Baltimore City Council eyes record budget as promised property tax cut fades

BALTIMORE (WBFF) — The hope of a property tax reduction appears to be fading as Baltimore City council members comb through the largest budget in city history.

At a budget hearing on Wednesday, City Councilman Yitzy Schleifer pressed city leaders about the current plan.

“Why isn’t that two-cent reduction in this plan?” Schleifer asked.

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The city’s 10-year financial plan calls for a two-cent reduction in the property tax rate for the next fiscal year, but that reduction depends on whether the city can increase the homestead tax credit. City Council Vice President Sharon Green Middleton introduced a bill in February that would raise the homestead tax credit from four to six percent.

The bill was scheduled for a public hearing in February, but three months later it remains in committee.

On Wednesday, Middleton questioned the bill’s status, “As I speak it’s still being held up for reasons I don’t know about.”

Councilwoman Danielle McCray fired back during Wednesday’s hearing.

“This particular bill was not provided to us with the time we need to vet it as a committee as we historically do,” McCray said.

Schleifer argued the council should move ahead with the reduction outlined in the 10-year plan.

“I think it behooves the council at the very least, force the reduction that we see in the 10-year plan a $4 million savings. I point to many places where you can save that money,” he said.

The proposed two-cent property tax reduction would total about $4 million, and Schleifer said he does not understand why the city cannot find that amount in what he described as a $5 billion city budget.

“If you look across the board there are many places where you can get that $4 million,” Schleifer said.

Schleifer points to an 8% increase in city spending this next fiscal year and insists the city should conform with its 10-year plan.

“If this were a corporation things would be different. You don’t see a corporation increasing their executive team by 40% because what they’re focused on is the bottom line,” Schleifer said.