Baltimore mails 50,123 debt notices totaling $504.6 million to property owners

Baltimore homeowners are receiving mail that lists unpaid debts, some dating back thirteen years. The city's Finance Department mailed 50,123 notices in October. These letters account for $504.6 million in outstanding balances. The charges cover property taxes, water bills, citations, and other municipal fees.

Ellen Townsend and Tywanna Gardner contacted local media after receiving these letters. Both residents claim they paid their property taxes in full. Townsend's notice listed a $40.35 balance from the 2013-14 tax year and 53 cents from 2015-16. Gardner received a notice seeking $1,299.36. Townsend stated, "I pay my bill in full. So I don't know where this is coming from."

The Bureau of Revenue Collections sends these letters annually. The stated goal is to facilitate resolution of outstanding bills and identify incorrect balances. System updates now allow the bureau to include balances from multiple years across more types of bills. This year's notices include real property taxes, water, part-year bills, special benefits, alley and footway charges, environmental citations, miscellaneous bills, and parking citations.

Steven Kappen, project manager for Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service, verified one client's notice against existing records. He advised residents to check receipts and payment histories. He noted that some descriptions require more explanation. "The letter that I saw, there was a charge that was just listed as miscellaneous, so that isn't very helpful for you to find out what that charge is related to," Kappen said. He added that a notice may list a balance someone is already working to resolve.

Some notices listed an October 31 payment date. Kappen explained that this date is separate from the tax sale timeline, which extends into the spring. He stated, "The general tax sale timeline does not operate on an October 31st deadline." He urged residents to begin resolving questions now, whether by paying, contesting, or following up with the city.

The Finance Department previously explained that the balances carried forward from earlier billing periods. The amounts may include prior-year balances, late fees, penalties, or other charges. The department emphasized that unpaid water bills alone do not make a property eligible for tax sale. Residents who believe their notices contain errors should contact the Bureau of Revenue Collections at 410-396-3000.

The Finance Department has agreed to review disputed bills and abate incorrect charges on a case-by-case basis. It remains to be seen how the city will explain why some homeowners are learning about decade-old balances for the first time if previous letters included past-year property taxes.