Vote No on HB243

Hb243 is the Governor’s bill to extend the same protections that Baltimore City residents have to prevent tax sale to the entire state. Councilwoman Ramos testified in favor of this bill during the hearing.

However, it has since been amended in such a bad way that Councilwoman is now opposing this bill and encourage you to call your delegates and senators to vote no. Here are her amendments that would make it better, which are discussed below.

The amendments add water bills back into tax sale for all non-owner occupied properties. Baltimore City already adds water bills into the taxes for vacant and abandoned property. This bill would clarify that and also add water bills back in for tenant occupied housing, non-profits, and for heirs properties.

Such a move was proposed by the tax sale purchasers - of course! They want to continue to make more money.

This bill puts Baltimore City back several years in their efforts to have tax sale reform. Total reform would remove this third party scam and the City would be the collector - working with residents to pay. The delay in reform is the lack of ability to provide payment plans. In the meantime, putting vulnerable residents back into tax sale if only their water bill is late goes against the values of the city and state. It should be easier for residents to pay and take advantage of the programs to reduce their tax burden.

Councilwoman has proposed amendments to HB243 that would limit this provision to only vacant and abandoned properties.

This post will be updated with more information.