BALTIMORE – Baltimore City Council unanimously adopted a resolution to call on the Maryland General Assembly to pass and Governor Wes Moore to sign a measure that would give city leaders the authority to set a special tax rate for vacant and abandoned properties.
On Monday, councilwoman Odette Ramos introduced the resolution during a regular council meeting at City Hall.
“This is a request for state action,” Ramos said.
This is the fourth time state lawmakers have considered a variation of the measure, which aims to root out vacant and abandoned properties.
If approved, the special tax rate on certain properties would be determined by the city council and the mayor.
“It’s a disincentive for people to buy a bunch of properties and sit on them, right? Because then they’ll have to pay taxes,” Ramos said.
With some properties already faced with high tax liens, Ramos adds the measure would expedite their eligibility for ‘in rem’.