a municipality cannot “exercise its powers of annexation or incorporation as to
affect the power of . . . [MNCPPC] relating to zoning[.]” LG § 4-104(e).
Overall, the circuit court erred in determining that Forest Heights’ annexation plan
attempted to divest or duplicate law enforcement jurisdiction from MNCPPC. The
annexation plan for annexation resolution No. 01-2016, which the circuit court invalidated,
includes the following provision:
Police Service. The Annexation property is served by the U.S. Park Police and
Maryland National Capital Park Police, and also, as permitted by law, may be
further served by the Forest Heights Police Department on a limited basis for
purposes of police protection. Certain services may also be provided by the Prince
George’s County Police Department pursuant to a Memorandum of Understanding
regarding jurisdictional police services entered into between the Town and the
County governments. Such services may commence after annexation, using
existing personnel and equipment, at the same time or similar level of service now
being provided to the Town in areas where police protective services are provided
on a concurrent basis with another police agency.
(Emphasis added).
The annexation plan’s language is hypothetical, indefinite, and narrowly tailored.
The plan indicates the proposed annexation area is currently policed by U.S. Park Police
and Maryland National Capital Park Police. However, it provides that Forest Heights may
municipal corporation, or the Maryland—National Capital Park and Planning
Commission, within or outside the State, and establish and carry out a plan to
provide mutual aid by providing its police officers and other officers, employees,
and agents[.]
CP § 2-105(e)(1). Such mutual aid agreements may also empower park police to exercise
jurisdiction outside of park property. See LU § 17-303(a). In certain situations, police may
also act outside their jurisdiction if in response to a request by another officer, part of a
joint investigation, or in response to an emergency. CP § 2-102(b).
31
exercise law enforcement jurisdiction over the area “as permitted by law[.]” As is evident
from the statutory framework explained above, Forest Heights has no default authority to
exercise police jurisdiction over lands contained within the proposed annexation area. The
primary manner through which Forest Heights could exercise police jurisdiction over these
lands, notwithstanding the limited exceptions in CP § 2-102(b), involves entering into a
mutual aid agreement with MNCPPC authorizing such action. See supra note 25.
Therefore, the annexation plan does not expressly indicate that Forest Heights
intends to exercise law enforcement jurisdiction on the lands in question. Quite simply,
the annexation plan tentatively indicates that Forest Heights may exercise law enforcement
jurisdiction on the properties to the extent cognizable under the law. A mutual aid
agreement is the appropriate avenue through which this end may be achieved. Thus, the
circuit court’s conclusion that the annexation would, in fact, usurp law enforcement
jurisdiction from MNCPPC was unduly speculative and erroneous.
Indeed, the annexation plan does not purport to grant to Forest Heights immediate
unilateral authority to police land owned by MNCPPC. Interpreted fairly, the plain
language of the annexation plan suggests that Forest Heights would likely acquire a mutual
aid agreement setting forth an agreement between the Town and MNCPPC with respect to
policing the proposed annexation area.26 It is quite clear that this is the only method
26
Based on the text of the annexation plan, we presume that if Forest Heights and
MNCPPC were unable to come to an agreement regarding joint policing of the associated
properties then Forest Heights would be unable to exercise police jurisdiction over the
lands, because a mutual aid agreement between the two parties is the primary method
32
through which Forest Heights could acquire law enforcement jurisdiction over land owned
and managed by MNCPPC. See CP § 2-105(e). It is possible that Forest Heights’
annexation plan could have purported to divest or duplicate the law enforcement
jurisdiction of MNCPPC, but this would require more direct and less hypothetical language
in the annexation plan – language indicating that Forest Heights intends to exercise law
enforcement jurisdiction on MNCPPC land but without a clause indicating that the Town
intends to exercise law enforcement jurisdiction only to the extent legally permissible.
While annexation plans must be devised alongside annexation resolutions, they are
separate documents and distinct from annexation resolutions. See LG § 4-415(a) (“In
addition to, but not as part of, an annexation resolution, the legislative body of the
municipality shall adopt an annexation plan for the area to be annexed.”). Pursuant to LG
§ 4-415, annexation plans, among other things, must describe the area intended to be
annexed, set forth a schedule regarding municipal services, describe financing, and must
be made available for public inspection and discussion at a subsequent public hearing. LG
§ 4-415(b). Prior to the public hearing on the annexation resolution, the annexation plan
must be provided to: (i) any county governing bodies; (ii) the Department of Planning; and
(iii) all regional or state planning agencies with jurisdiction within that county. LG § 4-
415(f). Additionally, the annexation plan must be presented and open to public review at
the public hearing regarding the annexation resolution. LG § 4-415(g)(1).
through which Forest Heights could exercise jurisdiction over the lands “as permitted by
law.”
33
The above provisions highlight the role of annexation plans, as an informative
planning document, largely intended to satisfy certain notice and informational
requirements. The purpose of this document is secondary to that of an annexation
resolution, which is the primary document through which annexation procedure is initially
undertaken. See generally LG §§ 4-403, 4-407. Further underlining this distinction
between annexation resolutions and annexation plans is the fact that amendments to an
annexation plan do not require amendments to the underlying annexation resolution or a
re-initiation of annexation proceedings. LG § 4-415(g)(2).
