BALTIMORE, MD – Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke (District 14), Council President Bernard C. “Jack” Young and members of the Baltimore City Council will hold a press conference Monday at 4 p.m. to call attention to the fact that 25,000 eligible homeowners have failed to apply for continued Homestead Tax Credit benefits.

Eligible homeowners who fail to apply by the December 31, 2012 deadline will lose the credit for the tax year beginning July 1, 2013. The average annual benefit to city homeowners is $1,060 in property tax savings, according to the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT.) 
The Maryland General Assembly required that all Maryland homeowners complete a one-time application in order to continue receiving the state’s Homestead Tax Credit. This action was taken to “weed out” people illegally claiming investment properties or second homes as eligible for the credit.
The tax benefit helps homeowners afford annual property tax increases on their owner-occupied homes and avoids drastic spikes in individual tax bills.
WHO: Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke, Council President Bernard C. “Jack” Young, Councilmembers Jim Kraft, Brandon Scott, Rochelle “Rikki” Spector, Helen Holton, William Cole and Carl Stokes, and SDAT Deputy Director Owen Charles.

WHAT: Councilmembers pledge all-out campaign to publicize Homestead Tax Credit application deadline. SDAT’s Owen Charles will report on lagging applications among city homeowners and urge those eligible to immediately call or email the department to receive an application – (410) 767-2165 or hcredit@dat.state.md.us

WHEN: Monday, October 22, 2012, 4 p.m.

WHERE: City Hall, 4th floor, City Council Chambers