There is a lot of work in the Baltimore City Comptroller's Office that doesn't make headlines - but that doesn't make it any less exciting. Our team works hard every day to support City agencies with mail and telephone service, managing and analyzing Board of Estimates transactions, conducting audits, and directing real estate transactions. I'm thankful that I get to spend my days with a great group of public servants dedicated to improving City government.

Below, I'm sharing just a few words of our successes from this past week to let you in on what we have been up to.

Thanks!

Bill

Independent Auditor’s Report on Applying Agreed-Upon Procedures for the Baltimore City Cable Television Franchise Agreement

Deputy City Auditor Thandee Maung presented a report on the Baltimore City Cable Television Franchise agreement to the Board of Estimates on April 6, 2022. The objective of the report was to verify the City is monitoring Comcast’s compliance with the Public, Educational, Governmental (PEG) fees owed and reporting requirements of the Franchise Agreement from January 2017 through January 2021. Per the Franchise Agreement the City has the right to “perform a comprehensive audit and evaluation of the Grantee’s [Comcast] performance.”

Based on the findings in this report, the Department of Audits made recommendations to the Mayor’s Office of Cable and Communications. The administration has committed to reporting on their action plan implementation in August 2022 to the Board of Estimates.

Read more: Report | Press Release

BCIT Financial Audit FY20-19

City Auditor Josh Pasch presented a report on BCIT’s Biennial Financial Audit for FY20-19 to the Board of Estimates on April 6, 2022. The audit of the financial statements reviewed the Agency’s internal controls over financial reporting.

Based on the findings in this report, the Department of Audits made recommendation to BCIT and the Department of Finance. The departments agreed with all the recommendations and has created an action plan and timeline.

Read more: Report

Morgan State Land Disposition

Real Estate Officer Andy Frank presented a Land Disposition Agreement (LDA) with Morgan State University to purchase the former Lake Clifton High School property in East Baltimore to the Board of Estimates (BOE). The BOE approved the proposal. After it is approved by the Morgan State Board of Regents and the Maryland Board of Public Works, the purchase will be final.

The university will pay the City $93,652.80 for the parcel, which will cover the balance of the unpaid bond debt service owed to the State of Maryland. The City will also save approximately $724,379 in annual maintenance and security costs.

Read more: Press Release Coverage: Baltimore Sun | Fox 45 | WBAL TV | WMAR | BBJ | WBAL Radio | WEAA | Afro

$180,000 in Revenue from Tax Sale Certificates

The Department of Real Estate (DoRE) had 21 tax sale certificate assignments approved by the Board of Estimates. These sales generated approximately $180,000 in revenue, about 65% of the 2022 total approved so far - $279,328.89. These sales are possible through DoRE's vendor lien program. Under the program, developers can negotiate a reduction in municipal liens in exchange for a commitment to return the property to productive use, which generally means renovating the property for homeownership or rental. 

Read more about Vendor Liens: DoRE webpage

Largest Board of Estimates Agenda Ever

Over the past two weeks, our staff pulled together the largest Board of Estimates agenda ever. It was over 400 pages with 363 transactions from 20 different agencies. Top Three Agencies with most transactions: DPW (61), Procurement (44), DHCD (50).

Read more: Agenda

First Hybrid Meeting of City Government

The April 6th meeting of the Board of Estimates was the first hybrid meeting of City Government, ever! The BOE room is currently the only room in City Hall with full technology to host hybrid meetings.

Watch: April 6 meeting