Maryland State Budget

My Appropriations committee finished up our work on the budget Friday Night at about 11:30pm. It will be on second reader Tuesday,March 30th. The Republican Caucus presented an alternative to the governor's budget with $785 million in reduced spending and solutions to solving the long term structural deficit. While the appropriations committee was courteous and listened intently to our suggestions, very few of the ideas were accepted in the House version of the budget. You may read or hear that spending has decreased in this budget but the truth is that the stimulus funds and fund transfers make up most of the general fund. The senate version of the budget shifts many costs to the local jurisdictions. I will report on the final budget after the conference committee which will most likely be the week-end of April 3rd.