City of Baltimore - File #: 19-0126R

• File #: 19-0126R
• Version: 0
• Name: Request for State Action - Support for the Water Taxpayer Protection Act
• Type: City Council Resolution
• Status: Adopted
• File created: 1/14/2019
• In control: City Council
• Final action: 1/14/2019
• Title: Request for State Action - Support for the Water Taxpayer Protection Act For the purpose of requesting that the Maryland General Assembly pass the Water Taxpayer Protection Act to stop the practice of selling Baltimore City residential property and places of worship to enforce a lien for unpaid charges for water and sewer service.
• Sponsors: Shannon Sneed, Bill Henry, John T. Bullock, Ryan Dorsey, Robert Stokes, Sr., Zeke Cohen, Kristerfer Burnett, Leon F. Pinkett, III, Mary Pat Clarke, Sharon Green Middleton, Brandon M. Scott, Edward Reisinger
• Indexes: Request for State Action

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
1/14/2019	0	City Council	Adopted
1/14/2019	0	City Council	Introduced

* Warning: This is an unofficial, introductory copy of the bill.
The official copy considered by the City Council is the first reader copy.
Introductory*

City of Baltimore
Council Bill R
(Resolution)

Introduced by: Councilmember Sneed


A Resolution Entitled

A Council Resolution concerning
title
Request for State Action - Support for the Water Taxpayer Protection Act
For the purpose of requesting that the Maryland General Assembly pass the Water Taxpayer Protection Act to stop the practice of selling Baltimore City residential property and places of worship to enforce a lien for unpaid charges for water and sewer service.
body

Recitals

Whereas, The Baltimore City Council desires to end the City practice of selling residential property and places of worship to enforce a lien for unpaid charges for water and sewer service;

Whereas, Legal advocates estimate that 70 to 80 % of properties sent to tax sale in Baltimore City include unpaid charges for water and sewer service in their outstanding charges;

Whereas, Tax sales over unpaid water and sewer bills disproportionately harm lower-income residents and people of color in Baltimore City;

Whereas, The Department of Public Works currently lacks a consistent, fair, and neutral process to resolve water billing problems prior to tax sale;

Whereas, At least 26 predominantly African American churches in Baltimore were sold at tax sale list from 2015 to 2017, many in part because of unpaid water bills;

Whereas, Home equity, which can be a senior’s sole savings for retirement, can be lost at tax sale over an unpaid water bill that is as little as $750 in Baltimore City;

Whereas, In Decem...