BALTIMORE — According to a new inspector general's report, the Housing Authority of Baltimore City is nearly $8 million behind on its water bill.
The City's watch dog launched an investigation last October after an anonymous tip indicated the Housing Authority stopped paying for water at four of their properties.
Initially the complaint suggested the balance owed had surpassed $1.5 million, but turns out that number once reached $16 million.
The four properties in question are located at 100 N. Broadway, 1415 Orleans Street, 533 Dolphin Street, and 1601 E. Pratt Street.
While the inspector general could not confirm whether payments ever stopped, they determined the Housing Authority was only making partial payments.
The reason for that they claimed was an "insufficient explanation from DPW of the fluctuating outstanding balance."
Baltimore's Department of Public Works (DPW) is the city agency responsible for billing and collecting water payments.
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The inspector general found DPW had only one employee handling all consolidated water billing for the City’s master accounts.
Although DPW conceded their billing operation was temporarily interrupted in the past due to a Ransomware attack and COVID-19, they placed blame on the Housing Authority.
The Housing Authority released a statement denying allegations in the report.
They called the inspector general's figures "completely inaccurate," while claiming to be all caught up on water payments.
"The owed balance reported by the Inspector General is completely inaccurate. In fact, HABC is current on unpaid balances. It is irresponsible to issue a public report without having all the facts and information and conducting due diligence. HABC consistently works with DPW to verify bills, which includes credits and debits. We will continue work with DPW to correct any erroneous past due balances."
DPW, meanwhile, said by the end of the year they plan to hire eight to ten employees to handle accounts and collections efforts.
As of May 2023, the Inspector General notes there were 186,350 delinquent water bill accounts throughout the entire City totaling $319,195,078.684.
Click here to read the full report.
