Mayor Scott outlines goals for Baltimore in State of City address
Mayor Brandon Scott's State of the City address paints an optimistic picture for Baltimore's future, despite recent economic challenges and federal funding cuts.
Story Highlights Mayor Brandon Scott outlines goals to lower property taxes by 2028.
Scott aims to tackle vacant housing crisis and attract new businesses.
Baltimore's State of the City address moved downtown to highlight investment opportunities.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott's ambitious agenda for his second term centers on lowering the property tax rate by 2028, attracting new businesses and tackling the vacant housing crisis amid continued economic uncertainty.
Those were among the goals outlined Monday during Scott's fifth State of the City address downtown at the M&T Bank Exchange. The mayor ticked off a list of priorities and ideals during the optimistic, TED Talk-style speech, where he paced the stage in front of a large video screen showing aerial shots of Baltimore, TV news clips and personal testimonies about city life.
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Scott, 41, was sworn in for a second term in December after four years of weathering headwinds that include the pandemic, public safety woes, a prolonged battle over the presence of squeegee kids on city streets and declining property values downtown. Lately, that list has included an austere state fiscal crisis and the near collapse of federal aid to local jurisdictions under the Trump administration, from which Baltimore has not been spared. The city filed a lawsuit in early February to try to reverse frozen or cut federal funds.
"This city is full of folks who love her, want to make her better, and will check anyone from outside who comes after her," the mayor said in his address. "Baltimore is not going to sit and take it."
The annual State of the City address has traditionally been delivered at City Hall. The decision to move the message outside that historic home helped underscore Scott's pledge to rewrite Baltimore's narrative and attract new investment to the city. Some recent momentum on that front includes a $500 million private investment to redevelop Harborplace, the success of upgrades at the newly branded CFG Bank Arena, an overhauled Lexington Market and recently announced plans to reinvent parts of Redwood Street downtown with retail amid a pedestrian-friendly corridor.
Among the pledges made by Scott on Monday were:
Setting a goal of lowering the city's property tax rate to under $2 per $100 of assessed value by 2028. The current rate is $2.248. This would reverse long-standing criticism of the high cost of living in Baltimore, where the effective tax rate is the highest in the state. Scott gave no details about how he planned to make that happen. Earlier this month, the mayor unveiled a budget that hiked taxes and fees to close an $85 million gap.
Ending the city's crisis of blighted, vacant houses, buildings and lots by 2038 under a newly-branded effort called Reframe Baltimore.
Pumping some of the nearly $700 million awarded to the city from lawsuits stemming from the opioid crisis back into community development.
Pushing for major changes to local building and zoning codes to allow for additional multifamily housing options in the city to help create more affordable apartments.
Creating a Mayor's Office of Arts, Culture, and Entertainment to help solidify and attract live events, nightlife, the film industry and a cultural workforce to Baltimore.
The mayor paced the stage during his address in a blue suit, bright gold tie and tennis shoes. He had the demeanor of a motivational speaker and a clear message: Baltimore's short- and long-term outlook is on the rise, buoyed by a historic decline in the city's homicide rate last year and a slight increase in population.
'We're looking at $7 billion in public and private development downtown through 2028," the mayor said. "Whether you're a Fortune 500 company or a startup, we want you to get in on the action. Consider this a personal invitation from the mayor.'
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