In short, annexation resolutions and annexation plans are distinct and separate
documents with distinct and separate effects. The circuit court’s decision fails to recognize
this distinction in two respects. First, assuming arguendo that Forest Heights’ annexation
plan impermissibly attempted to divest or duplicate law enforcement jurisdiction from
MNCPPC, this would not constitute independent grounds upon which to invalidate Forest
Heights’ annexation resolution. See LG § 4-415(g)(2). As evident from the secondary
relationship between annexation plans and annexation resolutions, once the circuit court
invalidated the annexation resolution, then invalidating the annexation plan had no effect
and was unnecessary. Rather, the annexation plan could simply be amended and this would
not necessitate amendment of the underlying annexation resolution. See LG § 4-415.
In sum, we conclude that Forest Heights’ annexation plan did not attempt to divest
or duplicate law enforcement jurisdiction over lands owned and managed by MNCPPC.
Our conclusion is based on the language of Forest Heights’ annexation plan which only
specified the exercise law enforcement jurisdiction over the lands “as permitted by law”
34
that, as noted, could be accomplished through a mutual aid agreement. Moreover, the
circuit court’s determination regarding Forest Heights’ annexation plan and its ultimate
effect on Forest Heights’ annexation resolution was inappropriate based on the distinct and
separate nature of annexation resolutions and plans. Accordingly, we hold that the circuit
court erred with respect to its determination that Forest Heights’ annexation plan sought to
divest, usurp or duplicate law enforcement jurisdiction over the MNCPPC’s lands.
CONCLUSION
The General Assembly intended to exclude the consent of tax-exempt property
owners from the 25% requirement of LG § 4-403(b)(2). The legislative history of the
statute and opinions of the Attorney General confirm this interpretation and the record is
entirely devoid of any indication that the General Assembly intended the 25% consent
requirement of LG § 4-403(b)(2) to include tax-exempt property owners.
In addition, the circuit court erred in its determination that Forest Heights’
annexation plan attempted to usurp law enforcement jurisdiction from MNCPPC. The
annexation plan is a separate document to the underlying annexation resolution and thus
should not affect the validity of an annexation resolution itself. Moreover, the language
contained within the annexation plan indicating that Forest Heights would exercise law
enforcement jurisdiction “as permitted by law” is appropriately conditioned and therefore
too speculative to constitute any form of usurpation of MNCPPC’s law enforcement
jurisdiction over certain properties it owns and manages.
35
Accordingly, we reverse the judgment of the circuit court and remand for further
proceedings in accordance with this opinion.
JUDGMENT OF THE CIRCUIT COURT
REVERSED, AND THE CASE IS REMANDED
TO THAT COURT FOR FURTHER
PROCEEDINGS CONSISTENT WITH THIS
OPINION. COSTS IN THIS COURT AND
THE COURT OF SPECIAL APPEALS TO BE
PAID BY RESPONDENT.
36
Circuit Court for Prince George’s County
Case No. CAL16-29110
Argued: October 4, 2018
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
OF MARYLAND
No. 21
September Term, 2018
______________________________________
THE TOWN OF FOREST HEIGHTS
v.
THE MARYLAND-NATIONAL CAPITAL
PARK AND PLANNING COMMISSION, ET
AL.
______________________________________
Barbera, C.J.
Greene
*Adkins
McDonald
Watts
Hotten
Getty,
JJ.
______________________________________
Dissenting Opinion by Watts, J., which Adkins,
J., joins.
______________________________________
Filed: April 5, 2019
*Adkins, J., now retired, participated in the
hearing and conference of this case while an
active member of this Court; after being recalled
pursuant to Maryland Constitution, Article IV,
Section 3A, she also participated in the decision
and adoption of this opinion.
Respectfully, I dissent. I would hold that the plain language of Md. Code Ann.,
Local Gov’t (2013) (“LG”) § 4-403(b)(2) (Proposal for annexation—Initiation by
legislative body) requires a municipality, prior to propounding an annexation resolution, to
obtain the consent of the owners of at least 25% of all real property in the area to be
annexed, regardless of whether the real property is tax-exempt.1 LG § 4-403(b) provides
that before an annexation resolution may be introduced in a municipality’s legislative body,
a municipality “shall obtain consent from: (1) at least 25% of the registered voters who are
residents in the area to be annexed; and (2) the owners of at least 25% of the assessed
valuation of the real property in the area to be annexed.” LG § 4-403(b) (emphasis
added).
The phrase “assessed valuation of the real property in the area to be annexed” in LG
§ 4-403(b)(2) is not ambiguous and it is not subject to more than one reasonable
interpretation. The phrase “assessed valuation of the real property in the area to be
annexed” includes the assessed valuation of all real property in the area to be annexed
regardless of whether the real property is tax-exempt. The term “tax-exempt” does not
appear anywhere in the Annexation Subtitle, let alone within LG § 4-403(b)(2). There is
no distinction between the owners of taxable real property and the owners of tax-exempt
real property in the plain language of LG § 4-403(b)(2). Put simply, the plain language of
the statute requires municipalities to obtain the consent of the owners of taxable real
1
Given that I would conclude that the Town’s annexation resolutions are void
because the Town did not fulfill the consent requirements of LG § 4-403(b)(2), I would not
reach a conclusion with respect to the Annexation Plan associated with the annexation
resolution.
property and the owners of tax-exempt real property alike.
