Property Tax Assessment Appeals Board fails to file required performance data; acting administrator pledges submission by July 15, 2025

Delegate Jazz Lewis, chair of the Public Safety and Administration Subcommittee of Appropriations, heard testimony on the Property Tax Assessment Appeals Board’s fiscal 2026 budget and reporting at a subcommittee hearing.

Department of Legislative Services analyst David told the panel the board did not submit updated Managing for Results (MFR) data for the fiscal 2026 allowance because of staff departures and the appointment of an acting administrator in late 2024. The board’s fiscal 2026 allowance increases by about $47,000 (3.7%) to $1,300,000, David said; 85% of the allowance is for regular and contractual personnel, 9% for other operations and state cost allocations, and 6% for rent.

The DLS presentation showed the board’s appeals clearance rate improved after pandemic disruptions and that the percentage of decisions reversed by the Maryland Tax Court has fallen from highs above 20% in 2015–2017 to 5% in 2022 and an estimated 7% in 2023. DLS recommended committee narrative requesting the board submit its fiscal 2026 MFR with calendar 2023 actual data and calendar 2024–2025 estimates by July 15, 2025.

Acting administrator Ms. Wiggins told the committee the agency lacked staff when the submission was due and said, “I have committed to providing this information by July fifteenth of 2025.” In response to a committee question, she said recent appointment activity produced about 27 appointments in the past year and that training for many new members is underway. She identified Talbot County as one of two jurisdictions with member‑availability or conflict‑of‑interest challenges and said she is working with the appointments office to address them.

Committee members asked about training for new board members. Wiggins said senior board members and staff conduct training based on prior cases and that she will use an additional staff person to expand onboarding and periodic training for board members.

No formal committee action or vote on the board’s allowance was recorded during the hearing.

Less critical details: the central office supports 24 local boards (one in each county and Baltimore City). Local boards have four to six members appointed by the governor for five‑year terms. DLS noted one vacant administrative position at the board as of December 31, 2024, and included recommended committee narrative about the MFR submission in its report.

The subcommittee moved on to the State Department of Assessments and Taxation after the board’s testimony.