Judge blocks measure to slash Baltimore's property tax from November ballot

An effort to cut Baltimore’s property tax rate nearly in half took another blow Friday night, when a Baltimore circuit court judge ruled that the measure violates state law and should not appear on the November ballot.

The decision on the Renew Baltimore ballot measure comes as a temporary relief to officials in City Hall, where the proposal has stoked fears of cratering city finances. Baltimore’s top leaders have denounced the proposal, with Mayor Brandon Scott even predicting it would bankrupt the city.

Friday’s ruling from Circuit Court Judge Althea M. Handy sustains an opinion released a month ago by Baltimore’s top elections official, who found the measure violated Maryland law and should not go to voters this November.

In a six-page opinion, Handy determined Renew’s proposal would illegally strip “all power and discretion” on the local tax rate from Baltimore leaders and would leave “nothing for the City Council to legislate because they would be required to lower the tax rate every year.”




https://www.thebaltimorebanner.com/politics-power/local-government/judge-strikes-property-tax-measure-from-fall-ballot-FLLM3SOLLZBS7AF5NCJK3CHSJU/