Baltimore City Council wants to raise property tax rates on vacant homes

Baltimore City Council is moving forward on legislation to tax vacant properties at a higher rate than occupied ones, the latest strategy rolled out in recent weeks to combat the city’s thousands of abandoned buildings. Council President Nick Mosby, a Democrat, introduced the plan Monday, the last day current councilmembers could do so with enough time to pass before a new council is sworn-in in December. The bill is backed by every councilmember.