* 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 Burnett and Councilmember Clarke
A Resolution Entitled
A Council Resolution concerning
title
An Equitable Approach to Tax Sales During the COVID-19 Crisis
For the purpose of calling on the Mayor to adopt the recommendations of the Baltimore City Tax Sale Workgroup in order to pursue an equitable response to the COVID-19 crisis.
body
Recitals
On May 29, 2020, the Baltimore City Tax Sale Workgroup, a coalition of over 40 nonprofits, community developers, legal service organizations, churches, and others, sent a letter to the Mayor making 4 recommendations for how the City can make an equitable response to the COVID-19 crisis with respect to tax sales.
The recommendations include:
delaying the scheduled July 20, 2020 tax sale auction for at least 90 days after the State of Emergency has been lifted in Baltimore;
removing vulnerable residents from the tax sale;
allowing citizens who are delinquent to enter into payment plans to remove themselves from the tax sale list if they remain current with their payments; and
increasing awareness of tax credits for homeowners and low-income households.
City government should do everything we can to assist families in this of great economic need. The recommendations of the Tax Sale Workgroup are common sense, reasonable approaches that our City should be adopting in order to keep a roof over the heads of our families. Now is not the time to make things worse for families by rendering them homeless.
Now, therefore, be it resolved by the City Council of Baltimore...
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