Maryland Gov. Wes Moore warns of major budget cuts amid $3B budget deficit
Maryland faces major budget cuts amid $3B budget deficit
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has warned that massive budget cuts are on the way as state lawmakers try to solve a $3 billion budget gap. He told Maryland residents Wednesday to brace themselves for $2 billion worth of cuts in his soon-to-be-released budget. But that still leaves another $1 billion that lawmakers will have to come up with to close this deficit.
ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has warned that massive budget cuts are on the way as state lawmakers try to solve a $3 billion budget gap.
Moore told Maryland residents Wednesday to brace themselves for $2 billion worth of cuts in his soon-to-be-released budget. But that still leaves another $1 billion that lawmakers will have to come up with to close this deficit.
Normally, the first day of a General Assembly session is a cause for celebration but this year it comes with a big challenge.
Moore said that not only does he want lawmakers to come up with a solution to close the budget gap, he also wants still fund priorities like economic growth, public safety and schools but Moore would not endorse the idea of tax hikes.
"We are not going to grow an economy on the backs of working Marylanders, on the backs of middle-class Marylanders. So I’ll work with anybody to be able to come up with a long-term solution but my bar’s high, been high and will remain high when it comes to revenues," Moore said.
But while the governor says his bar is high for tax hikes, Democrats, who control both houses of the statehouse, and Republicans, who are outnumbered, are already fighting it out.
Republicans say they support the governor’s plan to cut spending but they will hold the line on taxes.
"I believe the Democrats are sending every signal that they are going to raise taxes and we are going to fight it, fight it, fight it," said Republican delegate Kathy Szeliga, who represents Howard County. "Maryland is already one of the most highly taxed states in the country."
Democratic lawmakers say no decisions have been made either way.
"You know, people get nervous because they think that automatically means raising taxes. Not necessarily. We’re going to do our job and make sure that we don’t hurt people too, we understand the budget is tight but we don’t have to keep hurting people too," Democratic delegate C.T. Wilson, the Maryland Economic Matters Chairman.
Moore is set to unveil his budget proposal on Wednesday, Jan. 15. This General Assembly session will last for 90 days.