Baltimore City Council Approves $4.6B Budget

The Baltimore City Council approved Mayor Brandon Scott’s $4.6 billion budget on Monday night, voting 13-2 in favor of a revised spending plan that includes $7 million in amendments and several controversial increases to city fines and fees.

The budget process, marked by weeks of tense hearings and negotiations, centered around Scott’s proposal to close an $85 million gap by raising costs for city services, including landfill tipping, EMS transports, and rideshares. Council President Zeke Cohen led opposition to the increases, arguing they would burden residents already facing rising living expenses.

Despite objections, the bulk of the proposed fee hikes remained intact. The landfill tipping fee will double from $67.50 to $135, ambulance transport costs will rise 20% for non-Medicaid recipients, and the taxi tax will increase from $0.25 to $0.38 per ride. These changes are projected to bring in nearly $16 million. Additional fee increases are expected pending results from a broader city review.

Amendments to the budget reflect several key priorities. Council members secured $2 million more in immigration support funds and $400,000 for the State’s Attorney’s Office to review police body camera footage. However, that office also saw $112,000 shifted to fund an additional investigator for the Inspector General’s office to oversee the Department of Public Works.

To offset new spending, the council made several cuts, including $1.2 million from unfilled police civilian roles and $4.1 million from a discretionary fund in the mayor’s office. The council also added $2.9 million to its own budget for discretionary community spending in each district.

The finalized plan leaves property taxes unchanged and scraps a proposal to adjust the city’s bag tax revenue share. The mayor is expected to formally sign the budget ahead of the July 1 fiscal year start.

Councilmembers Isaac “Yitzy” Schleifer and Mark Conway cast the two dissenting votes, citing concerns about burdening vulnerable residents and potential legal issues with reallocating funds from the city’s Children and Youth Fund.

Mayor Scott thanked the council in a statement, calling the plan “a balanced, equitable budget” and praised the collaborative process that brought it to completion.

Baltimore City Council Approves $4.6B Budget With Fee Hikes And Key Amendments was originally published on wolbbaltimore.com