The State Department of Assessments and Taxation apparently failed to send revised assessment notices to over 100,000 accounts this year, conceptually jeopardizing local property tax revenues. Legislative leaders have already indicated that a remedy will be forthcoming, to ensure that local services are not abridged by the error.
Each year, the State Department is charged with revising assessments – the estimated value of taxable property – for one-third of the statewide total, effecting a three year reassessment process. This year, it appears that the reassessment were conducted properly, but the Department erred in preparing the reassessment notices, and more than 100,000 property owners did not receive their notice by the end of January, the statutory deadline. Without a remedy, those properties would not have any update in their taxable value, reducing State and local property taxes that support essential services across each level of governments, but principally counties.
Early indications from legislative leaders suggest that a one-time remedy is the likely short term outcome. With months before tax bills are actually sent, there appears to be adequate time for these owners to receive their reassessment notices in March, and still have a full period for appeals prior to the county budgets are finalized.
Stau tuned to Conduit Street for further coverage as the legislative approach to this matter evolves in the days ahead.
See also, coverage from major media sources:
Maryland missed a deadline for tax notices. Here’s how lawmakers will fix it. – The Baltimore Banner
