The University of Maryland Baltimore County continues to drop new results from its recent poll of Maryland residents, and the hits just keep on coming for the state's struggling and inept elected officials. Yesterday's release showed that a majority of the residents polled have considered moving out of Maryland to another state within the past year. A full 53% said, yes, they have considered leaving Maryland in the next few years.
Montgomery County has seen a flight of the rich to lower-tax jurisdictions in the region this century, and those expats have taken millions of dollars in tax revenue with them. There were no longer enough high-end shoppers to sustain the stretch of Wisconsin Avenue in Friendship Heights that was once touted as "Montgomery County's Rodeo Drive," leaving behind rows of empty storefronts. Maryland experienced a similar exodus after passing its "Millionaires' Tax" in 2012, only to find that 1000 millionaires had fled the state just two years later.
54% who were interviewed by UMBC said Maryland is a "poor or fair" place to start a business. That's not surprising, given that 67% of respondents also agreed that the state's economy is moribund.
Maryland not only has gained a terrible reputation as an anti-business state internationally, but is increasingly seen by aging residents as a terrible place to retire, as well. The largest group of respondents, 37%, said Maryland is a "poor" state to retire in. 64% concluded that Maryland is a "poor or fair" retirement destination. Again, not very surprising, as increasing numbers of retirees leave Maryland behind for Delaware or Florida.
Almost half of those polled said Maryland is a "poor or fair" state to seek a K-12 education in. That's quite a drop from two decades ago, when Maryland's schools were seen as among the best in the nation. Only 11% believe Maryland is an "excellent" place to find a job. Well, you can't blame them: most of the jobs that give Montgomery County and Maryland low unemployment rates are actually located in Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C.
When MoCo considered changing the zoning laws to make our neighborhood go from single-family to multi-family houses to serve made-up goals, it told me things are going in the wrong direction. Where are the good restaurants, the exciting stores, the up-and-coming neighborhoods? They aren't here. And now the Governor is raising the tax rate? It's embarrassing (and that's from a liberal).
ReplyDeleteMont Co has become very dirty. Crime infested. Poor community. 30+ years living and working in MoCo
DeleteI too have decided to leave Maryland in the future. I didn't realize how blue it was and I abhor the agendas people support here.
ReplyDeleteWas great when Hogan was Governor, nuff said!
ReplyDeleteI'm a Democrat and I WHOLE HEARTEDLY AGREE!!! JUST WISH HE'D HAD A CHANCE AND RAN FOR PRESIDENT
DeleteDEI. Useless programs ran by a inept state. Controlled by a bunch of corrupt thugs in Annapolis
ReplyDeleteMoore wants to push the wealthier out with higher income taxes and the highest death taxes in the region. When is he going to learn that money is fungible and people are already mad as hell.
ReplyDeleteCompletely accurate report. MD is also soft on Juvenile crime, doesn't allow Police to work effectively and thinks everything revolves around race (the victim). Now they can't manage their budget one thing after another.
ReplyDeleteMy sister was raped and brutally murdered by a 17 year old on house arrest. Maryland laws say he has to be offered parole even with a life sentence, because he was under 18 when the crime was committed.
DeleteIt's blue man. That should sum it all up. Tax and spend democrats. All there solutions is tax money. That's all they whine about. The taxes aren't being paid by the welfare programs who are the privileged ones.
DeleteWe are actively looking to sell our home this year. I am 72....born here...but this is too much!
ReplyDeleteI'm a realtor, I can help with that
DeleteWhy stay in Maryland as a retiree with a pension and 401k that gets taxed here when I can cross the border in Pennsylvania and pay NO TAXES on my Social Security, Pension or 401k withdrawals. Bye bye…..
ReplyDeleteMy wife and I left a little more than 4 years ago. I come back several times a year. My community in Rockville seems more dangerous. Leaving after 20 years was a good move.
ReplyDeleteI'm headed to Nassau in a few years, Lord willing!
ReplyDeleteI was raised in Baltimore in the 50's and was proud to be from Maryland.
ReplyDeleteNow I am ashamed of both and with the current government it will only get worse. Wife keeps me here because of grand children. If she dies before me, I'm out of here!
Next place must have Blue crabs !
I don’t think you have to be a retiree to see the utter devastation that has overran our state. Sloppy from top to bottom. My wife and I are in our early 50’s professional. The cost of living and the numerous ticky tack increases on things we use everyday. We put a contract on a house in Sussex DE. Settle in April, cant wait for my family and I to get out of here. What a shame. I used to be proud to say I was from Maryland. Not anymore!
ReplyDeleteI left 2 1/2 years ago and not ever coming back except to visit
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