Rowhomes in Baltimoreโ€™s Hampden neighborhood. On Tuesday, Mayor Brandon Scott held a news conference to encourage residents to apply for the state Homeownersโ€™ Property Tax Credit. Photo by Picasa/Flickr.
Rowhomes in Baltimore’s Hampden neighborhood. On Tuesday, Mayor Brandon Scott held a news conference to encourage residents to apply for the state Homeowners’ Property Tax Credit. Photo by Picasa/Flickr.

Mayor Brandon Scott is encouraging eligible Baltimore residents to apply for the Maryland Property Tax Credit, three weeks ahead of an Oct. 1 deadline.

โ€œWe know that everyone is hurting because of the fall out from this pandemic,โ€ the Democrat said at a news conference Tuesday. โ€œWe want to keep people in their homes so that they can pass their homes on to the next generation to create generational wealth in families and communities throughout Baltimore.โ€

The state tax credit applies to homeowners who own their primary residence, have a gross household income of less than $60,000 and have a net worth less than $200,000, not including the value of their primary residence or retirement savings.

It sets a tiered property tax limit for different income levels based on the amount by which the property tax exceeds a percentage of a householdโ€™s income. For example, a household with a $20,000 income that receives the credit would have their property taxes capped at $780.

For homeowners 70 years old or older, the tax credit is retroactive for three prior years, each of which require separate applications.

Read more (and listen) at WYPR.