Photo courtesy of Ann Petersen
From Charm City Helicopter Tour album
BALTIMORE – Baltimore’s City Council and Mayor Brandon Scott will have the authority to set a special tax rate for abandoned properties, starting June 1.
The law, signed by Gov. Wes Moore during the previous legislative session is designed to prevent investors from paying low property taxes while “sitting” on vacant or abandoned properties.
Baltimore City has a 2.248 percent property tax rate and the proposed “abandoned property” tax is suggested to be 5 percent, although an exact tax rate has not been set. There are more than 13,000 vacant properties in Baltimore City, according to the Department of Housing and Community Development.
Mayor Scott has laid out a $3 billion plan that aims to revitalize Baltimore City with a focus on improving East and West Baltimore sections.
