Tax Credit

MARTINSBURG, W.VA. -- Gov. Joe Manchin hopes President Obama's endorsement of increasing merit pay for teachers whose students perform in the classroom will help push reforms the governor has supported for West Virginia. "We tried to give you all a chance over there by passing a bonus to where you could go out and give signing bonuses for math and sciences in the shortages especially that you have in the Eastern Panhandle -- (we) couldn't get that through (the Legislature)," Manchin said in an interview last week.

A forum Monday on senior-citizen-related state legislative issues featured a brief debate about whether and where Washington County should have a senior center. The county plans to build a $5.85 million senior citizen center on the Hagerstown Community College campus off Robinwood Drive. The project was delayed for nearly a year as local officials waited on at least $600,000 in expected state funding. But, when a budgetary snag threatened to push the project into next year, Washington County decided to use county money up front and seek state reimbursement later.

WASHINGTON COUNTY -- The Washington County Commissioners agreed Tuesday to offer an $810,000 incentive to help T. Rowe Price Group Inc. build a backup data-recovery center in Washington County that will create at least 17 new jobs. T. Rowe Price, a global investment management organization based in Baltimore, plans to build a 60,000-square-foot center in Friendship Technology Park, off Downsville Pike south of Hagerstown, said Timothy R. Troxell, executive director of the Hagerstown-Washington County Economic Development Commission.

Pheasant Run is a community of new homes in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, where homeowners can enjoy rural living with modern conveniences. Home prices start at $189,900 and include loads of upgrades. Additionally, 100% financing is available to qualified homebuyers. The homes are built by Mt. Tabor Builders, a local custom builder, and developed by Pheasant Run Development Group (PRDG). Mike Dropik, owner of PRDG said, "I chose Mt. Tabor Builders because they have very high standards for quality and craftsmanship.

Installing a solar-energy system can cost tens of thousands of dollars, but there are ways to offset the costs. Consumers who purchase such systems can receive a 30 percent tax credit from the Internal Revenue Service, according to Barry D. Martin, owner of Copyquik Printing & Graphics LLC, who installed a solar-energy system at his business. The credit translates to the federal government paying for about 30 percent of the system's cost, Martin said. Solar-system owners also can generate thousands of dollars a year in revenue through the sale of renewable energy certificates, Martin said.

Scheduled meetings this week of the Washington County Commissioners, Washington County Board of Education, and Hagerstown Mayor and Council: WASHINGTON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Hager Hall Conference and Event Center 901 Dual Highway, Hagerstown Tuesday, May 3, 7:30 a.m.   Agenda • 7:30 a.m.: Employee years of service award breakfast at Hager Hall Conference and Event Center ...

SMITHSBURG -- John Jacques uses a wood furnace, turns off lights when he leaves a room, and is in the process of having a geothermal heating and cooling system hooked up to his home to help reduce his energy costs. On Nov. 14, Jacques took his energy-saving strategy one step further by becoming, along with his brother Brian, the first in Washington County to have wind turbines installed to help generate electricity for their homes. "Just trying to conserve," both environmentally and financially, said John Jacques, 64. "Global warming and that sort of thing, I don't know what to make of. But makes sense to conserve energy.

Marriage fee hike submitted By LAURA ERNDE / Staff Writer ANNAPOLIS - The Washington County Delegation to the Maryland General Assembly voted Wednesday to increase the county's marriage license fee and give a property tax credit to firefighters. continued State lawmakers also voted to make several small changes to local liquor laws, but rejected further changes to the six-year-old tip jar gambling law. Lawmakers voted to submit a bill to hike the marriage license fee from $60 to $65 to raise money for CASA, or Citizens Assisting and Sheltering the Abused, a Hagerstown agency that provides shelter and counseling for people threatened by domestic violence.

HAGERSTOWN - Some things old, some things new, some things artsy, some things blue. On any given day, the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts serves as a backdrop to works created by artists past and present, famous and not so famous. But on Saturday, three of the museum's rooms were filled with new and used items for sale to the general public. And when the museum's Singer Society clears its closets for its annual Treasure Sale, everybody gets a bargain. Donors get a tax credit, buyers get a deal and the museum gets a financial boost for its operating expenses.

The Washington County Commissioners continued their struggles over the upcoming year's budget last week, voting down three separate proposals to increase taxes, even as Commissioners' President Greg Snook acknowledged that yes, there will probably be a tax hike of some sort. What got little attention - and which deserves alot more discussion - was Commissioner Paul Swartz's proposal to exempt those over 65 from any tax increase. Swartz's proposal surfaced last month during another budget discussion, in which he said that he was not opposed to tax increases, but that he would like to spare those over 65 from them.