The only distinction that the plain language of LG § 4-403(b)(2) draws is between
real property that can be “assessed” and real property that cannot be “assessed.” Md. Code
Ann. Tax-Prop. (1986, 2012 Repl. Vol.) (“TP”) § 7-106(a) provides that “real property that
is exempt by law from the property tax shall be assessed under this article[.]” (Emphasis
added). Accordingly, because the value of tax-exempt property shall be assessed pursuant
to TP § 7-106(a), LG § 4-403(b)(2) requires municipalities to obtain consent from the
owners of taxable real property located in the area to be annexed as well as the owners of
tax-exempt real property located in the area to be annexed. Given the plain language of
the statute, a resort to legislative history as a confirmatory process is unnecessary.
Based on the plain language of LG § 4-403(b)(2), I would conclude, as the Circuit
Court of Prince George’s County did, that the consent of owners of at least 25% of all real
property to be annexed includes the consent of owners of real property that is tax exempt.
For the above reasons, respectfully, I dissent.
Judge Adkins has authorized me to state that she joins in this opinion.
-2-
Circuit Court for Prince George’s County
Case No. CAL16-29110
Argued: October 4, 2018 IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
OF MARYLAND
No. 21
September Term, 2018
__________________________________
THE TOWN OF FOREST HEIGHTS
v.
THE MARYLAND-NATIONAL
CAPITAL PARK AND PLANNING
COMMISSION, ET AL.
__________________________________
Barbera, C.J.,
Greene,
*Adkins,
McDonald,
Watts,
Hotten,
Getty,
JJ.
__________________________________
Dissenting Opinion by Hotten, J.
__________________________________
Filed: April 5, 2019
*Adkins, J., now retired, participated in the
hearing and conference of this case while
an active member of this Court; after being
recalled pursuant to the MD. Constitution,
Article IV, Section 3A, she also
participated in the decision and adoption of
this opinion.
Respectfully, I dissent and would affirm the judgment of the Circuit Court for Prince
George’s County.
At issue is whether the two annexation Resolutions by the town of Forest Heights
(“the Town”) to enlarge its boundaries by annexing approximately 736.85 acres of real
property, without the consent of the owners of 25% of the assessed value of that property,
resulted in a legal nullity that was not consistent with the relevant provisions of the
Maryland Code, Local Government Article or Land Use Article, or otherwise consistent
with the case of Salisbury v. Banker’s Life, 21 Md.App. 396, 319 A.2d 865 (1974). I shall
explain.
ANNEXATION RESOLUTIONS 01-2016 AND 02-2016
Annexation Resolutions 01-2016 and 02-2016 (“2016 Resolutions”) are
substantially similar to the Town’s Annexation Resolutions 01-2014 and 02-2014 (“2014
Resolutions”). The 2014 Resolutions similarly sought to annex what the Town refers to as
the Sixth and Seventh Extensions of the corporate boundaries of Forest Heights.
The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (“MNCPPC”) and
Prince George’s County (“the County”) challenged the 2014 Resolutions and on January
29, 2016, the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County determined that the 2014
Resolutions were a legal nullity and void for several procedural errors. The Maryland
National Capital Park and Planning Commission v. The Town of Forest Heights, Circuit
Court for Prince George’s County, Case No.: CAL15-04255; Opinion and Order of the
Court dated January 29, 2016 (“Forest Heights I”). On or about February 16, 2016, the
Town noted an appeal to the Court of Special Appeals (No. 2711, September Term, 2015),
but voluntarily dismissed the appeal on or about November 22, 2016.
The 2016 Resolutions at issue sought to annex tax-exempt property owned by six
different entities: MNCPPC, the County, the State of Maryland, the United States of
America, the Prince George’s County Board of Education, and the Oxon Hill Methodist
Church (cumulatively, “Plaintiff-Appellees”).1 The Sixth Extension encompasses 446.88
acres,2 while the Seventh Extension encompasses 289.97 acres.3 In total, the 2016
Resolutions sought to annex 736.85 acres, which would more than double the land area of
the Town. All of the annexation properties are situated within two different special districts
created by the General Assembly. One district was created for planning and zoning and is
denominated as the “Maryland-Washington Regional District.” All of the subject
properties are also situated in a second, largely overlapping special district for managing
park land and public recreation and is denominated as the “Maryland-Washington
Metropolitan District.” There are no registered voters in the areas sought to be annexed.
1
The primary opposition to the Town’s annexation plan did not come from
the State of Maryland or the United States of America, neither of which consented
to the annexations, but both of which were voluntarily dismissed. (E. 38)
2
The Sixth Extension to the west encompasses all but five acres of National Park
Service land that includes Oxon Cove Park and Oxon Hill Farm.
