New Maryland budget cuts: Here are the agencies, programs impacted
BALTIMORE — In nearly 200 amendments to Gov. Wes Moore's budget legislation, state lawmakers have proposed new cuts that would trim community college scholarships, eliminate vacant positions in the state workforce and slash planned increases in one of the governor's signature programs aimed at fighting child poverty.
The cuts — totaling more than $2 billion in planned spending reductions — aim to resolve most of the state's roughly $3.3 billion budget deficit.
Moore and the leaders of the Democratic-controlled Maryland General Assembly agreed on the framework for the revised plan last week, and it was given preliminary approval Tuesday after several hours of debate in the House.
The governor's original proposal in January included hundreds of millions of dollars in controversial cuts to the Developmental Disabilities Administration as well as to the Blueprint for Maryland's Future, the education reform plan that is a major driver of the state's long-term budget deficit.
After protests from advocates for both programs, coming from outside the State House and many lawmakers within it, those cuts were restored. Dozens of other cuts were made in their place, including for positions that officials originally aimed to add to the state's payroll, and for community-focused funds like one that helps boost economic development in West Baltimore, according to state budget documents.
Though the list of cuts could still be amended before the legislative session ends April 7, here is where some of the new, and previously proposed, cuts stood Tuesday:
•$419.5 million: Not making a scheduled addition to the 'rainy day fund,' which will remain above recommended levels at $2.1 billion.
•$128.2 million: Planning for a higher rate of employee vacancies, which reduces the amount of budgeted positions across the executive, legislative and judicial branches. According to the House plan, 212 state positions were abolished.
•$50 million: Shifting, from the general fund to bonds, the state's annual share of Baltimore's plan to rehabilitate thousands of vacant properties.
•$46 million: Eliminating new funding for the ENOUGH Act, one of Moore's signature programs to fight child poverty.
•$14.6 million: Maryland Judiciary employee merit raises and increments eliminated.
•$10 million: Reduction to the Economic Development Opportunities Program Account, also referred to as the Sunny Day Fund.
•$9.1 million: Reduces funding for Medicaid provider reimbursements to lower rates for managed care organizations in calendar year 2025 to the bottom of the actuarially sound level.
•$8 million: Lowering the cap on film production activity tax credits.
•$5 million: Eliminating new funding for the West North Avenue Development Authority's grants program, an economic development project in West Baltimore.
•$3.2 million: Reduction to the Tourism Development Board.
•$3 million: Reducing Maryland Community College Promise Scholarships, for which eligible community college students receive up to $5,000.
•$2 million: Removes a discretionary increase to local health grants.$2 million: Reduces the amount of funding for Cyber Workforce Grants.
•$1.7 million: Funding set aside for 21 new positions in the Department of Service and Civic Innovation will be used to backfill a reduced amount for the Young Adult Service Year Option Pathway grants.
•$1.5 million: Reduces the grant funding for the Maryland Tech Council's BioHub Maryland Initiative, restoring it to last year's funding level.
•$1.1 million: Reduces Department of Human Services administrative funds for the SUN Bucks program, which helps families provide free or reduced-price meals for children.
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