Maryland Tax Court tells panel clearance rate recovered to 90% after pandemic dip

The Maryland Tax Court briefed the Appropriations subcommittee on an FY27 operating allowance that DLS said increases by roughly $7,600 to just over $1 million, with employee and retiree health insurance among key cost drivers.

DLS analyst Scott Benson flagged a rise in appeals filed to the court — 1,251 in FY25 — and asked the court to explain causes and actions planned to maintain clearance rates. He noted the court achieved a 90% clearance rate in FY25 after a drop to 72% the prior year.

Andrew Berg, clerk of the Maryland Tax Court, told the subcommittee the 72% figure reflected pandemic and backlog effects; the court returned to a 90% clearance rate in the most recent year as filings normalized. Berg said one practical change was ensuring judges sign finished orders on a regular basis so cases are formally closed, and he described an IT transition of services from the Department of Planning to the Department of Information Technology that may affect future system procurement.

Benson also described proposed deficiency appropriations totaling about $76,627 for personnel and one‑time IT services. The DLS recommendation was to concur with the governor’s allowance while asking MTC to discuss factors behind increased filings and pending appeals and describe actions to sustain the clearance rate.

What’s next: The committee asked for follow‑up on vacancies and digital upgrades that help ensure finished orders are signed and distributed; the court agreed to provide additional information.