3
The Seventh Extension is comprised of federal, State and County-owned land, as
well as properties owned by the County Board of Education, the historic Oxon Hill Manor
owned by MNCPPC and the Oxon Hill Methodist Church. These properties include
several highway rights-of-way including a portion of the Capital Beltway near Woodrow
Wilson Bridge, a public high school campus, a church cemetery, a historic manor house,
park land, and several undeveloped lots or open spaces.
2
The Town seeks to proceed with its annexation plan despite Plaintiff-Appellees’
assertion that the Town did not abide by Md. Code, Local Government Article § 4-403(b),
discussed infra.
CIRCUIT COURT PROCEEDING AND BANKER’S LIFE PRECEDENT
After the Town enacted the 2016 Resolutions, MNCPPC and the County filed a
Complaint for Declaratory Relief, seeking to nullify the resolutions. Maryland Code,
Courts & Judicial Proceedings Article, §§ 3-403, 3-406, 3-409. On January 31, 2018, after
a series of filings from both parties, the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County filed its
opinion, granting declaratory relief in favor of the MNCPPC and the County and nullifying
the 2016 Resolutions.
Before the circuit court, MNCPPC and the County contended that the Town failed
to seek or obtain the consent of property owners of 25% of the assessed value of real
property in the area to be annexed, in violation of Md. Code, Local Government Article
(“Local Gov’t”) § 4-403(b), which states:
(b) Before an annexation resolution is introduced, the legislative body shall
obtain consent from:
(1) at least 25% of the registered voters who are residents in the area to be
annexed; and
(2) the owners of at least 25% of the assessed valuation of the real property
in the area to be annexed.
Because both parties agreed that there are no registered voters in the area to be
annexed under the 2016 Resolutions, Local Gov’t § 4-403(b)(1) is inapplicable. The
provision at issue was Local Gov’t §4-403(b)(2). The Town conceded that it did not seek
the consent of Plaintiff-Appellees under § 4-403(b)(2), but asserted that it did not have to
3
pursuant to City of Salisbury v. Banker’s Life, 21 Md.App. 396, 319 A.2d 865 (1974),
which held that, in ascertaining whether the requisite 25% consent has been obtained for
agreeing to an annexation, one does not consider consent from tax-exempt property
owners.
The circuit court wrote:
Normally, the court would look to the language of the statute as instructed
by the Court of Appeals. The Court of Special Appeals has already looked at
the annexation statutes and their relationship to the requirement that property
be valued, even if exempt from taxation, and therefore, this court will need
to analyze this case in light of the opinion in Banker’s Life.
The Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission v. The Town of
Forest Heights, Circuit Court for Prince George’s County, Case No.: CAL16-29110;
Opinion and Order of the Court dated January 31, 2018 (“Forest Heights II”) (footnote
omitted).
In Banker’s Life, the Council for the City of Salisbury introduced an annexation
resolution to enlarge its corporate boundaries. 21 Md.App. at 400, 319 A.2d at 867.
Several private property owners in the annexed area attacked the validity of the resolution,
contending that it was “invalid because the [city] [c]ouncil had not obtained the consent of
the owners of 25% of the assessed valuation of the real property in the annexed area.”
Forest Heights II at 4 (citing 21 Md.App. at 400, 319 A.2d at 867). The property owners
asserted that the city council should not have included the Wicomico County Board of
Education (“Board”) as a party for the requisite consent because the Board was exempt
from assessment and ordinary taxation. Banker’s Life, 21 Md.App. at 400, 319 A.2d at
4
867. Without consent from the Board, the city council did not have the requisite consent
for annexation under Local Gov’t § 4-403(b)(2). Id. at 400-01, 319 A.2d at 867.
The Court of Special Appeals “conced[ed] that the court normally looks to the ‘plain
meaning rule’ in construing statutes, [but] found the need ‘to look to the legislative intent.
. . .’” due to the enactment of Article 81, § 232B, discussed infra. Forest Heights II at 5
(quoting Banker’s Life, 21 Md.App. at 402, 319 A.2d at 868).
The Court of Special Appeals noted that, at the time municipalities were granted the
right to annex property, there was no requirement that property exempt from taxation be
valued or assessed. Banker’s Life, 21 Md.App. at 402-03, 319 A.2d at 868. Therefore,
tax-exempt properties were not considered in the requisite 25% mandated by Local Gov’t
§ 4-403(b)(2). Id. at 403, 319 A.2d at 868. In 1971, the General Assembly enacted § 232B,
which required that all property, even if exempt from taxation, be assessed and valued for
the purpose of “provid[ing] a basis for consideration of payments-in-lieu [of taxes] and
also for evaluation of property tax exemptions.” Id. at 404, 319 A.2d at 869 (quoting
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF MARYLAND, Report to the General Assembly (1971)). The City
Council of Salisbury argued that passage of § 232B meant that owners of tax exempt
property were to be counted in determining whether the requisite 25% consent had been
obtained, since all property was now assessed and valued.
The [Court of Special Appeals] disagreed with the City, finding that the
legislative history showed ‘that the General Assembly had no intention
whatsoever that the Act in any way alter the requirements for the annexation
of real property by a municipal corporation. Before passage of [§] 232B,
qualification to give consent was limited to owners of property subject to
5
taxation in the area proposed to be annexed. We believe[ ] that [§] 232B did
not change this.’
