ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Maryland lawmakers on Friday announced a $63 billion increase that includes increases in taxes and fees to cover transportation and education costs, although not as much as some lawmakers had hoped. The final vote on the dollar state budget bill is underway.
The Democratic-led General Assembly largely kept Gov. Wes Moore’s $63 billion proposal for the budget year starting July 1 intact. Democratic Governor Moore submitted a balanced budget proposal in January that does not involve tax increases.
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A final vote is expected to take place as early as Friday.
Maryland Sen. Guy Gazon, left, speaks about the budget agreement reached with Rep. Ben Burns for a $63 billion state budget during a meeting with journalists Wednesday, April 3, 2024, in Annapolis, Maryland. ). (AP Photo/Brian Witte)
Negotiations between the House and Senate resulted in lawmakers adding transportation-related costs to raise about $252 million during the budget year. As part of the package, ride-hailing services will receive a new fee of 75 cents per trip across the state.
Vehicle registration fees will also increase, with the $23 surcharge going toward increased costs for the state’s emergency trauma system. In addition, zero-emission electric vehicles will be subject to a $62.50 surcharge and plug-in electric vehicles will be subject to a $50 surcharge to make up for gas tax revenue that owners are not paying.
Various tobacco tax increases, including an additional $1.25 per pack of cigarettes, would help generate approximately $91 million for K-12 education, which is estimated to decline due to projected declines in tobacco use. has been done.
Revenues are focused on transportation and the state’s K-12 education funding plan, known as the “Blueprint for Maryland’s Future,” which expands early childhood education, increases teacher salaries and finances struggling schools. Large amounts of funds will be gradually invested in aid to the
“We know these things cost money, and we sometimes have to raise revenue to cover those costs, but we’re not an efficient And I think we did it in a responsible way.” he told reporters on Friday. He noted that additional funding would go to education, as well as road projects, local highways and transportation.
Differences in the House and Senate over how much to raise new revenue delayed passage of the state spending plan until later in the legislative session, which is scheduled to adjourn at midnight Monday.
After the Senate passed the budget bill last month, the House proposed a $1.3 billion plan to further fill expected education and transportation funding shortfalls. In addition to taxes, fees and tolls, the bill also included proposals for corporate tax reform and the legalization of internet gambling.
During negotiations, the Senate remained largely steady, rejecting the toll increase bill, the corporate tax reform bill known as the Integrated Reporting Act, and Internet gambling. However, the House persisted and managed to add new revenue.
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“We were able to thread the needle,” said Democratic Rep. Ben Burns, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.
The debate over revenue unfolds in an election year for a vacant U.S. Senate seat and a congressional race, predicted by former Republican Gov. Larry Hogan, who opposed tax increases in 2014 and sought a first term in the Democratic-heavy state. Special feature on outside Senate candidates. He was re-elected in 2018.
