Residents of Bolton Hill and three nearby neighborhoods can expect a special election this spring to re-affirm support for the Midtown Community Benefits District, the advocacy and improvement group created by a voter referendum in the mid-1990s to strengthen public services for the neighborhoods.
Baltimore’s city council failed to reauthorize the special tax district last year, as required every four years by state law. Then-11th District Council Member Eric Costello introduced the legislation in May, but the council failed to act in an intense election year in which both Costello and Council President Nick Mosby lost their seats.
New 11th District member Zac Blanchard re-introduced the bill on Feb. 10. There will be a city council public hearing on Feb. 18 at 4:30 p.m. chaired by 7th District Councilman James Torrence, who represents the north half of the neighborhood. Once the bill is approved, a special mail ballot referendum will follow. Final council action is expected by the end of the month, with ballots going out in March or April.
According to Midtown’s website, about 4,000 property owners and businesses and 17,400 residents in Bolton Hill, Mt. Royal, Charles North and Madison Park are served by the special tax district which supplements city services to keep those neighborhoods cleaner, greener and safer.
Download PDF