Forest Heights II at 5 (quoting Banker’s Life, 21 Md.App. at 404, 319 A.2d at 869).
Thus, the Court of Special Appeals held that the Board should not be included in
determining the requisite consent for annexation.
The circuit court distinguished the case at bar from Banker’s Life, writing:
Since it was issued on May 24, 1974, Banker’s Life has never been cited by
either the Court of Appeals or the Court of Special Appeals in any reported
decision. The decision is very fact-specific—it involved a proposed
annexation of both taxable and tax-exempt property and it holds only that the
consent of the Wicomico County Board of Education was not to be included
in determining whether the owners of 25% of the assessed valuation of the
real property had consented to the annexation. The Court of Special
Appeals never expressly addressed whether or not State property could
be annexed without consent –it simply stated in dicta that ‘only those who
were to bear the financial burdens of a city government by the payment of
real property taxes were to be allowed a voice in the annexation of real
property to the municipal corporation.’ [21 Md.App. at 404, 319 A.2d at
869].
Banker’s Life . . . does not . . . answer the question of what the court is to do
where all the annexed property [Extension Six] or almost all the annexed
property [Extension Seven, which also contains a private church] is owned
by a county or state planning agency. Banker’s Life served as a shield to
keep municipalities from expanding their boundaries; here the Town
attempts to use it as a sword to gain more land.
Forest Heights II at 5-6 (emphasis added). As a result of the distinct facts of Banker’s Life,
the circuit court held that the Town had not annexed property in accordance with Local
Gov’t § 4-403(b)(2) and therefore, the annexation was unlawful.
6
DISCUSSION
I agree with the rationale advanced by the circuit court, finding that the Town’s
annexation was unlawful, based on several statutory provisions and the distinct facts of
Banker’s Life.
A. Statutory Authority
1. MD Code, Local Government Article § 4-403, Proposal for Annexation.
Local Gov’t § 4-403(b)(2) dictates that, before an annexation resolution is
introduced, the legislative body of the municipality proposing the annexation must obtain
consent from the owners of at least 25% of the assessed valuation of the real property in
the area to be annexed. The issue at the center of this case is the definition of “assessed
valuation.” In considering statutory interpretation, one examines the intent of the General
Assembly and begins with the plain meaning of the language of the statute. Lockshin v.
Semsker, 412 Md. 257, 274, 987 A.2d 18, 28 (2010) (citations omitted). The inquiry ends
at a plain meaning analysis when the language of the statute is “unambiguous and clearly
consistent with the statute’s apparent purpose[.]” Id. at 275, 987 A.2d at 28 (citations
omitted). “[O]nly when the language or terminology used in a statute is unclear or
ambiguous may the court construe its meaning by resorting to evidence of custom or usage
in light of the legislative intent and purpose.” Perdue v. State Department of Assessments
and Taxation, 264 Md. 228, 235, 286 A.2d 165, 169 (1972) (citation omitted). Maryland
law disfavors a modification of a statute’s plain meaning unless an irreconcilable conflict
or repugnancy emerges absent such modification. City of Bowie v. Washington Suburban
Sanitary Comm’n, 249 Md. 611, 618, 241 A.2d 396, 400 (1968).
7
In conceptualizing the plain meaning of the term “assessed valuation,” the Town
contends that MNCPPC properties have no “assessed value” within the meaning of Local
Gov’t § 4-403(b)(2). However, the Town does not dispute that MNCPPC’s properties are
indeed assessed. All Commission-owned real properties are “subject to assessment” and
“actually assessed,” even though they are exempted from property taxes. See Md. Code,
Tax-Property Article (“Tax-Prop.”) § 6-101(a)(1) (stating that: “Except as otherwise
provided in this article, all property located in this State is subject to assessment and
property tax and is taxable to the owner of the property.”); see also Tax-Prop. § 7-106(a)
(stating that: “Except for real property owned by the federal government, real property
that is exempt by law from the property tax shall be assessed under this article and in
the manner required by the Director.”) (emphasis added). Furthermore, the terms “assess”
and “assessment,” as defined in Tax-Prop. § 1-101, inherently attribute value to the
assessed property.4 As such, the term “assessed valuation” has an unambiguous meaning
4
Tax Prop. §1-101 provides the following definitions for “assess” and
“assessment:”
(b) “Assess” means:
(1) for real property, to determine the phased-in full cash value or use
value to which the property tax rate may be applied; and
(2) for personal property, to determine the value to which the property tax
rate may be applied.
(c) “Assessment” means:
(1) for real property, the phased-in full cash value or use value to which
the property tax rate may be applied; and
(2) for personal property, the value to which the property tax rate may be
applied.
8
that is applicable to MNCPPC-owned lands that the Town seeks to annex. We should not
generate an ambiguity in a statute where none exists. The plain-meaning analysis of the
statute’s clear language reveals that the Town was required to obtain consent from the
owners of at least 25% of the property, which it did not do, in violation of Local Gov’t §
4-403(b)(2).
2. Article 81, § 232B, Assessment of Exempt Properties.
The Town contends that a plain-meaning approach is not applicable to the case at
bar, because the General Assembly’s passage of Article 81, § 232B in 1971, now codified
as Tax-Prop. § 7-106, created an ambiguity regarding what constitutes “assessed valuation”
in § 4-403(b)(2).
