Maryland Has More Money but Governor Won’t Reverse Cuts

Millions of Maryland residents will continue to see reductions in key state services, even though it is now clear the state can afford to better support its critical needs, due to the Governor’s unwillingness to adjust his overly rigid approach to state finances. As a result of his inaction, schools will continue to deal with overcrowded classrooms, the termination teacher and staff positions, inadequate technology, and cuts to instructional materials and programs.

On Monday, the Maryland Board of Revenue Estimates released its most recent report clearly showing the state will have $80.6 million in unanticipated revenue this year and a total of $212 million over the next two years due to personal incomes rising more than originally projected. Yet there is no plan to reverse cuts to avoid school budgets and reducing access to critical services that millions of Marylanders require each day to get by.

Most recently, the governor made across-the-board cuts to that took away $118 million from essential services, much of which will result in a reduction of support for people struggling to make ends meet.

In addition to this major cut, earlier this year the governor refused to fully implement a bipartisan plan to restore education funding. As a result, the state withheld $68.1 million that would have gone to the schools that need the support the most. His decision has affected more than 80 percent of the state’s schoolchildren for this school year, particularly hitting  Prince Georges County and Baltimore City, where school leaders are already struggling to keep good teachers on staff and classroom sizes manageable.

Speaking about the anticipated surplus, Secretary of Budget and Management David R. Brinkley stated that, “we’re still trying to play defensive medicine.”

However, with the health, safety, and future of our state at risk, playing defense is not enough. We need the administration to go on offense in the fight to improve the lives of average Marylanders. The administration should be working tirelessly to ensure that all residents, no matter where they live or what their income level is, have a shot at opportunity and the support they need to build a future.

Instead of being staunchly opposed to spending the projected surplus, the governor should construct a plan to restore cuts to education and all other important areas, focusing on maintaining a high level of investment in the future of our state.