The Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) has appointed Marie C. Smith as the new State Tax Sale Ombudsman.
Smith has been the Supervisor of Assessments for Baltimore City since 2011. She manages a team of over 40 professionals and oversees the assessment of more than 70,000 properties annually.
“Marie’s combination of exceptional knowledge of property tax assessment and a history of working with homeowners will provide outstanding service to those homeowners who most need assistance to remain in their homes,” said Dan Phillips, Director of SDAT.
As the State Tax Sale Ombudsman, Smith will lead SDAT’s efforts to provide essential information, resources, and assistance to Maryland homeowners struggling to pay their property taxes. Her responsibilities include overseeing the Homeowner Protection Program, which offers loans and personalized support to homeowners facing tax sale.
Smith will also conduct the Annual Tax Sale Survey, produce the Annual Tax Sale Report for the legislature, and work closely with SDAT’s Tax Credits division and county partners to enhance housing security, preserve homeownership, and create generational wealth across the state.
Smith’s background includes her previous role as a Lease Acquisition Specialist in the Maryland Department of General Services Real Estate Division, where she contributed over 15 years of public and private real estate experience from the Boston area.
Marie holds an MS in Real Estate from Johns Hopkins Carey Business School and a BS in Business Management from the University of Massachusetts. She is also a Certified Residential Appraiser in Maryland and has completed numerous courses toward an Appraisal Institute MAI designation.
