Gov. Wes Moore Announces $150 Million in Budget Cuts
In an effort to shift funds to healthcare and child care programs, Gov. Wes Moore (D) announced nearly $150 million in budget cuts on July 10. Moore views investments into childcare and healthcare as major drivers of economic growth, and is elevating these investments over other priorities.
With this announcement, there is expected to be a delay in state hirings, although no furloughs or firings are planned.
Given that the legislative session has ended, these cuts will be made through the Board of Public Works. This Board, which includes Gov. Moore, Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman and State Treasurer Dereck E. Davis, is authorized to cut the state budget by up to 25%.
“This morning, my administration submitted a plan to make targeted and strategic spending cuts and grow our economy while simultaneously protecting the programs and projects that Marylanders care about most,” Moore wrote in a Baltimore Sun op-ed. “We’ve taken a disciplined, data-driven approach that prioritizes investment in areas that connect Marylanders with employment and build new pathways to work, wages, and wealth for all.”
Maryland’s 1.68 million Medicaid recipients and 41,000 enrollments in subsidized child care are both greater than expected during the session, and necessitate budget adjustments. Over $50 million of state support for higher education will be cut, over $25 million will be cut from Department of Health spending, and $15.6 million in cuts to the Department of Information Technology’s project fund.
“Maryland is honored to be recognized as a national leader for its redetermination efforts, ranking among the top 10 states by the Kaiser Family Foundation for its exceptional performance in retaining enrollees,” said Secretary of Health Dr. Laura Herrera Scott about the state’s success in retaining Medicaid coverage for residents.
Maryland’s legislature is required to pass a balanced budget every year, and the budget deficit in the upcoming session is expected to be roughly $1 billion. This could increase to nearly $2 billion by 2027.
At-Large Special Election Updates
With the nine-candidate field solidified and less than a month before the special election on Aug. 6, the campaign season is heating up. Signs donning candidates’ names are now planted in several Prince George’s yards, and voters are now starting to receive mailers and text blasts from the hopeful people vying for the Prince George’s County Council At-large seat.
The field of candidates includes County Council Chair Jolene Ivey (D- District 5), Bowie Mayor Tim Adams, Delegate Marvin Holmes (D- District 23), former Delegate Angela Angel, former Board of Education appointee Judy Mickens-Murray, and Tamara Davis-Brown,
“Economic development is a vital issue for the Council,” said District 9 resident LaVonn Reedy Thomas. “We need commercial revenue, so both a business mindset and experience with land use policy are critically important as I look at the current makeup of the Council. Among other priorities, we need to rebuild our rainy day fund.”
Thomas acknowledged Davis-Brown as a candidate with a strong policy record and South County name recognition and was also supportive of her District’s longtime delegate, Holmes, who she celebrated for his business acumen and Annapolis record on housing.
This special election is estimated to cost $1.3 million, and may precipitate a future special election in Ivey’s Council district. Cheverly Mayor Kayce Munyeneh has already declared as a candidate for the District 5 seat.
Four forums have been scheduled for the race so far:
- July 20: The League of Women Voters is hosting a virtual forum
- July 23: The Prince George’s County Democratic Central Committee and the Prince George’s Young Democrats are hosting a joint forum
- July 25: The Collington Retirement Community
- Aug. 3 The NAACP will hold a forum at Reid Temple
Mayor Adams is also hosting a meet and greet alongside Councilmember Wala Blegay (D- District 6) on July 24 at Upper Marlboro’s Famous Lounge.
NAACP President Linda Thornton Thomas emphasized the importance of politicians to engage with the community and offer information for voters to make informed decisions when filling out ballots.
“Our biggest goal is to let people know they can get the right candidate for your community,” Thomas said. “You should be aware of what’s going on to make an educated vote.”