Tenets of statutory construction require reading beyond a plain meaning approach
when terminology in the statute is unclear or ambiguous, or if the intention of the General
Assembly is doubtful. Giant v. State’s Attorney, 267 Md. 501, 511, 298 A.2d 427, 433
(1973) (“[W]e cannot disregard the natural import of statutory language unless some
Note that even though the terms “assess” and “assessment” associate value with taxation,
it is undisputed that MNCPPC lands are assessed. As such, any argument that the tax-
exempt status of MNCPPC lands implicate their assessment is meritless. Rather, the
definitions of “assess” and “assessment” reveal that the properties at issue have value. Per
Tax-Prop. § 6-101(a)(1) and § 7-106(a), tax-exempt properties are assessed. Given the
MNCPPC lands at issue have value that is assessed, there is an “assessed valuation” of
them.
The majority’s distinction between “tax rolls” and “assessment rolls” does not detract
from the contention that tax-exempt lands have “assessed valuation.” See slip op. at 14-
15.
9
imperative reason is found in the statute for enlarging or restricting its meaning.”); see also
Schmeizl v. Schmeizl, 186 Md. 371, 375, 46 A. 2d 619, 621 (1946) (“Where there is
ambiguity in the provisions of a statute, or the intention of the [General Assembly] is
doubtful, the Court may look to the consequences[.]”). In Banker’s Life, the Court of
Special Appeals stated that the passage of §232B required an analysis of the General
Assembly’s intent. 21 Md.App. at 402, 319 A.2d at 868 (“We think the application of Art.
81, § 232B to [Local Gov’t § 4-403(b)(2)] is not clear and unambiguous, and that we are
obliged to look to the legislative intent and to the consequences.”).
Article 81, § 232B, as amended, provided in pertinent part:
Notwithstanding the provisions of s 9 [of chapter 350][5] of this article
excluding exempt property from assessment for purposes of ordinary
taxation and excepting the property of the United States from this section all
real property and any improvements thereon located in the State and
exempted from the payment of any ordinary taxes on July 1, 1971 or
becoming exempt at any time thereafter by any provisions of law shall be
valued and assessed from time to time as may be necessary and as directed
by the Director of the Department according to the method prescribed by this
article by persons authorized by the Director to perform such valuations.
These valuations shall be maintained in the records of the Department and of
each county and Baltimore City in which exempt property is located, in the
manner required by the Director. None of such valuations shall be included
in the total assessment of all property subject to State, county or city ordinary
taxation for the purpose of distribution of State moneys under any provision
of law. . . .
Banker’s Life, 21 Md.App. at 399-400, 319 A.2d at 866-67 (emphasis added). According
to the Court in Banker’s Life, prior to passage of Article 81, § 232B, tax exempt properties,
5
S 9 of chapter 350 is now recodified in parts of the Maryland Code, Tax-Property
Article, Title 7.
10
including those owned by municipalities, were exempt from assessment and valuation. Id.
at 398, 319 A.2d at 866. However, given the passage of § 232B, an ambiguity was created
relative to the legislative intent for including newly-assessed tax exempt properties as part
of the requisite 25% in Local Gov’t §4-403(b)(2).
Based on its analysis of legislative intent, the Banker’s Life Court concluded that
the General Assembly’s amendment to the Tax Code, via passage of § 232B, had no
bearing on the Annexation Statute. The Court asserted that:
The only conclusion reasonably to be drawn from the language of [§] 232B
and its history is that the General Assembly had no intention whatsoever that
the Act in any way alter the requirements for the annexation of real property
by a municipal corporation. Before the passage of [§] 232B, qualification to
give consent was limited to owners of property subject to taxation in the area
proposed to be annexed. We believed that [§] 232B did not change this.
Looking to the consequences, we believe that the [General Assembly] never
departed from an intent that only those who were to bear the financial
burdens of a city government by the payment of real property taxes were
to be allowed a voice in the annexation of real property to the municipal
corporation.
21 Md.App. at 404, 319 A.2d at 869 (emphasis added). Somehow, the Banker’s Life Court
determined that only those property owners subject to taxation could fall within the
category of people required to provide consent to annexation pursuant to Local Gov’t § 4-
403(b)(2). According to the Court, even if tax-exempt properties were now subject to
“assessed valuation” within the plain meaning of Local Gov’t § 4-403(b)(2), they were not
capable of providing consent to annexation. The Court analyzed the original statute, a 1972
re-enactment, and a Report to the General Assembly for 1971 by the Legislative Council
of Maryland to arrive at its conclusion. Id. at 398-400, 403-04, 319 A.2d at 866-67, 869.
11
Though the Court’s legislative analysis demonstrated that § 232B in no way implicated
taxation on exempt properties, the analysis did not establish a nexus to the Court’s ultimate
conclusion that only taxed entities could provide consent to annexation. Therefore, the
Banker’s Life Court improperly created a nexus between taxation and consent to
annexation where one did not exist. In the face of the General Assembly’s silence about
whether to impart a consistent meaning of “assessed valuation” as between the Tax Code
and the Annexation Statute, the Court imparted two separate meanings to the term despite
the lack of any substantive proof of legislative intent to do so. As such, the Banker’s Life
Court miscategorized the effect of § 232B because the amendment to the Tax Code applied
to the Annexation Statute: any lands with “assessed valuation” were subject to the consent
provisions of Local Gov’t § 4-403(b)(2) regardless of whether or not those lands were
taxed.
