January 14th, 2020 by WCBC Radio
Gov. Larry Hogan on Tuesday previewed his upcoming $47.9 billion budget proposal, which he called an "accountability budget," in line with his earlier legislative proposals for the legislative session. WBAL reports the 2021 fiscal year budget, which Hogan is set to discuss with General Assembly leaders Wednesday morning at Government House before its release, maintains $1.3 billion in reserves and limits growth to 1%. It contains no tax hikes or service cutbacks, Hogan said.
The budget contains tens of millions of dollars in aid to local police departments, officer recruitment and the attorney general's office. It includes $6.9 million in crime prevention, prosecution and witness protection support for Baltimore City.
"The No. 1 concern of Marylanders by far is crime," Hogan said. "Citizens are demanding more accountability for the violent criminals who are shooting and killing people on the streets of Baltimore."
The budget includes $23 million for Project CORE, the state-led initiative that has seen a number of vacant Baltimore City homes face the wrecking ball.
The budget also includes a record $7.3 billion in education funding, including more than $350 million to fund the Kirwan Commission recommendations. Hogan reiterated his opposition, however, to the possible adoption of the panel's full slate of recommended reforms and the $2.8 billion price tag they carry.
Under the state Constitution, lawmakers can only make cuts to the operating budget and cannot move money from one area to another.
