By Tashi McQueen,
AFRO Political Writer,
tmcqueen@afro.com
Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott unveiled his preliminary fiscal year 2025 (FY25) budget against the backdrop of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse recovery efforts.
“As I mentioned in the state of the city, exactly a week ago, this budget is an important one that requires us to take a critical look at how we could cover a structural deficit,” said Scott on April 1. “We accomplished that and more. Today, we’re putting forward a budget that completely covers the gap.”
Scott said they were able to close the $107 million deficit without furloughing employees or cutting city services.
“Some of the steps that we took to balance the budget include utilizing new license plate reader technology to step up enforcement of the resident parking permitting program eliminating 89 positions that have been vacant for an extended period of time,” said Scott. “The city’s finances also continue to benefit from the growth in property values we saw in 2021 and 2022.”
Fifty-five police positions were cut, as well as eight in public works, eight in recreation and parks and seven in libraries.
The preliminary budget is $4.06 billion overall, including $3.41 billion for the operating plan and $654.1 million for the capital plan.
Key aspects of the budget include $19 million in funding for school construction and $3.5 million for building upgrades at the southern and eastern police district stations.
In addition, $14.2 million will be used to modernize several citywide software systems, including tax and permitting systems, and $6.5 million will be used for Americans with Disabilities Act enhancements to alleys, roads and sidewalks.
Laura Larsen, Baltimore’s budget director, said no American Rescue Plan Act funds were used to balance the budget.
The mayor’s preliminary budget does not include funding for addressing the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse as they believe it is too early to determine the economic impacts it will have on the city.
“Our city is bracing for the long-term impacts of this unthinkable tragedy,” said Scott, referring to the Key Bridge collapse. “Our focus is doing all of this in the right way, not the fast way or half-baked way, but it means that it’s going to take as long as it takes.”
Per the Charter of Baltimore City, the budget must be adopted by June 26.
Important upcoming dates:
April 17 – The Board of Estimates’ Taxpayers Night
May 1 – The Board of Estimates votes on the FY 25 budget
May 16 – City Council’s Taxpayers Night
May 23 through June 6 – City Council Budget Hearings
Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.
