December 15th, 2020 by WCBC Radio

Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot says he’s been hearing from small business owners across the state, and the message has been consistent: They need help now. Franchot says that's why he is pushing for a state aid package of $1.5 billion, and he’s asking Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan to authorize it. The Board of Revenue Estimates voted Friday to slightly increase the  revenue projections for Fiscal Year 2021 by 0.3 percent to $18.8 billion, representing a $64 million increase from the September estimates. While the figures may seem positive overall, they also demonstrate that Maryland’s lowest wage earners and small businesses continue to bear the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic’s economic impact. Franchot tells WCBC News that with federal dollars tied up by partisan bickering- its time for the state to step forward with a serious relief efforts for the most economically distressed Marylanders…