Baltimore City Councilmember Opposes Mayor's Property Tax Plan

Councilmember Yitzy Schleifer says the plan offers no relief for renters in the city.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott's property tax plan, which would increase the Homestead Tax Credit cap and lower the Targeted Homeowners Tax Credit rate, is facing opposition from City Councilmember Yitzy Schleifer. Schleifer argues the plan only benefits homeowners and provides no relief for the majority of Baltimore residents who are renters.

Why it matters

Property taxes and housing affordability are major issues in Baltimore, where a large portion of the population are renters. The mayor's plan aims to provide tax relief, but the councilmember's opposition highlights concerns that it may not adequately address the needs of all city residents.

The details

Mayor Scott's plan would increase the Homestead Tax Credit cap from 4% to 6%, which limits how much residents pay when their property values go up. It would also lower the Targeted Homeowners Tax Credit rate from $2.05 to $1.99 per $100 of assessed value. However, Councilmember Schleifer argues the plan only benefits owner-occupied homes and provides no relief for renters, who make up the majority of Baltimore's population.

  • Mayor Scott announced the property tax plan in February 2026.

The players

Brandon Scott

The mayor of Baltimore who proposed the property tax plan.

Yitzy Schleifer

A Baltimore City Councilmember who opposes Mayor Scott's property tax plan.

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What they’re saying

“This has no benefit whatsover to any renter in the city.”

— Yitzy Schleifer, Baltimore City Councilmember (wbal.com)

“We will look to continuing to help the councilman understand what we're doing in this law.”

— Brandon Scott, Mayor of Baltimore (wbal.com)

What’s next

The Baltimore City Council will continue to debate and consider Mayor Scott's property tax plan in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

The debate over Mayor Scott's property tax plan highlights the challenge of balancing the needs of homeowners and renters in Baltimore, where housing affordability is a major concern for a large portion of the population.