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Comptroller details Tax Connect rollout, unclaimed property reforms and asks for targeted FY27 support
Summary
Comptroller Brooke Lierman told the subcommittee the agency is migrating individuals to Maryland Tax Connect in August, launched a new unclaimed property system that has returned checks to residents, and requested FY27 appropriations for IT buildouts, additional call‑center staff, and attorneys to support new appeals work.
Comptroller Brooke Lierman and DLS analyst Yashoda Rai presented the comptroller office’s fiscal 2027 plans and DLS analysis. Lierman described technology modernization as a top priority: the new Maryland Tax Connect platform now serves businesses and will bring individual taxpayers into the system in August; a third‑party call center will support migration and anticipated call volume spikes.
DLS noted the FY27 budget shows a decrease of roughly $61.1 million after project estimate changes, and flagged several performance measures for explanation (missing tax‑year data for two measures and a drop in customer satisfaction). Lierman said the lower customer satisfaction reflects the difficulty of migrating users between legacy and new systems and expects improvements as users adjust.
On unclaimed property, Lierman highlighted a new system launched in October 2025 and early outreach: the office sent 1,000 checks totaling $412,000 in December and is using the new system to proactively reunite owners with small‑value property. She requested $2 million for FY27 to build out newly passed tax types in the new system, $1.4 million to fund 25 additional call‑center FTEs, and roughly $366,000 for three attorneys to handle appeals tied to new digital advertising gross revenue collections.
DLS and the comptroller discussed how FAMIS/FAMIS replacement (FAMIS = financial management information system) reforms and new ERP/modernization plans could enable stronger transparency and earlier warnings on deficiency spending in the future.