3. House Bill (HB) 534, Annexation by Municipal Corporations.
The Majority contends that HB 534, enacted in 1975, provides greater
support for its argument that tax-exempt entities are not a consideration for the
requisite 25% consent under Local Gov’t § 4-403(b)(2). HB 534 amended the
Annexation Statute and represented a compromise agreement between
municipalities and counties. Bill File to H.B. 534, Testimony – Statement of Jon
Burrell, MML, in support of H.B. 534 (1975). The agreement provided greater
authority to counties for annexation purposes, partially through the first right of
12
counties to notice (currently codified in Local Gov’t §4-4066) and through
counties’ referendum authority (currently codified in Local Gov’t § 4-4107).
Despite acknowledging that HB 534 granted greater county authority, the Majority
states “that the General Assembly did not intend to grant counties the authority or
ability to veto a proposed municipal annexation.” Slip op. at 18. Though the
legislative history of HB 534 is interesting, it provides no answers to the central
issue of this case. HB 534 was simply a compromise agreement, and if anything,
it expanded the right of counties to annexation, rather than limiting it.
This expansion of county annexation rights implies the General Assembly’s intent
6
Local Gov’t §4-406 reads, in pertinent part:
Notice to county and planning agencies
(c) Immediately after the first publication of the public notice [for
annexation], the municipality shall provide a copy of the public notice to:
(1) the governing body of the county in which the municipality is
located; and
(2) any regional or State planning agency with jurisdiction in the county.
First right to be heard
(d) The county and any regional or State planning agency with jurisdiction
in the county has the right to be heard before the public at the hearing on the
proposed annexation.
(emphasis in original).
7
Local Gov’t §4-410 reads:
(a) At any time within 45 days after enactment of an annexation resolution,
the governing body of the county or counties in which the municipality is
located, by at least a two-thirds majority vote, may petition the chief
executive and administrative officer of the municipality for a referendum
on the resolution.
13
to provide counties, a tax-exempt entity, with authority over annexations initiated by
municipalities. The current provisions of HB 534, codified as Local Gov’t §§ 4-406 and
4-410, provide voice to counties, contrary to the Town’s assertion that counties do not have
significant voice in the annexation process due to their tax-exempt status.8
The Town’s analysis of HB 534 neglects to consider the inherent right of
governmental, tax-exempt owners to participate in municipal annexations.
Beyond the statutory analysis of Local Gov’t § 4-403(b)(2), the facts of the case at
bar are distinct from those of Banker’s Life. These distinctions will be discussed infra.
B. Distinctions from Banker’s Life
1. MNCPPC, as opposed to the Board in Banker’s Life, is a unique entity with
specified roles and responsibilities as evidenced by a designated portion of
the Maryland Code.
The Maryland Code has a designated portion specifically related to
MNCPPC, which is codified in Titles 14-27 of the Land Use Article (“Land Use”).
MNCPPC is an agency and representative of this State for purposes designated by
statute and was created by chapter 448 of the laws of Maryland of 1927. Land Use
§§ 15-101(b), 15-302, Capper-Cramton Act, Public Law 71–284, 46 Stat. 482(1930) (as amended in 1946 and 1958). The agency uses the properties it owns for
8
The Majority supports its interpretation of HB 534 by pointing to several Attorney
General opinions. These opinions largely reiterate the rationale advocated in Banker’s Life,
which I have concluded was a mistaken interpretation of the Annexation Statute.
14
the general benefit of Maryland residents, particularly those in the metropolitan
district. 9 Land Use §17-201(a).
MNCPPC has the authority to procure property for public recreation and to
acquire property in the metropolitan district for purposes of establishing parks,
forests, roads and other public ways, grounds, and spaces. Land Use § 17-101.
MNCPPC is also entitled to dispose of certain properties that it acquires only after
determining that a property is no longer needed for park purposes or other purposes
authorized by statute. Land Use § 17-205.
In addition, MNCPPC is responsible for protecting lands under the Capper-
Cramton Act, which was enacted by Congress in 1930 to “protect land on both
sides of the Potomac River as an integrated park and parkway system known as
the George Washington Memorial Parkway.” Surina Singh, Protecting Capper-
9
Land Use § 19-101 defines the “metropolitan district” as follows:
The area in Montgomery County and Prince George’s County within the
boundaries specified in this title is known as the Maryland-Washington
Metropolitan District.” Land Use § 19-101(a). The metropolitan district is
the authority of the Commission for the purposes [described by statute].
Land Use § 19-101(b).
Land Use § 19-102 specifies the boundaries of the Metropolitan District:
The boundaries of the metropolitan district are the same as existed on
October 1, 2012, with the exclusion of:
(1) any property annexed into the City of Rockville, the City of
Gaithersburg, or the Town of Washington Grove under Chapter 429 of
the Acts of the General Assembly of 2007; and
(2) the City of Greenbelt as it existed on July 1, 2016.
