Posted on 07/17/24
| News Source: WBAL
The Maryland Board of Public Works on Wednesday approved $149 million in cuts to the state budget proposed by Gov. Wes Moore.
Chairing the Board of Public Works meeting in Annapolis, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore proclaimed that he’s managed budgets over his entire career. He added that reductions in the budget are necessary after stagnant economic growth over the last decade.
“When we took office 18 months ago our team realized that Maryland’s business model was broken,” Moore said. “That’s not politics. That’s math.”
Moore said the cuts will free up money for Medicare reimbursements and child care for low-income families. The cuts include $1.5 million to the state police forensic lab and a quarter of a million dollars for a drone security system at the Port of Baltimore.
Senate Minority Leader Steve Hershey and Senate Minority Whip Justin Ready issued the following statement in response to the approved budget cuts:
“It is disingenuous for Governor Moore to call this $150 million a cut. When you look beyond the cleverly orchestrated headlines, you will not find a $150 million decrease in overall state spending. What you will find is a fund transfer and budgeting tricks akin to looking for coins in the couch cushions to make up a significant underfunding of Medicaid created by flawed projections. Also, what didn’t make the news cycle was the Moore Administration’s $190 million request to transfer additional money from the Rainy Day Fund to cover that same shortfall. So, when Governor Moore was proclaiming $150 million in budget “cuts,” he was actually seeking authorization to spend an additional $190 million over the approved FY25 budget.”
“These hidden budget tricks are disappointing especially when you consider Maryland looming $3.7 BILLION budget deficit. This Medicaid shortfall is not going away, nor is the lack of funding for the Blueprint. Marylanders deserve better. Governor Moore’s Administration and Maryland Democrats must address these massive spending mandates that swamp us for the long term before asking for another dime from taxpayers. How does any of this fuzzy math grow our economy, build new pathways to work, wages and wealth for all?”
There are no layoffs, but several state agencies will keep unfilled positions vacant.