BALTIMORE (WBFF) — A new UMBC poll shows many Baltimore residents are concerned about local taxes and fees, with 71% of people saying it was a “major issue.”
The poll surveyed 666 Baltimore City residents about a numerous topics, which included key issues facing City residents. While most residents polled said the local taxes and fees were a major issue, another 20% said they were a minor issue.
“Many economists have been saying for years that City residents are overtaxed, and because of that, particularly because of the real property tax rate, which is the highest in state of Maryland, many Baltimoreans cannot afford to buy a home or to retain a home, and so home ownership in the city suffers. Many people decide to move out because they want to pursue home ownership elsewhere, and it’s not good for the City’s economy,” Anirban Basu, chairman & CEO of Sage Policy Group, said.
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At the same time, while Baltimore City leaders are debating the proposed $3.9 billion FY 27 budget, some Council members are calling for property tax relief.
“Ironically enough there has been an increase in income tax and an increase in property taxes and there’s a surplus on both. And all of that money is being spent in this budget as opposed to putting some away into the rainy day fund or really giving it back to the taxpayers. I mean, here’s a unique opportunity we actually have for the first time since I’ve been on the council to really lower taxes without reducing any services,” Baltimore City Councilman Isaac “Yitzy” Schleifer said.
However, Mayor Brandon Scott has pushed back on that, saying the City Council has yet to pass a bill designed to change property tax rates in the city. The bill would increase the cap on the homestead tax credit, and that revenue would be used to lower property taxes.
“So we would love to, we know we introduced a bill in the City Council that would have reduced property taxes for residents in Baltimore, but we know that now that won’t be able to go into effect until next year because we have not yet passed the bill,” Mayor Scott said.
“When we talk about how we are going to continue to reduce property taxes in Baltimore, we’re talking about doing it in a sustainable way,” Scott added.
During a recent budget presentation, City Council President Zeke Cohen pushed back on the mayor’s proposal, saying some homeowners would be paying more if the cap on the homestead tax was raised.
Let’s just keep it simple. Lower the real property tax rate for everyone, and that will benefit landlords, renters, homeowners, of course, people in commercial real estate,” Basu said.
“The way for us to improve our economic performance is to lower the property tax rate for everyone, invite more people to the party, into Baltimore City to pay the property tax rate, a lower tax rate than presides presently, and therefore increase the tax base,” Basu added.
Read the UMBC poll in full below:
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