15
Cramton Parks, NATIONAL CAPITAL PLANNING COMMISSION,
https://www.ncpc.gov/news/item/45/, archived at https://perma.cc/KX2C-G7K8
(last visited Apr. 4, 2019). Land Use § 15-302(3) provides MNCPPC with the
authority to act as the representative of this State in fulfilling the mandate of the
Capper-Cramton Act in Maryland. The Act enables MNCPPC to enter into
agreements with the National Capital Park and Planning Commission (“NCPPC”)
for extending and developing protected lands in Maryland. Therefore, the Capper-
Cramton Act provided for cooperation between NCPPC and MNCPPC, enabling
MNCPPC to act as administrator over preserved lands. The Town’s annexation
properties are in the immediate vicinity of lands specified for MNCPPC oversight
in the Capper-Cramton Act with respect to the “Oxon Run Parkway.” See THE
TOWN OF FOREST HEIGHTS, MARYLAND ANNEXATION PLAN (Sixth & Seventh
Extensions, 2016).
The Town has strategically crafted its annexations to bypass seeking consent
from any registered voters (Local Gov’t § 4-403(b)(1)). Its annexations also
acquire government property that runs exceedingly close to preserved lands. The
Town seeks to use Banker’s Life to more than double its property without any
oversight or consent from the entities that own the annexed lands. The Court of
Special Appeals’ analysis of legislative intent in Banker’s Life did not contemplate
such unchecked annexation authority, nor did it consider the implications of
annexing lands from a tax-exempt entity having statewide statutory authority. In
Banker’s Life, the Court’s consideration was limited to the Wicomico County
16
Board of Education—a local entity with limited authority. In contrast to the
Wicomico County Board of Education, MNCPPC, the entity in primary opposition
to the Town’s annexation plan, has statutory responsibilities bound to its role as a
landowner that it cannot simply discharge. I do not contend that MNCPPC has
unique annexation authority, but only that it should have a right to consent to
annexation under Local Gov’t § 4-403(b)(2) particularly due to its unique statutory
role.
2. Banker’s Life addressed a tax-exempt entity’s acceptance of annexation, as
opposed to a tax-exempt entity’s opposition to annexation.
In Banker’s Life, the Court of Special Appeals held that the Board’s
acceptance of the city council’s plan to annex property did not apply as part of the
requisite 25% of § 4-403(b)(2). 21 Md.App. at 404, 319 A.2d at 869. Banker’s
Life did not address the implications of § 4-403(b)(2) if the Board had been
opposing the annexation. In Banker’s Life, had the court considered the Board as
part of the requisite 25%, it would have stacked the vote of a governmental entity
against those of private property owners who challenged the city’s annexation of
their property. Permitting the Board to serve as part of the requisite 25% would
have enabled the city to annex land from private property owners—an unjust result.
In contrast, the case at bar considers governmental entities’ interest in opposing an
annexation—preserving the status quo in current land ownership, whether public
or private. I do not contend that the requisite process of annexation looks different
based on whether a tax-exempt entity is consenting or opposing annexation, but
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simply, point out a distinction. Banker’s Life did not address the issue of the
consent required if no taxable property was involved in the annexation. The Court
did not contemplate the Board’s rights with respect to its consent to annexation
because the Board had already consented. In the case at bar, injustice results when
landowners, tax-exempt entities but assessed in valuation nevertheless, are not
permitted any say in the annexation of their property.
Further, Banker’s Life considered the annexation of both taxable and tax-
exempt property, so there was some measure of landowner’s consent that resulted
in accepting the annexation. In contrast, the Town’s annexations are in areas
without voters, so the Town’s reading of the annexation statutes would enable
annexation with the consent of absolutely no one.10 Surely Banker’s Life did not
intend to establish the dangerous precedent of completely abolishing the right to
voice opposition to an annexation for tax-exempt entities.
I conclude that Banker’s Life is not the antidote for this occasion. I am not
persuaded that the General Assembly expressly intended to exclude the consent of tax-
10
The Majority writes that “on prior occasions, this Court has considered cases
concerning annexations consisting of entirely tax-exempt land without noting or invoking
a prohibition against the annexation of entirely tax-exempt property.” Slip Op. at 25. The
Majority cites to Koste v. Town of Oxford, 431 Md. 14, 63 A.3d 582 (2013) to support its
proposition. In Koste, the town of Oxford sought to introduce a resolution annexing acres
of submerged lands adjacent to the Town’s boundaries. Id. at 17, 63 A.3d at 584 (emphasis
added). For one, the annexation of submerged lands poses a distinction from the case at
bar. The County lands at issue house recreational areas and preserved lands. Secondly,
the issue in Koste pertained to the electorate’s right to a referendum, id., a completely
separate issue from that presented in the instant case.
18
exempt property owners from the 25% requirement of Local Gov’t § 4-403(b)(2). Based
on the analysis of Local Gov’t § 4-403(b) and the subsequent amendment to the tax code
through Article 81, § 232B, in addition to the distinct facts of Banker’s Life, I would affirm
the judgment of the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County. Accordingly, I dissent.
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