Miles SmithThe Baltimore City Council is set to consider a $4.69 billion budget for fiscal year 2026 that represents an 11.38% increase over the current budget. The proposed budget looks to make up for an $85 million deficit with investments in everything from timely trash collection to opioid response efforts.
Mayor Brandon Scott said his team will balance the deficit by increasing fees and tightening regulations while investing in community facilities such as the historic Chick Webb Rec Center.
Scott has submitted the budget to the Board of Estimates. If approved, the budget is headed to the Baltimore City Council for a full vote.
Scott said the budget was focused on revenue generation, optimizing city costs and agency savings.
The budget looks to solve the deficit without raising city property or income taxes.
“We want to continue to make that investment, because we know that it changes neighborhoods and saves lives,” Scott said.
Objectives also include building public safety, clean and healthy neighborhoods, equitable neighborhood development and responsible stewardship of city resources.
The budget has earmarked $1.2 billion toward public safety, and invests $1.1 billion into clean and healthy neighborhoods by creating a team focused on improvements to solid waste facilities and expanding opioid response efforts.
Approximately $340 million is budgeted for a new permitting system designed to help neighborhoods by expanding staff focused on eliminating vacant buildings and establishing the Mayor’s Office of Art, Culture and Entertainment.
About $200 million would be budgeted to improve city resources in ways that include reducing reliance on contracted services and improving timely trash collection.
Image by Bruce Emmerling from Pixabay
