Alsobrooks took improper tax breaks on DC and Maryland properties: Report – Washington Examiner

Angela Alsobrooks, Maryland’s Democratic Senate candidate, is facing scrutiny over her improperly receiving tax breaks that she did not qualify for, allowing her to save thousands in taxes on her properties in Washington, D.C., and Maryland.

According to property records and tax bills reviewed by CNN, Alsobrooks saved almost $14,000 in taxes between 2005 and 2017 on her Washington property by using tax exemptions intended for primary residents of the district, lower-income residents, and senior citizens.

The records show Alsobrooks claimed a homestead tax exemption intended for someone’s primary residence for over a decade, violating state and local tax relief requirements. However, public records show Alsobrooks does not live primarily in the district; since 1995, she has been registered to vote in Prince George’s County, Maryland. She currently serves as the county executive there and oversees the county’s budget and tax collection division.

She also received a tax break intended for low-income senior citizens on her Washington residence, cutting her tax bill in half. At age 53, Alsobrooks does not qualify for the tax break but her grandparents, who owned the property before her, presumably did, per CNN.

A senior adviser for Alsobrooks told CNN that she was unaware of the situation and her attorneys are working with the district and Prince George’s County, Maryland, to resolve the issues. Connor Lounsbury, senior adviser to Alsobrooks, told the Washington Examiner that Alsobrooks began paying the mortgage on her grandmother’s northeast Washington home when she moved out until it was sold in 2018.

“She was unaware of any tax credits attached to that property and has reached out to the District of Columbia to resolve the issue and make any necessary payment,” Lounsbury said.

In Maryland, Alsobrooks bought a property in 2005 and received a homestead exemption in 2008 for the townhouse. She eventually began renting out the property but continued to take the primary resident exemption. CNN estimated that the exemption saved her at least $2,600.

Her campaign pointed to another home in Prince George’s County that is listed as Alsobrooks’s primary residence, but she does not receive a homestead exemption.

“When Angela bought her new property, the homestead tax credit from her previous home was not transferred,” Lounsbury told the Washington Examiner. “This resulted in no financial gain for Angela. In fact, she ended up paying more in taxes than she would have had the credit transferred over. Nevertheless, Angela is working to repay any credits received on the old property.”

Alsobrooks is facing former Republican Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan for the state’s open Senate seat left vacant by outgoing Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD). A poll from Gonzales Research and Media Services in early September found Alsobrooks leading Hogan by 5 points, 46% to 41%.

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Hogan is framing himself as an anti-Trump Republican as he runs for Senate in deep blue Maryland. On the other side, Democrats are trying to paint Hogan as a phony “Never Trumper.” Alsobrooks has accused her opponent of being a “MAGA”-enabler who would give Republicans control of the Senate.

Regarding the presidential race, 56% of voters in the September poll said they would vote for Harris, while 35% indicated they would vote for Trump.

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