Appeals board cites heavy caseloads in Baltimore and Prince George’s as backlog persists

The Property Tax Assessment Appeals Board told the Subcommittee its fiscal 2027 allowance increases by about 8.2% to roughly $1.4 million, with personnel costs accounting for most of the change, and described persistent appeals backlogs concentrated in Prince George’s County and Baltimore City.

DLS noted that the average number of appeals received fell across the most recent years shown, but a backlog remained: Prince George’s County and Baltimore City accounted for a large share of outstanding cases. DLS also recounted language in the FY2026 budget that restricted $100,000 in general funds pending a report on vacancies and backlog at local PTABs and that those restricted funds were released on Jan. 8, 2026.

PTAB Administrator Katrina Wiggins said the agency is operating at capacity and pointed to scheduling limits: several large jurisdictions meet up to four days a week and can plan roughly 12 hearings per six‑hour day. Wiggins said only two board members are required to conduct a hearing in local jurisdictions, which limits throughput. She told the committee PTAB will provide a report on vacancies and backlog status on Aug. 1 and that the agency is exploring electronic and virtual hearing options used in neighboring jurisdictions.

Committee members raised questions about potential remedies — including concurrent sessions, virtual hearings, and associated costs — and asked PTAB to provide written proposals and cost estimates for options to relieve the backlog. The board indicated that while some local PTABs have multiple meeting days per week, the appeals process remains labor‑intensive and largely manual in many places.

What happens next: PTAB will deliver an August 1 report on vacancies and backlog-clearing plans and will return with cost estimates for proposed relief measures.