Md. Budget Update: A Vote for Public Schools

I received the following email this afternoon.

October 30, 2007

Dear George,

Last night, we opened the Special Session to solve the $1.7 billion budget deficit we've inherited. And today, the General Assembly began its hearing on our long-term solution that's fair to middle class families.

This afternoon, the Senate and House are holding a joint hearing on how best to secure our historic investment in education through the Thornton law.

Five years ago, legislators of both parties supported this important $1.5 billion investment in our schools - at about the same time that they, again, on a bipartisan basis, reduced revenue with a $1 billion income tax cut. These two decisions combined to create our current structural budget deficit.

In our budget solution, we're finally going to keep our promise - continuing to improve Maryland's schools - by adjusting growth, while maintaining record funding for schools. As a result, Maryland's teachers have said: A vote for our plan "is a vote for public schools."

This morning's hearing focused on the cuts we've already made and are proposing in our plan.

• In January, we made $400 million in cuts to balance this year's budget - keeping budget growth at just over 2%, which is lower than the rate of inflation.
• In July, we cut another $280 million.
• And our long-term budget plan would reduce spending growth by $1 billion over the next two years.

The hearing also examined the damage that would be done if we fail to come to consensus and are forced to introduce the Cost of Delay budget in January - balancing the budget with $1.7 billion in cuts. Those cuts would result in raising college tuition, reducing school funding, raiding open space funds, and sliding backwards on healthcare, rather than making it more affordable.

The General Assembly will continue to discuss and debate our budget solution in the coming days, and we will keep you posted on our progress. Additionally, if you're interested, you can read or watch my speech opening this special session.

Thank you for your work to move Maryland forward. And if you would like to contact your legislators to support our solution, you can reach them at: http://app.streamsend.com/c/26661/672/rJUM36S/JQDW?redirect_to=http%3A%2F%2Fmdelect.net%2F.

Sincerely,

Martin O'Malley
Governor

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Office of The Governor - 100 State Circle - Annapolis, Maryland 21401-1925