Governor Wes Moore has introduced his FY2025 - $63.1 billion budget proposal. It will reduce the state’s structural deficit for fiscal 2025 by 34%, bringing it down from the projected $761 million to $502 million, according to the Department of Legislative Services.
For Maryland’s public schools, Gov. Moore has allocated $9.2 billion, a 5.3% increase from fiscal year 2024, fully funding the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. The budget also proposes $500 million to ensure the Blueprint’s solvency through fiscal 2026.
For Maryland’s community colleges, the Governor’s budget fully funds the 29% of the state’s Cade’s formula, named for Senator John R. Cade. However, a past Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act (BRFA) provision is expected to reduce funding by $23 million in fiscal 2025 based on the number of full-time students enrolled. These developments may be subject to change so refer to this blog for ongoing updates. Thankfully for community health professionals, local health departments will have an increase of $7.4 million to $123.2 million.
The budget includes disparity grants aimed at bridging differences in revenue-raising capacities between Baltimore City and certain counties. These grants seek to raise jurisdictions' per capita income tax revenues to 75% of the state average.
The Governor’s budget also reclaims $1 million from the state’s wasteful and discriminatory BOOST/Voucher program, which funnels public tax dollars into private schools. Last year, Gov. Moore reduced voucher funding by $2 million, but private school advocates in the Senate demanded that funding be restored.
While the state still faces a fiscal deficit, the budget does not include any tax increase for citizens, nor does it close loopholes for the wealthy and corporations. AFT-Maryland has introduced and supports legislation that will help to close these loopholes to ensure the state’s solvency and support our members at both the state and local levels.
2024-01-19
Article by AFT-Maryland staff