Prince George's County Mayor Angela Alsobrooks reportedly improperly claimed tax deductions on two properties in Maryland and Washington, DC, saving her thousands of dollars.
Reviewed by CNN Found Alsobrooks, who is running for U.S. Senate in Maryland against former Governor Larry Hogan (R-Md.), had improperly claimed residential property tax exemptions for his home in northeast Washington, D.C., and a townhouse in Prince George's County.
A review of his property tax bills by the outlet found that Alsobrooks saved about $14,000 in taxes between 2005 and 2017 by improperly claiming home tax exemptions meant to help low-income and elderly people.
“She was unaware that the property had tax credits and contacted the District of Columbia to resolve the issue and make the necessary payments,” Connor Lounsberry, senior counsel at Alsobrooks, said in a statement to the outlet.
According to CNN, Also-Brooks was not eligible for the home tax exemption on property in the District of Columbia, but her grandparents, who previously owned the property, “probably” were.
Lounsbery told the outlet that Alsobrooks' grandmother had moved out of the Washington, DC, property, but Alsobrooks continued to pay the mortgage on the house until it was “sold in 2018.”
Alsobrooks ended up purchasing a townhouse in Prince George's County in 2005, and “applied for and was granted a homeowner's tax exemption” for the property, saving her an estimated $2,600, according to the outlet.
Alsobrooks bought a townhouse in Prince George's County in 2005. She applied for and was granted a residential tax exemption for the townhouse in 2008, according to state records. She eventually began renting out the property, although it's unclear when, but it continued to receive the tax exemption for its primary residence.
County records on townhouse property tax bills go back only to fiscal year 2020, but it's estimated the exemptions have saved the county at least $2,600 since then.
Lounsberry noted that Alsobrooks did not receive a home tax exemption when he purchased a “new property” in Prince George's County in 2014.
“When Angela purchased her new property, the homeowners tax credit from her previous home was not transferred over,” Lounsbery explained. “Because of this, Angela did not realize any financial benefit. In fact, she ended up paying more tax than she would have if the credit had been transferred over. Nevertheless, Angela is working to pay back the credit she received on her old property.”
Alsobrooks and Hogan are competing for the seat of retiring Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.).
