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Split‑rate property tax bill draws wide testimony as Baltimore City and counties weigh tools to discourage speculation
Summary
Delegate Von Stewart's HB 78 would allow counties and Baltimore City to set separate tax rates on land and improvements (a split‑rate/land value tax); proponents said it would encourage redevelopment and curb speculation, while chambers and building industry groups warned it could be administratively complex, create appeals and act like a tax increase in weak commercial markets.
Delegate Von Stewart presented House Bill 78 as a tool to realign property tax incentives so that building improvements are taxed less heavily than land value — a split‑rate or land value tax. He and a broad coalition of supporters told the committee the change would encourage redevelopment, reduce speculation, and help address blight, particularly in Baltimore City.
Von Stewart framed the measure as bipartisan and evidence‑based, citing studies from Pennsylvania and other research that proponents say link split‑rate taxation to increased building permits, denser development and, in some cases, increased business establishment. He proposed a gradual, county‑by‑county approach and said SDAT costs could be managed by…
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