Economic Status

In 2006, of the 13 largest MD counties, Anne Arundel County was:

• 3rd highest per capita income ($35,753), with Howard and Montgomery counties higher.

• Low Unemployment Rate of 3.5 % (2005).

• 3rd highest number of persons over 25 years of age with BA college degree or higher.

• 3rd highest (77.6%) for owner occupied housing.

• 4th highest for median housing value.

• 4.6% of the population are below Federal poverty level (7.8% for State).

Tax Burden

Tax Burden in Anne Arundel County

• Tax Capacity is 3rd highest of the 13 largest Maryland counties as of FY 2003‐‐2001 (latest available).

• Tax effort is low.  Combined income and property taxes are 4% to 47% below similar jurisdictions in 2007.

•  Impact fee on detached single family dwellings is among the lowest for the 12 counties reported.  Montgomery County’s fees are nearly three times higher.

Education

Education in Anne Arundel County

• About half of county budget is spent on schools.

• Beginning teacher salaries are 13th from highest out of 24 counties.  Calvert County is higher!

• Educational effort index is 16th from highest out of 24 counties.

• Building maintenance backlog is over $1.5 billion.

Public Safety

Public Safety in Anne Arundel County

• AA County crime rate is 7th highest out of 24 counties highest counties.

• 3993.5 crimes (violent and property) per 100,000 population.  
    Howard and Montgomery counties have over one-third lower crime rate.

• Road maintenance backlog:
    $124 million for roads below minimally acceptable rating of 55 out of 100.

Agricultural and Forest Preservation

Agricultural and Forest Preservation
in Anne Arundel County

• In 2002, AA Co. has smallest average‐size farm out of 23 Maryland counties.

• 22nd out of 23 counties, i.e. next to the lowest, in the percent of land in farms.

• AA County preserved 9,778 acres (as of Feb. 2007), significantly fewer than 5 similar counties:
    Baltimore County preserved 5.7 times more acres than AA County; and
    Calvert 1.9 times more acres even though AA County has almost twice Calvert Co.'s land area.

• 41% of total county acreage is forested (as of 2002), compared to Howard Co.'s 44% and
Montgomery Co.'s 29%.

Environment - Air Quality

Air Quality in Anne Arundel County

• Air Quality Index  is 3rd worst of 11 Maryland counties.
• 5th worst of 24 counties for Emissions of Criteria Air Pollutants.
• 2nd worst of 12 counties in health risk from all criteria air pollutants.

Environment - Water

Water Pollution

•Two thirds of catfish pulled from South River in 2005 had cancerous tumorsin tumors.

•All county rivers are biologically impaired.

•Too much impervious surface in 13 county watersheds:

•       5 watersheds have greater than 20% impervious surface, including the Patapsco at 31.7%;
  
•       only one watershed has less than 6% impervious surface.

• FYI - Trout populations diminish with over 4% impervious surface in their watershed; and some salamanders are lost with as little as 0.3% impervious surface.
  

 
• Potable well water --- Aquia has reached maximum allowable yield; further draw-downs likely to impact central South County.

• $5 Billion projected backlog for watershed restoration (public and private), including $1.3 billion for stream restoration.

• 4th longest miles of shoreline, but limited public access.

Housing Affordability

•The median minimum sales price (e.g. price with no upgrades) fora newly built home in a large development (10 or more homes) was $425,990 in 2006. (single family, townhouse, condominiums, etc.)

•The median price for all homes sold in October 2007 was $329,000 (single family, townhouse, condominiums, etc.)

•To purchase the median priced home with a 30 year mortgage at 5.65% requires an annual income of $73,042 with 20% down or $85,249 with 5% down (excludes points, fees and other closing costs).

•The starting salary for a ten-month AA county teacher in public schools with a BA was $36,339 in FY 2005-2006. The maximum salary for a teacher was $76,726.

•Estimates of fair market rent prepared by the National Low Income Housing Coalition indicate that a new teacher can, at most afford to rent a one bedroom apartment.

Definitions of Terms

Tax Capacity:
reflects potential tax bas of local government. Calculated by computing the hypothetical yield from each of several tax sources (income and property tax are two largest taxes) using the statewide average tax rate i.e. what county would have collected if it taxed at the statewide average tax rate.

Education Effort Index:
Calculated by dividing local education appropriation by local wealth and indexing to the State average.Local Wealth includes county assessable base for FY2006 and net taxable income for tax year 2004.

Data Sources

•U.S. Census Bureau: “American Community Survey”2006

•AA County Economic Development Corporation 2005

•MD. Department of Legislative Services, 2005

•AA County Report of Spending Affordability Committee FY 2008

•MGT of America Inc.

•MD Department Of Education Fact Book 2005-2006

US Department of Agriculture: Census of Agriculture 2002

•Scorecard: the Pollution Information Site

•U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

•AA County Department of Public Works

•MD Department of Natural Resources, Maryland Geological Survey

•Comparisons Maryland: Maryland State Police/Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development
•Harley Wood Market Intelligence

•Maryland Department of Health

•WWW.finance.chc.comfor mortgage calculatorState