FY 2024 Budget Passes
Last week, the Baltimore City Council passed the FY2024 budget. This was the first year we had the opportunity to move funds around by amendment, not just cut funding. After a week of non-stop budget hearings, several amendments were submitted. I submitted two amendments that ultimately I did not pursue a vote on for various reasons.
First, I introduced an amendment to remove some funds from BOPA and create a new Arts and Culture office, while moving some funds to Waverly Main Street for the Baltimore Book Festival. Ultimately, the Mayor’s Office and City Council agreed to a similar package of amendments regarding BOPA. $1.7 million is removed from their budget and will be put back in as BOPA meets specific operational goals, with the notion that we may have to do something completely new. The Baltimore Book Festival will be in Waverly!
Second, I submitted an amendment to move funds from the vacant positions in the police department that do not end up as overtime, to address vacant properties through the In Rem foreclosure program. I strongly believe that an important public safety strategy is eliminating vacant and abandoned properties through rehab or demolition, and the research shows this is true. The Department of Justice also acknowledges that this is one of the best community policing strategies according to a recent article. I also believe the In Rem foreclosure process is a game changer that will help us acquire vacant properties at a faster rate and dispose to residents and developers who will do something with them. I am not pleased that this process has not moved as quickly as it should which is why I wanted more lawyers and higher salaries to make it work. It has been a year since we implemented this process, and while we are making progress, it is slow. In the end, I did not pursue this amendment but I am working with the Administration on this issue.
Highlights from the FY2024 budget:
Massive investment in our schools because of a funding formula for the Kirwin initiative. We believe in fully funding our schools.
Investment in the Department of Public Works to get recycling back to weekly pick up by first quarter next year, and upgrade all of the facilities for the workers who do so much for our city.
Investments in apprenticeships to build the pipeline of future city workers.
A salary study is in the works to redetermine the salaries for every worker in the City. One of the reasons we are not able to hire is because of the salaries we are offering. The results will be reflected in the FY2025 budget.